The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-23

to day. We must be verv careful of our
money or we shall get behind hand, and
/ can hardly tell what will become of
us then. But don't want you to 90 to
bed without your supper tonight, Tor l
am going to have good one, and l
shouldn't enjoy it alone Old Uncle
John called here to-day and made me a
present of slice of his nice ham and a
dozen eggs. Won't that be nice?'
81 guess it will" rejoined the little
boys. 9 Ham and eggs ! won't it be
good?" and merrily battered their lit
tie bar5 feet out of doors and down cell
lar, and into the pantry. and wherever
mother sent them; and when supper
was ready two brighter-eyed, roster
checked, happier-faced children could
not be found in the whole township
Nor ever did a happier mother ask a
blessing on a meal than she who pre-
sided at the board, so humble that ham
and eggs were rare luxury.
When the happy meal was over, and
the tea things washed and replaced
again, as was her wont, she drew them
to her side and after telling them some
stories which they never tired of hear
! ing, about their sainted father, she read
to them from her Sunday School book a
pretty story, and then an appropriate
/ selection from the Scriptures, and went
with them to their little chamber and
assisted them to undress. Very care
| full were the little ones that night to see
that their clothes were hung up in the
most precise order, and very quietly
came they and knelt beside her to re-
peat their evening prayer. Fervently
did she press them to her bosom when
it was over. and sweeter kisses never
passed between the lips of mother and
her darlings than were given to and fro
on that happy night.
what good mother she is" said
Henry. "She is the best mother ever
knew in all the world. She's always
sorry when we do anything naughty,
but she amt never cross nor ugly. l
don't believe she knows how to be cross
"Well, l am glad" responded
the little brother, with emphasis.
Wouldn't it be awful, though, to have
cross mother and a dead father !
How wish he d lived, then she wouldn' t
have had TO work So"
mother says we mustn't say so, be-
cause God wouldn't have taken him if
it hadn't been right. But l shall be
glad when we're grown up big, so that
we can take care of her. She's got to
live with me in the summer, Frank,
because m going to be a farmer, and
the country will be the very best place
| for her in warm weather"
''Well, she may; she shall be with
me in the winter time, cause I'm going
to keep big store in the city and have
lots of money. o, won't she live nice
and easy How wish l was big I'm
such little fellow, I'm afraid it IL take
SO long before l get to be man that
she'll get sick and die"
80, guess not" was the hopeful
answer. 'At any rate, we'll be good
every day while we're little, and then if
story to tell father about his little boys
that he used to love so dearly. And
we mustn't ReUer NEVER throw any
thing toward the house again--mustme?"
40, we muslin sure; but if we do
we'll tell her of it-won't we; cause
She II never be cross, but only so sorry"
Many a beautiful air castle then did
the little ones build and in each there
was chamber for mother, with plenty
of gold and plenty of love. And when,
at last, slumber sealed their eyeGds, it
left them locked in each others arms,
with an expression on each lip that
would have well become the angel dead.
Their mother had not spared the rod
and spoiled the babes; but she had bent
it over them with such holy hand that
it had budded in her grasp and left up
on their young hearts, not sore and
crimson wounds but the impress of
green leaves and the dew of flowers.
"The dear little creatures" eXclaim-
ed she in thrilling tone, as she entered
their chamber an hour after midnight,
"the more l love them the better they
grow. How sorry l shall be when they
are no longer my own"
Then she knelt down beside their
humble bed and rendered many earnest
thanks to God for the beautiful gifts
vouchsafed her household. Sweet and
holy kisses she pressed afterward upon
their lips and the little ones smiled in
their slumber and dreamed that an an
gel was bending over them. Then, with'
an aching brow and wearied limbs the
mother sought her couch and forgot
herself in sleep. God read her heart
[ wish | could.