Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-05
So the day passed. The children, tired


their cots. The mother went into tn,
nursery aud with saddenod mein ben'
over each little bed to give her wonted
evening kiss. Ellie sprung up when sh'
saw her approach.
"IIero is u kiss for poor papa," sht
whispered, NJ she encir,od her mothers
neck with her chubby, soft arms. "Dt
You know, mama, tho story no used &c
toll us about tho bird with the hard
name? can't remember it,"
"What bird, my child? asked the
mothor listlessly. Her thoughts wore
wandering, and sho hardly took in what
! tho little girl said.
"Car--Car-somothing, mamma. That
wonderful bird papa told mo that pref.
ty story about; how it camo to make
sick people WE'LL and flew away with
their illness.
'Caradrion," said tho mother. Her
attention was awakened, and sho re-
mem berod to what Eflio referred.
II was legend tho father had often
told the child, ono that he himself had
road in tho old chronicles of u monast-
ory-a story full of deep poetry and
feeling. IL was about that bird, that
wonlrous bird that wo possess not, that
no land can call it's own, but which on
clear midnights flies high aloft above
our heads, touching tho portals of heav-
en- with its pinions. Men name it Cara
orion. Whenever this bird lowers its
wings toward Garth, a sick man is
made whole. =.
"What of.tl,at Bird, Eflie ?" asked the
mother.
The child hung her hoad shyly, and
would not reply. At last she whispered:
Mamma, | have been praying God to
send down Caradrion to poor papa now
he is sure to got well, 80 don't look 50
sad any more, dear mamma"
Tho tears wcllcd into the mothers
eyes. She gould not speak Alas! she
feared tho father was already beyond
all hope of recovery, and that the end
would como orc these sweet ,Mu6, eyes
re-opcncd from sleep.
Good night, Ef1io, good night" she
sobbcd, as she replaced the child i'll it's
small, white cot, and hastily left tho
tho room.
There was no change in tho sick man
he still bore the same stony, immovablo
look.
"Is there any alteration ~ she asked
the doctor when he came for the first
time that night to 500 his patient.
"None," he said.
"And you can do nothingT' o..
Nothing; We must leave nature
aono. Stay, open tho window a little;
tho air cannot harm him.
Sho did as he babe.
IL was a soft, warm night, and the
sweet scpyted air fro" without filled
tho room. There was no moon. The
heavens were studded with stars, and
their mild light shone down upon tho
earth. There seemed more pity in this
scene than in tho ono she had beheld
that morn. This time she did not turn
away. Some of its peace seemed to sink
into tho wiic's breaking heart, and led
her thoughts wandering into tho past.
Sho thought of her young love for tho
man who now lay stricken and helpless,
of the few years of happiness she had
spent at his side; and then she could
pursue the vein no further.
~
Surely, surely" she criedin heart an
guish, ''joy does not die SO soon!' She
turned hcr mind away from tho alien
crossing topic, and lot her idea wander
dreamily; hor long continued watches
had tired her mentally and bodily. She
knew not why, or wherefore, except,
pcrchauce, that Effie's question had re-
called tho old story with now vividness,
bnt her thoughts ran on about that bird
Of health. Should he descend this night,
whom of those who lay ill on earth
would no elect TO benefit For in this
vast world of SORROW and sick, how
many lay stricken beside her husband !
The darlings of other hearts might DO
dying. How, then, would the bird
choose between them? How, toll which
life was needful still on earth; which
meet Tor heaven?
And still the sick man lay motionless.
As tho young wife sat thus, lost in
deep revorie, the hours wore on. At last
she was aroused by a sound from With
out, as of the rushing of mighty wings.
1t came nearer, even nearer; it seemed
to approach where she sat.