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

happy While beneath the stars, they
came to lovely moss and flower carpet
ed dell In the wood, overarched by
hanging trees, whose foliage made q
wonderful lacey pattern against the
gold-spangled blue above, and in whose
lap the river lay clear, deep, emerald
| pool, on whose translucent surface
doomed numberless water lilies, open
tonight against their custom to do them
honor. nd whose pure white blossoms
with their snowy moon-brightened pet
ais and golden eyes, rose immediately
perfect from the noisome impurities be-
meath, and sat queen-like among a tan
gled network of long pink stalks, and
SHINING green plate-like leaves The
brother and sister stood still by the wa
ters brink, feeling hushed and awed by
the great calm beauty Of the place. AS
they stood there silent, the boy so thin
and fragile and sp ritually fair with the
new, radiant light as Of another world
shining in his blue eyes, and the girl in
her sweet strong beauty reminding one
of the water-lilies at her feet. in that thew
were both SO fair and had equally
sprung from muddy impurity and
| fllth-they seemed emblems of spirjtu-
al and material life. The river scarcely
murmured now, but just whispered, as
the trees waved gently in the breeze;
"Ch1ldren, have brought you home to
the spirits who love you. Good night,
good night" Then the children saw
that they were not alone, but that two
| figures, clothed in long flowing draper
les, sat beneath the dropping trees.
They were both beautiful exceedingly,
but the face of one was as the face of
an angel, glorious with an infinite peace
and JOY, while the face of the other,
though beautiful, was sad and drawn
and tear-stained, as though with pas
sionate suffering and pain.
Children" said she with the sad,
solemn face, as they stood before them,
silent and awed, eve have been waiting
for you to-night-my sister and L." and
she smiled. The girl looked at them,
and lnstlnctively shrunk away from the
beautiful, sad being who had spoken,
and went close up to the other, whose
eyes were fixed, beaming and smiling,
on her brother.
q" 70 are SO beautiful" she said, "an'
look SO bright and happy. Will 20
make my boy we'll, SO he can eniov his
self in the fields and woods ?"
Then the spirit with the radient ewes
rose and beckoned to the boy. q have
come to take your brother home" she
said, where he will be well and joyful
always"
can may no come, too?" the girl
asked, putting her arm around her
brothers neck, as if to keep him with
her. Il cannot live withouten him!
Her mouth quivered, and the tears
welled up big and bright in her eyes.
My child the spirit answered, soft
ly, you cannot come with your brother
now-the time is not yet. Some day [
will come for you, and he will come
with me to welcome you. But now,
my sister wants you still, and has work
for you to do"
The girl turned and looked timidly up
! at the sad eyed spirit, who said: Eyes.
my child, you belong to me; my sister
has called your brother from me- In
that he is happier than you But | will
if you will only trust me and be brave
Will you Gomez She held out her
arms to her, and the girl, touched
and attracted by the sad
face went toward her, and
said, still holding her brothers hand
tightly elias ped in her own: am not
afeared O yo, an | will trust 70; but 1
can not give up my boy"
But you must !" the sister spirit
| answered.
In spite of her glowing beauty, the
children both felt that her will was in
exorable.
Sister," said the boy, ''yo mum let
me go;I feel her drawing me, an [ cam
cot stay. [ wull be SO happy. An 20
wull come to me. Kiss me, an let me
go!"
She turned and clasped him passion
ately in her arms; {" wull let you CO."
she sobbed, but it be so hard, so hard!
We was so happy togither"
81 be so tired!' he murmured, as he
leaned, supported in her arms, with his
head against her breast and his lips
close to hers.
The radianteyed spirit approached
them and took the boy by the hand.
"Come," she said gently, II will take
you home."
3" My boy, my boy" cried the girl,
plteOusly; and tor moment, as she
held him fast in her strong young arms,
1t seemed as though her love were deep
enough to keep him in spite Of the
spirits call.
Sister, let me 60; will come again
to 20, an fetch yo.'
Then, with a moan, she loosed her
arms and kissed him and let him go.
Then the spirit wrapped the boy in her
garments, and kissed him solemnly on
the brow and eyes and mouth; and be-
hold! beneath the power of that en-
brace his face frightened into health
and life and beauty; and the immortal
radiance that breathed from the spirits
form fell upon him and glorifed him.
And as his sister gazed wonderingly at
him the spirit took him by the hand
and they disappeared from her sight.
Then she with the saddened eyes came
to the girl and bent over her as she