Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-15
tiful posies like hers, by the shriil cry Of

tiful posies like hers, by the shriil cry o.
terror and agony. 49,
She started up calling "Biddy! Biddy!
what is it," and was answered BY the cry
"Oh, my baby, my baby! Ny baby's
dead" and the low moan Of anguish from
the stricken mother. She did the best
she could to comfort her, but what could
child do for broken heart:
The next day the body was ready 70,
the funeral. The mother sat on the Aool
beside the little pine coffin in stony de-
spair when Meg crept softly up and laid
her cherished branch, now reduced to two
faded blossoms, and one just bursting
pink bud, in the baby's hand. Biddy
looked up and burst into tears. "God
bless you, Meg" she sobbed. "Shore,
there's lots of blossoms where he is now,
the darlint, but it's / that's going to see
these purity posies in his little hand. Oh,
my baby! my baby"
Mr.. Edison, for his part. went down to
his brothers Office and entered with q
little hesitation. The brother, q man
older than Edison, with one of those stern,
, self-rpressed faces which say as plainly
as words could. "Iv'e had hard life, and
l don't care a cent about you; I'll have
what l can get, whether you suffer OF
not" started as Edison came in. His
eyes rested an instant longingly on the
apple blossoms; but the next moment he
drew back. asking, coldly, "Did you wish
to see me-"
"Yes, George" answered Edison, fin
gering the flowers awkwarkly, 81 came to
see about that matter-that-that proper.
ty, you know. lisa pity we should quar-
rel about il and-and-well, | don't care.
You're the oldest and had the hardest
row to hoe always, and l guess likely
there was fully my share spent on me
when | was in college; and see here, old
fellow, I'll do whatever you say if you'll
speak to your lawyer and send him to my
office"
There was moments silence, and the
younger Edison. looking down, saw his
brother put his hand to his throat as if
he were choking. The next moment the
elder spoke almost as awkwardly as his
brother had done.
ut wasn't the money | cared for, but
but wanted the old place. well, i
had some associations with it."
The younger brother started. Associ-
ations, What associations of pleasure
could George have with the old place? !?
There were none, there could be none
except those with Lucy Baird. who had
been for one short year his own wife, now
laid away in Greenwood. He sprang for
ward; George, did you care for her:
You could have won her if you had tried,
and you knew it. She cared for me first
because I was your brother. Dido
you mean to say you gave up the chance
of winning her for me-"
For q minute or two the Edsons might
as well have been a couple of Frencbmen
meeting after a long separation. The
elder was the first to recover himself
"There, there, John." he said, in e1-
actly the same way he used to speak
when they were boys together, "Pve been
hard, but YOU see never had wife to
soften me. and intended to pay you fol
your share Of the property at first, but
well it's no use talking it over. Of course
you didn't know, but l kept thinking you
might have known if you wanted TO-
But there, never mind that now. Did
you know that Midland Bonds are going
up, I'll make a good thing out of them
yet"
81 can't stay" answered Edison, open.
ing the door, ~but I'll see you again
Come up to dinner with me, won't you !?
81 WILL" answered his brother heartily
and with a cordial handshake they parted
The younger brother went straight
home and put the precious branch Of ap.
pie blossoms, which had been diyining
rod to him, showing him where the rich
est treasure of brothers love lay hidden
into glass and set it where he could sex
| it often. The elder as he turned to hi
desk again saw three petals lying on tn
| floor. He hesitated a moment, ther
stopped and quickly gathering them VI
laid them reverently in his pocket book
l-Christian Union.