Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-03-07

not repress, showed how mnch he needed
the water. The man looked at them for a
minute, and then the fumes of the gin he
had taken overpowered him again as he
reeled to the opposite corner of the room,
where he fell on an old mattress, and in a
moment was fast in a deep, drunken sleep.
The boy closed his eyes YEARLY and turned
bis face to the wall. The girl kissed him
could, then rose from her knees and went
to the window, which she partly opened.
The moon was high and full, and the
street without locked as bright as day. A
sudden idea. scanned to strike her, for she
smiled brightly as. she went softly to the
bed and stood gazing at the brother she
loved so we'll and knew she should be able
/ TO keep Sc, short a time. My boy!' she
1said, with an, Intensity of pitiful love in
her face. and stretching her clasped hands
out over him as though she would keep
him with her in spite of everything. my
/
Dear Gcd, take care of him till I come
back and with the love still in her face
she softly left the room. She went out in
to the brilliant summer night and walked
swiftly down the street towards the love-
ly valley beyond, looking up at the quiet
peace and rest seemed to be reflected into
| the depths of her unusually troubled eyes.
After a while she left the town behind her
and walked rapidly through the fields and;
lanes and woods till she came to the rivers
brink. How lovely it looked The trees and
flowers and grasses seemed outlined in
purest, palest silver-a very fairy net
work!-and the quietly flowing river spar
killed. and shone with the glorious radiance
of the moon and the stars. The girl sat
river and filed jug she Lad 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, ana
sat there quite a long time looking down in
to the reflections deep in the water, and now
my boy could be here" she thought. ''how
| happy he would be! Maybe he would get
well if he coined here he loves the dumb
material things So" Her tears fell into
the clear ripping water. A little breeze
sprang up, and tiny wavelets, silver-brght
| Tapped up and up over the stone to her
feet. ooh river, dear river" she said,
leaning towards it, s'last night in my
dreams 20 spak to me, pitied me and was
sorry for my boy. Can't 20 spak agin
nowH" The waveletS rose higher and
murmured and whispered in the wind; and
as she listened the silvery, inarticulate
sounds resolved themselves into words:
sChild," the river said softly, ''the
sweet spirits that live beneath my waves
and in the woods and trees there, BROUGHT
you to me in your sleep, and we tried to
comfort you.''
"Why did you not bring my brother too
and comfort him 20 the girl said. ssHe's
sore in need"
''He would not Sleep" the river said.
sBut take aim some Of my water to drink
and he will sleep, and you will both come
to me in your dreams, and I will cure him
and make him well.''
sAh. you wull?" cried the girl, beau
tiful light and brilliant smile waking her
face into a wonderful beauty. II wull go
to him at once't. Where be the spirits
who talked so kind to me last night?"
ssOh," said the river-and it seemed to
| ;1o S,;x II ;~b{
''you will see them again when you come
with your brother in your DREAM
The girl refilled her jug, nodded brightly
to the river, and FASTENED home with feet
wifged with hope and love. She found
her brother awake and gasping for breath.
Harry, HarryP' she said tenderly lean
ing over him and raising him in her arms,
''See! I've brought 20 some water, all fresh
and pure out offs river"
His faded eyes frightened, and he eager
ly drank it. and then with smile lay
back on her breast. ''Tbat's fine an
nice,' he said. "How dds go 80 far?
Thou's good lass to 60 for me.''
''Yo didna miss me while 1 was gone,
did 20, Harry?''
The boy looked up at her with a loving
smile and tear filled eyes: II allus n ISIS 20,
little sister, when yo's not wi me-" She
bent over him and passionately kissed his
pale lips.
"An' now." she said, ''yo nun go to
sleep, an I'll go too; and yoll wake up
right an fine an well tomorrow, an you'll
never sick no more.7'
"Wull I no?n said the boy, smiling up at
her eager face. "Yo looks lovely tonight
like an angel" still smiling. 81 can
sleep now. 70 nun lie down by me-so;
and put your arm round me-so; an now
kiss me, little sister, |
The moon streamed in on them as they
lay clasped in one another's arms asleep,
their lips almost touching, and the brown
and gold Of their hair shining IN the
light.
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 silvered TO- !
liage above HIM whispered. 'sWelcome!
welcomed" The little pollard willows down
by the water all nodded and spoke to him [
CHEEKY words; the SLEEPY flowers who sat
swaying and nodding on their stalks open-
ed their brilliant eyes to smile at him: and /
| even the lOnp praenfu1 rrocsao Owl ,,,..l - I