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

short years, o, if they are but spared
to mel How could live without them?"
And then her voice was hushed, but
her lips moved and the waiting angel
bore a touching prayer to heaven.
There was a calm and beautiful ex-
preston in her countenance as she
turned from the window. Love had
triumphed over that petulant spirit
which hovers so closely. above the
mothers cares and patience. "God' S
kindliest angel" had lain its white
finger on her worried heart and lit
complained no more" Getting her
brush and pan she swept up the scat
tered glass, watching, with a mother S
anxious eye, lest she should miss some
tiny particle and thus endanger the
safety of their little feet. whom poverty
compelled to 60 nearly all the time
without stockings or shoes.
She did not 90 out to seek the chill
dren; she did not even call them. She
had read their young hearts too many
times to fear for them in their present
crisis. She knew that though they
might hesitate for time it would not
be long ere truth would lead them-it
might be with streaming eyes and Sob
bing voice, yet lead them to her side.
So she resumed, quietly, her accustom-
ed seat and her worn thimble, and COM
menced again that ''stitch, stitch,
stitch" which earned for her and her
fatherless babes their scanty living.
An hour passed on. Then the gate
swung to and the patter of little bare
feet was heard on the steps.
They are coming" murmured she,
a pleasant smile weaving beautiful lines
across her pale, sad face, and the light
of her eye glowing with divine luster.
=" They are coming; knew they would.
Poor little things! pity them; they
would be so sorry" and she waited
eagerly to hear the latch raised.
Some moments passed ere it was
touched; then it ratified but the door
was not pushed open. A low, sad
sound, as of sobs and broken words,
mingled in the same note, stole upon
the ear of the patient watcher. The
tears gushed to her eyes.
Poor little things" breathed she
again You do love me dearly, in
deed, or you wouldn't feel so sorry. If
we weren't so poor l shouldn't mind
it bit, for it was an accident, know"
And again that mothers heart of hers
excused them both, and again the wait
ing angel bore pleading prayer.
The latch ratified second time, but
the door was left unmoved. In a voice
that was tremulous with emotion, but
sweet as the song of bird at sunlight,
she called:
j." Henry, Frank! Is it you, my little
boysp Come in if it is, mother wants to
see YOU
Ere the last words had died on her
quivering lips the door was swung open
and the children bounded into her open
arms, burying their faces in her bosom
and nesting close to her throbbing
heart. Not word was spoken, but as
they felt themselves woundup so close
ly in her dear embrace, their tears
wiped off so soothingly and their hot
brows cooled with such loving kisses,
they knew and felt that they were for
given. Not word was spoken, but as
she felt their slender arms about her
neck and waist, saw their swollen eyes
and stained cheeks, and marked the
suffering look they wore, she knew and
felt that the pulse of love beat high in
their young breasts.
She was worn and worried, yet for a
half hour she sat and held them on her
knees, rocking them with gentle, lulling
motion, and, after the first gush of feel
ing was over, singing to them snatches
of holy hymns, between each of which
she paused, half unconsciously, to press
their lips and breathe over them words
of love and prayer.
The striking of the clock aroused her
from her blessed trance, for oblivious
had she been in body and mind to all
her cares and sorrows and fatigue; and
blest, indeed, in the inspiring confidence
that her little ones were true to her and
to themselves, and, best of all, that she
was true to them.
sit is supper time" said she, sweet
ly. "We have been so happy here N
the old armchair that l had not noticed
twas so late. Who will get me the
wood tonight"
g Both of us! both of usr' exclaimed
the little ones, leaping from her lap,
they bounded out to the shed and re-
turned in trice, each begging to build
the fire.
"Let Henry build the fire and fill
the kettle, and I'll draw out the table,
and Frank may set it,"
For a moment the children hesitated
and looked wistfully into each others
eyes. Poor little onesI Knowing their
mothers poverty they had resolved ere
they came in not to eat any supper, that
she might not feel so severely the pen
atty of their thoughtless act, but now
their keen appetites of childhood COM
batted with fearful activity the good
They drew near each
other. and Henry whispered:
Shall we tell her?"
Yes, l guess so; but I'm awful hun
cry, amt your"
Z" Yes, but so much the better; it
wouldn't be any punishment if we went
without when we wasn't hungry.
guess I'll tell her. It'll show better
how sorry we are"
Then, with a most musical tremble
in his voice, he spoke up:
You needn't put up only the leaf,
mother, tonight, cause we don't want
any supper"
E" What's the matter" asked she,
striving to be calm, " don't you feel
There was silence for moment. Then
to her they bowed themselves
1t her knee, while their little hearts
we're turned inside out. They told her
now that at school that day all the boys
out them had balls to play with, and
low bad they felt because they hadn't
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