Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-10-12

breakfast had taken little extra trouble
TO prepare. and grew cheerful all the time.
The surgeon didn't do anything more than
| had done, and only frowned when the boy
asked in careless way, that was all put on,
If he wouldn't be up in few days lie
whispered in my ear as he passed
Inflammation set in. Better send for
friends if he has any"
| didn't lose any time, and with hands
that trembled and eyes that blurred wrote
to that mother-who, somehow, had grown
akin to me-that Willie was wounded and
the doctor thought he wouldn't live. At the
close wrote, al am doing all | can for your
dear boy" thought perhaps 1t would ease
her mind little. ! wasn't going to tell him
of the letter until he spoke Of writing; but
toward night he grew worse again, and
could see he was thinking about It. Finally
asked what could do for him. He only
turned his head away and kept very still.
He thought didn't see his lips culver, and
the tears that he tried to hide in the WOODEN
shawl. After few moments he spoke up
Just as pleasant as ever.
"Perhaps you'd better-let mother know
amt getting well-so fast as was"
told him Just as quietly as | could that
| had thought for some time that his mother
had better come and see if she couldn't do
better than | at nursing, so | had sent word
to her that morning. He seemed really
pleased, but didn't have breath enough to
tell me so for long time. After while
he seemed easier, and almost thought he'd
gone asleep; but in minute his eyes
opened. "Auntie u was at his side it,
stantly-" do you think I'll get well ?"
What could sayP Did you ever have to
answer such hard question :" | nerved
myself to tell the truth l hope so, Willie,
but I'm afad not"
Another question followed: "Will mother
come-in the morning? 7"
"Perhaps so. Can't you go asleep 7"
lie shook his head, and pretty soon laid
his hand in mine. | gave it warm pres
sure.
"Auntie, I'm 'fraid-I haven't-been
good. Didn't ever forget-to pray, though
Just as mother said. Won't you, now 2"
My first thought was to send for the
| chaplain; but, no, Willie had asked me, so
| | prayed the best | could--prayed that the
mother might come soon, aud If not that
| the dear Saviour would help this suffering
boy here and the mother at home, and that
they might meet by-and-by in heaven. When
raised my head there was beautiful
smile on his face. thought he was dying.
| ] called an attendant and the doctor; but
after time he became conscious, and then
began struggle for breath that lasted all
through that long weary night Never one
word of complaint, and always smile
when we tried to relieve him. AT daybreak
| he was better. As soon as the stage came |
was at the door to see if one of its occupants
wasn't little woman in black. ! ought to
have known that the time was too short, but
| was too excited to be reasonable. l can't
forget what an anxious face it was that
turned to me. odd she come ?" | could
only shake my head, and swallowed hard to
keep the lump out of my throat IF She
don't come-till too late-tell her-it's all
right. You prayed-me through
These were the last conscious words he
ever spoke. | was almost glad to have him
unconscious because his breath came SO
hard. | never left that bedside all the
morning. The doctor came and said he
couldn't last long, and saw the same beau
tiful look coming back to his face. | whisp
cred "Willie," and kissed his forehead
growing moist with the death-damp, Just as
thought his mother would. The lips moved
"Now Lay me-down to Sleep and he
was dead even while ] held him to my own
warm, beating heart.
Do you know anything about hospita
funerals They buried him next day, anc
still his mother had not come. There wa'
pine coffin, few flowers had grea
deal of trouble to get short prayer, anc
dust to dust" The one mourner had t.
choke back her tears and go back to duties
grown more sacred, but never more to b'
lightened by the smiles and cheer of her boy
She came next day. | showed her thu
little wooden slab, and told her how hi
talked of mother and the messages he left
and how beautifully he went asleep. Sh'
didn't blame me bit, seemed to know thai
had done what / could for him, and 81
comforted me more than did her. Sh,
took the pine coffin back with her to bur.
her boy by her husband. Never shall
forget how she smiled through her tears a
she talked of their being together. Their
can be sublimity in suffering. l have seel
it. This Testament, you see, was given IN
by that mother when on that dreary morning
she started out from the dark, gloomy hos
pital with her boy.-Christidn Union.