The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-08-09
THE BIRD

D V1kAONe
In Q darkened room, by the bedside
OF q dying man, sat q woman. She
had not counted moro than FIVE
and-twenty summers, though to-day
she might have passed for older.
80 sad and woe begone was her aspect.
And who could wonder? for the sick
man she tended was her fondly- loved
husband, and he, alas was dying.
Tho Doctor shook his head mourn
fully whenever she asked, again and
again. "Tell me, oh, tell, will he
liver"
There seemed indeed no hope. The
young creature now sat mute, petri-
fed with grief, and he who had ere
while been strong and sturdy, lay mo-
tionless and still. It was scarcely
possible to tell whether life yet dweit
In the body. His breathing was so
faint It hardly dimmed the glass they
held before his mouth.
aHs sleeps,s spoke the Doctor, who
had just entered softly, "Go down,
dear child, and rest" he said, turning
to the watcher.
In very truth he deemed the patient
about to pass from earthly slumber to
heavenly repose, and wished to save
her the sad sight.
"Then I shall rest beside him. she
answered resolutely.
The Doctor did not reply, and
quilted the sick-room with hushed
steps. /
Still the invalid stirred not, but lay
on In that condition OF neither life
nor death. At last tho wife rose from
her nat, and, approaehipn dark
ened window, lifted q corner of the
blind. Within tho room all was OPP
pressive stiffness, gloom, and sorrow
without, there was life, light, and joy.
1t was spring. The trees wore their
greenest and prettiest garb; pale
prim-roses and white daisies pied the
earth; the fruit-trees stood in fullest
snowy blossom. Below, in the little
garden, on which the window looked,
two children-a little girl five years
old, with long, faxen curls, that
shimmercd in the sunshine, and her
baby-brother, were at play on the soft
grecn-sward. The little one wa
Growing merrily ut the elders antics,
holding out his chubby fair arms a.
though he would seize all this pleas
ure within them. The nurse stood
beside, looking down with a strange
sad face.
"Hushi Miss Efie," she said, as tho
merriment grew too boisterous hush
OF you will awaken your poor papa,
"Poor papaI" repeated the child and
she was silent for q moment. But
soon the game recommended, only
more quietly than before. For what
knew the little one of h~eart-sorrow,
or sickness unto death2 The wife sur
veyed the scene, and heaved q heavy
sigh.
'.They are glad and happy; they
ehjoy the sunshine of spring." she
murmured meanwhile their father
is DYING Her tones were half Bit
ter and rcproachful, though full OF
tenderness. Vat
She let the corner of the blind drop
n c The sight had done her
no good; it had rather torn her wounds
afresh. The gloom and darkness of
the sick-chamber better suited her
frame Of mind.
So the day passed. The children.
tired out with play and laughter,
rested in their cots. The mother went
into the nursery. and with saddened
mein bent over each little bed to give
her wonted evening kiss. Efie sprung
mp when she saw her approach.
"Here Is . kiss for poor papa" she
Whispered as she encircled her moth
er's neck with her chubby, soft arms.
"Do you know, mamma, the story he
used to tell us about the bird with
the hard name? I can't remember
it."
s.What bird, my childp" asked the
mother, listlessly. Her thoughts were
wandering, and she hardly took In
what the little girl said.
"Car-Car-something, mamma
That wonderful bird papa told me
that pretty story about; how it came
to make people well, and new away
with their illness.
a"Caradrion," said the mother. Her
attention was awakened, and she re-
membered to what Efie referred.
1t was o Legend the :ssthsr mad Of
ten told tho child, one that he himself
had read in the old chronicles Of o
monastery story full Of deep poet
ry and feeling. It was anent that
bird, that wondrous bird that we pos
sess not, that no land can call its
own, but which on clear midnights
dies high loft above our heads, touch
ing the portals of heaven with its
pinlons. Men name 1t Caradrion.-
Whenever this bird lowers its wings
toward earth, q sick man is made
whole.
tho mother. -.la.-n 49,.
The child hung her head shyly, and
would not reply. AT last sho whis-
pered "Mamma, I have been praying
Godito send down Carsdrion TO poor
papa; now he is sure to get well, 20
lon't look so sad any more, dear
mammal ri8 tgqs3 .eantTd
.erhe tears welled into the mothers
eyes. She could not speak. Alas she
cared the father was already beyond
III hope Of recovery, and that the end
FonId come ere these sweet blue eyes
eopered from sleep. agin ,clt
aGood night, Efie, good night" she
pbbed as she replaced the child in IL
mall viii cot, and hastily left the
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