Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-07-31
THE HERALD.
Georgfe Hunts Lesson.-A Sketch
from Life.
BY MRS. ABBlE K. MARpRN.

/
there wouldn't anything fall into it
thought OF Bertlc then, George,
and shuddeied with, perhaps an i'm
aginary fear, lest he, on his way to
| pay me his accustomed visit at the
shop, might stop to play upon its
banks and fall in and be drowned
You Will not let him 90 down, will
yon, George p
ooh, Merwinl certainly will not
Dear little Bertiei what If he should
get drownt d = aud the fond mother
claspcd TIE form of her darling, only
child-her four year old BERTHE, in a
loving embrace, and showered tender
kisses on the little brown head mes.
tied upon her bosom "Mother viii
not let her darling go out of her sight
to day, Merwin'
One quick, warm kiss upon brow
and cheek of mother and child, and
Merwin Hunt passed out from that
pleasant home, leaving bis wife to
busy herself with he, household
duties
The morning quickly sped, and
with the golden rays of the afternoon
sun streaming in upon the carpet,
and her little boy quietly playing
with his ball and kitten, George
Hunt seated herself at her sewing
table, eager to finish bralding Grim
son jacket for her darling Berthe.
AT last he grew weary of the still
uess, and longed TO be out in the
open air aud bright sunshine,
"Mamma, DO let me 90 out and play
little while" pleaded the soft voice
of the child "Bertie's so tired stay
ing in the house all the time. Me
wants to see the flowers and hear the
birds sing Say, mamma, mayn't |
GO"
"You may go just out into the
yard !; but mind, BERTHE, you must
not go beyond it"
"No, mamma, me won't" and
away the merry child bounded to
gather the bright yellow dandeiions
and nodding buttercups he loved so
well.
An hour quickly passed, and
George Hunt was very busy with
her sewing. and needed not the flight
of time. Presently a voice under
the window called Mamma, come
here"
"What for, BERTHE p
son, me wants you; come out
here just minute, please. Do come,
mamma"
But am busy, Berthe.
well, it wont take you but Just a
minute. Mes got the prettiest lot of
flowers you ever did see Ana mes
made a house, and mes got a whole
lot of dishes in, and mes having such
nice time. Please, mamma, come
out just minute
"No, Bert;e, | tell you am busy.
can't stop to see your house now
but play away, and when | get your
little jacket finished, I'll come out
and You may try it on"
Come now, mamma
"Bertie, | can't stop"
cob, but, mamma" urged the lit
Tie boy-''do come and SEE Mes
got the Iiggest, yellowest buttercup,
and it's got ever so many leaves, and
the wind is blowing it so funnu. Do
come out just one minute-jnst one
little minute, mamma"
"Bcrtie, | told you couldn't stop.
Pm very busy, and you must stop
teasing and bothering me | can't
work with you teasing so I've got
this braid on wrong, how. Go and
gather some more flowers, if you
want to, and by.and by will come
out
"Won't yon come Now?' pleaded
the soft voice of her darling child in
tones, the memory of which in after
days and years, sent a pang of sad
ness to the thonghtless mothers
heart, but which then had no effect
in calling her from her work to at
tend the wishes of her teasing boy.
And she answered him sternly-
"No, Berthe, | will not; but if
you don't go away and stop teasing
mo, | will como out and whip you"
Mamma say, Hank say, don't
bother me- any more. No. mamma,
me won't" Aud the little voice
ceased its useless pleading, and the
mother sewed rap dly on
Tick tack, tick tack, went the old
clock in the corner tick.tack and
still George Hunt sewed on, heed
lag not the absence OF her child, 'till
tho heightened shadows 90 the wall
reminded her of the setting sun,
and sh quickly laid aside her work
TO prepare the evening meal. Der
lie, BERTHE l's she called, going to the
window and looking out. "Bertie.
Bertie!' she called from the open
door but no BERTHE responded to
her call. Quickly she seized her
bonnet and ran across the street to
her neighbors, thinking he might
have crossed to play with the chit
dren there Bat be had not. They
had not seen him. Instantly the
thought Of the ,rev flashed into her
mind. and she FASTENED down the
hill, over the bridge. On, on She
almost flew. Mrs. Levitt met her
at the door Have you seen any
thing Of my Berthe. this afternoon?'
eagerly asked George Hunt.
Yes; nearly two hours ago l
met him just above here. with both
little hands full of flowers, which he
said he was going to carry down 20
bis tather-becauss his mother was
so busy she couldn't stop to look at
them, and he bothered her" said
the kind. hearted neighbor "No
doubt but he's safe enough with
his father But come in, Georgia,
you are pale as DEATH
"No-oh, no! l must find my
BERTHE; what if he should have tal-
len into the we'll )" and the two
women FASTENED down 10 the brink
and looked in. One wild cry-"Ohl
God he is therol' and Georgie Hunt
leaped from he bank down, and
caught Der boy in her arms. The
water was only few iuehes.deer
but no was probably stunned by the
fall, and his litlle round face was