Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-11-20
When day began to dawn again, he

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cheerful light began to sparkle in the
room, he pictured to himself-pic-
tured he saw the high church tow
ers rising up into the morning sky. the
town reviving, waking, starting into
life once more, the river glistening as
it rolled (but rolling fast as ever) and
the country bright with dew. Famil-
ia, sounds and cries came by degrees
into the street below ; the servants in
the house were reused and busy; faces
looked in at the door, and voices asked
his attendants softly how he was.-
Paul always answered for himself, II
am better. l am great deal better,
thank you. Tell papa SOL
By little and little he got tired OF
the hustle of the day, the noise of car
riages and carts, and people passing
and repassiug; and would fall asleep
or be troubled with restless and un.
easy sense again-the child could
hardly tell whether this were in his
sleeping or his waking moments-oi
that rushing river. why, will it
never stop, Floy?' he would some
times ask her. 1T is bearing me
away, l think +
But Floy could always soothe and
reassure him and it was his daily de-
light to make her lay her head down
on his pillow, and take some rest.
You are always watching inc ,Floy.
Let me watch you, now !! They
would prop him up with cushions in
the corner of bis bed, and there he
would recline the while she lay beside
him. bending forward oftentimss to
kiss her, and whispering to those who
were near that she was tired, and how
she had sat up so many nights beside
him.
Thus, the flush Of the day, in its
heat and light, would gradually de-
cline and again the golden water
would be dancing on the wall.
He was visited by as many as three
grave doctors-they used to assembs .
down stairs, and come up together
and the room was 50 quiet, and Paul
was so obssrvant Of them (though he
never asked Of anybody what they
said), that he even knew the differ
ence in the sound Of their watches.-
But his interest centered in Sir Park.
er Pops, who always took his seat on
the side of the bed. For Paul had
heard them say long ago, that that
gentleman had been with his mamma
when she clasped Florence in her
arms, and died. And he could not
forget it, now. He liked him for it.
He was not afraid.
The people around him changed as
unaccountably as ON that first night
at DR.. Blimber except Florence
Florence never changed-and what
had been Sir Parker Pops, was now
his father, sitting with his head upon
his hand. Old Mrs. Pipchin doing
in an easy chair, often changed to Miss
Tox, or his aunt and Paul was quite
content to shut his eyes again, and sac
what happened next without emotion.
But this figure with its head upon its
hand returned so often. and remained
so long, and sat so still and solemn,
never speaking, never being spoken
to, and rarely lifting up his face, that
Paul began to wonder languidly, if it
were real; and in the nighttime saw
it sitting there, with fear.
"Floy he said, "What is that?"
"Where, dearest?"
"There at the bottom Of the bed" ;"
"There's nothing there, except
papal" ,
The figure lifted up its head, and
rose, and coming to the bedside said.
my own boyl don't you know me ?"
Paul looked it in the face, and
thought, was this his father? But
the face so altered to his thinking,
thrilled while he gazed, as if it were
in pain; and before he could reach
out both hands to take it between
them, and draw it towards him, the
figure turned away quickly from the
little bed, and went out at the door.
Paul looked at Florence with hut-
tering heart, but be knew what she
was going to say, and stopped her
with his face against her lips. The
next time he observed the figure sit