Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-09-09
TIE BIRD CARADRION.

In darkcncd room, by the bedside Of
dying m,n, sat q woman. She hoa not
counted moro than some five aud twenty
summers, though to-day sho might have
passed for years older, 80 sad aud voc.
begono was her aspect. And who could
woDdcr? for tho sick man sho tcuded Eas
her fondly loved husband, and he, alas
was dying.
Tho Doctor shook his head mourufullY
whenever she asked, again aud again, :''rcll
Inc, Oh, tell, will he livc?'
There seemed indeed no hopo. 'hc
young creature now sat mute, pctlihcd
with grief, and ho who cycwhio had been
strong and sturdy lay motioo!Gss and still.
1t was scarcely possible to tell il li(u yet
dwoit in tho body. lis brcathiug was SO
faint it hardly dimmcd The glass they held
before his mouth.
ole sleeps" spoke tho Doctor who had
just entered softly. "Go down, dear child
and rost," he said, turning to the watcher
In very truth he deemed tho patient was
aooat 10 pass from earthly slumbcr to
heavenly rcposc, and wished to save her
tho sad sight.
''Yhcn shall rest beside him. sho I'D
sworcd rcsolutely
The Doctor did not reply, and Quilted
tho sick roou with hushcd steps.
Still the invalid stirred not, but lay on
ia that condition Of neither life nor death
At last the wife rose from hor seat, and
approaching tho darkencd window, lifted q
coracr Of the blind. Within tho room all
was oppressive stilncss, gloom and sorrow;
without, there was life, light and Joy. Ii
was spring. The trees wore their srcarcat
aud prctEicst garb; pale primroses and white
daiscs pied the Garth; the fruit trees stood
10 fullest snowy blossom Below, in tie
little garden, on which the window look cd
two childrcn--a little girl Of five yoars DID,
with long, aaxen curls, that shmmcrcd in
thc sunshine, and her baby brother woro
at play on Tho soft; groom swara. Tho
little QUO was growing merriy at tho cldcr's
antics, holding out his chubby fair arms 40
though hewould seize all this pleasure within
them. Tho nurse stood beside, looking
down with grave, sad faco.
"!Jn3h, Miss EMc," che said as tic
mcrrimeut grcm too bois,crov,; :'hush. or
you will awaken poor papa"
''Poor papa" repeated the cI!l, and
she was silent for moment. Bat soon The
game recommended, Only more quietly thau
before. Fos what knew the little one OF
heart sorrow, OF sickness unto death? Thc
vito Surveyed the scene, and hcaycd a
heavy sigh
"Thcy arc glad and happy; they enjoy
the sunshine ct spring" she mu!murcd,
"mc9nwhiIc thcir tender father is lyiu%.'
Her tones we're half bitter aud rcproGchtul,
though full Of tenderness.
She Let tho corner Of the bind 3yop
once more. The sight had done her no
good; it had rather torn her wornds
afrcah. Tho gloom and darkness Of the
sick chamber better suited her frame OF
MUD.
SO he day passed. The children, tired
out with play and laughter, vested in their
cots. The mother went into the nurscry
and with saddoncd micn bent o7er each
little bed to give hor wontcd evening
kiss. Ellie sprung up when sho saw hex
approach.
'Ilcro is a kiss for poor papa" she
whispered, an sho oncircied her mothcy's
neck With her chubby, soft arms. "Do you
know, mamma, tho story he used to tell
us about, the bird with the hard name? I
can't remember it,"
"What bird, my chld?" asked tic mo-.
thcr listlcssIy. Her thoughts wcro wander.
ing, and shc hardly took in what tho little
Girl said.
"Car--- Car something, mamma. That
wonderful bird papa tod me that pretty
story about; how it cano to make sick
people well, and flew away With their i'll
ness"