Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-02-12

quietly flowing sparkled and shone
with the glorious radiance Of the moon
and the stars. The,girl sat down on a
stone that projected into the river. and
filled jug she had brought with the
cold, sparkling water which she had
come to fetch for her brother. She
seemed spell-bound with the beauty of
it all, and sat there quite a long time
looking down at the reflection deep in
the water, and now up to the sky far
above her head. eff only my boy could
be here" she thought, chow happy he
wud be Maybe he wud get we'll if he
coined here-he loves the dumb material
things So" Her tears fell in the clear
water. A little breeze sprang
up, and tiny wavelets, silver bright, lap
ped up and up over the stone to her
feet. 90 river, dear river '' she said,
leaning toward it, ''last night in my
dreams ye spake to me, pitied me, and
was sorry for my boy. Can't We spake
agin now?"
The wavelets rose higher, and muir
INJURED and whispered in the wind; and
as she listened the silvery, inarticulate
sounds resolved themselves into words.
Child" the liver said, softly, 'the
sweet spirits that live beneath my waves
and IN the woods and trees there brought
you to me IN yoursleep, and we tried to
comfort you"
"Why did you not bring my brother,
too, and comfort him ?" the girl said.
"He's sore in need"
He would not Sleep" the river said.
But take him some of nv water to
drink and he will sleep, and you will
both come to me in your dreams and
Will cure him and make him we'll"
"Ah! you wull?" cried the sirl-a
beautiful light and brilliant smile wax
ing her face into wonderful beauty.
Il wull go to MIN at once't. Where be
the spirits who talked SO kind to me
last night?"
"Oh," said the river-and it seemed
to smile and ripple all over in the moon
will see them again when
you come with your brother in your
dream"
The girl reflled her Jug, nodded
brightly to the river, and FASTENED home
with feet winged with nope and love.
Sae found her brother awake and gasp
ing for breath. Harry, Harry :" she
SAID, tenderly leaning over him, and
raising him on her arms. 'See I've
brought you some water, all fresh and
pure out of the river"
His faded eyes frightened. and he ca
gerly drank it, and then with q smile
lay back Oh her breast.
That's fine an NICE" he said. Glow
dds go so far? Thou's a good lass to go
for me-"
you didn't miss me whites / was
gone, did 20, Harry ?"
The boy looked up at her with smile
and tear filled eyes. 81 allus miss you,
little sister, when yo's not WI me-
she bent over him and passionately
kissed his pale lip.
Harry woke first in dreamland, to
find himself sitting on the banks of the
river IN the moonlight, waiting for his
sister; and, as he waited, all nature
seemed to wake just to welcome him
The trees that waved their stately arms
and silver foliage above him whispered
s. Welcome! welcomed; The little pol
lard willows down by the water all
nodded and spoke to him some CHEEKY
word; the sleepy flowers who sat sway
ing and nodding on their stalks opened
their brilliant eyes to smile at him
and even the long, graceful grasses and
rushes rustled and bent and bowed to-
ward him, and did all they could to ex-
press their good will. The very frogs
stopped croaklng to look kindly at the
SICK boy with their bright eyes; and the
ceased rubbing their legs for a
80, how good it do feel to be
here!" he sighed, and fairly laughed
for joy; and all nature seemed to take
up the echo and laugh, too, for COM
pany and the frogs and the crickets
croaked and chirruped louder than ever;
and the bats took up the falsetto parts
in the chorus; and the nightingale sang
a song that thrilled him with its beauty.
g An now" she said, "yo mum 60 to
sleep; an I'll go too; an Yoll wake up
right an fine an well to-morrer, an
YOU never be sick no more" 4
"Wull, [ MOP" said the boy, smiling
up at her eager face. "Yo looks lovely
tong ht-like an angel" he said; [
can sleep now. 70 mum lie down by
and put your arms roun' me-
50; an now kiss ME, little sister!'
The moon streamed in on them as
they lay clasped in one another's arms
fast asleep, their lips almost touching,
and the brown and gold Of their hair
shining in the light.
His sister came then, wandering
along by the river, bright and happy,
and sat down by him. Harry" She
said, kissing his thin cheek, "you will
get all well agin now; will not yo?"
And the river answered, tossing a
tiny wreath of shining spray on to her
lap: Yes, yes; he will, he Will"
Harry" said the girl, clasping her
bands together and looking up at the
blue dome overhead, where the stars
were shining and twinkling, II feel so
happy now that it seems somehow l
c'uld die just for nothin' but Joy. Be
20 not happy, too ?" and she laid her
soft cheek against her brothers..
f" 1t be all SO sweet an glorious, sister,
hat | can not find words to put it into
can On'y feel 1t here;;" and he clas ped