New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-01-08

me, the whole three, I'll spend nv whole
life in making them happy; and after
I'm gone. they shall have the homestead
and every penny I've got in the world .
Yes. YES. SAID Bob, who had never
ceased shivering, and was now IS hot and
red az ne had been white and cold, "Ill
pay their board, Magda; this is only
temporary trouble. l hope to pet
clerkship; but little Bob will never get
through the storm-never! Keep hold OF
your sister, Bob" cried my poor brother,
in loud voice, ''and keep the tail of nv
coat firm in your hand; don't let 90, nv
son. for Gods sake, Bobov-don't let
go!'
he got upon his feet, and seemed to be
plodding through the storm as he made
his way to the kitchen door. coaxed
him up to the bed in his own old room,
that had kept aired and comfortable to
lignten my own aching heart. When the
morning dawned and the doctor could
get to us, poor Bob was wild in delirium !;
the only word he muttered or called
aloud We're about bonds and bills, dollars
and franctions of dollars. His long white
fingers seemed to bold pen. and scratch,
scratch the weary figures upon the coun-
terpane till my eyes and brain ached fer
very pity.
For two wretched days and nights he
struggled with this sordid misery, the
tiend OF commercial fret and disaster
never letting 60 his grip; but New Years
morning dawned clear and bright. aud
before the eastern sky had quite lost its
glory Bob fell into deep, untroubled
sleep. How white and wan he looked |!
How thin and bloodless were the once
busy fingers that now lay limp and still!
At noon-time the sky was all one blaze
OF cloudless sunny blue, and to keep the
room dark strove to fasten an extra
shawl over the window. Suddenly I
heard Bob whispering my name in such
a strange voice that got down quickly
and went over to the be lside, and was
puzzled to hear low laugh from his
trembling lips.
'Say Mag" he whispered, "don't let
mother know. I crept in through the
window, and left some of my pants on
the gooseberry bushes below you'll patch
'em up, won't you, Mag? And keep mum
about it. Such lark as we had last
night! Dave Devine and painted the
deacon's horse white and red but kee
mum, Mag not word for your life!"
l kept mum. God knows I couldn't
speak. ] had got my boy Bob back
again, but there was a sore Juggling at
my heart-strings. The doctor came and
fingered long, theE he turned to me
my work is done," he SAID. I was
afraid from the first it would be useless;
q higher and better work has begun.
There is a some one down stair-a strang-
er to you or me, or this dear lad lying
here. I wouldn't like to bring a new
face among you just now. but this one
will do. Bob" he said, leaning over my
poor brother--"Bob. here is an old friend
to pray|with u.s.
Then there came into the room a man
with brown SKIN ana lusty growth-hi
hair was almost white, but his eyes had
a familiar loving glow dear to the olden
time. did not care to question who he
was or whence he came, but knelt silently
at the bedside while he prayed.
Bob's lips moved, but only with some
boyish memory, and hour after hour went
by. The day was at last waning; I was
alone with nv brother. I heard the
light breathing Of his children. and mine
now, in the room close by; the low
voices of David and Hulda reached me
once in while from the lower floor.
might have been hard and bitter wom-
an, but as at lsat the day went out and
took Bob with it, felt grim delight IN
my sore and aching heart tina, be was
beyond the reach of tae Marleys--Harp-
cr's Magazine.