The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-08-25
"rn have old Dr.. Jones here in /.

~ASA
wink"
"No. Susan, let me CO." said Jane.
quickly. ''He seems to know you bet
ter--this child does; sort of smiles
now and then, as if he knew you. I'll
CO."
Ten minutes later. old Doll stood at
the gate below, and Jane was Chamber
ing into the covered wagon, while
Debby, on the porch, shouted out num-
berless messages.
Susan, at the bedside, sat quite still,
clasping one of .he burning hands, and
smoothing the hair from the hot FORE
head. She sat there patiently through
the long hour of James absence, listen
ing to the low muttering of the sick
boy, from which they could CLEAN moth
ing of his past; while Debby stole in
and out on tiptoe, hating at the bed
side moment or two, then away again
to the kitchen to look after matters
there; and SO, patient, faithful, Susan
sat on, not only that one hour, but
many, many hours, through long days
and weary nights, while the feeble life
ebbed lower and lower, as the fever
brou hit on by hunger and exhaustion
seemed to burn and shrivel up the little
body to a skeleton.
Through the long weary nights and
DAYS, the three watchers, themselves
growing white and anxious. listened
wonderlngly to one sentence, repeated
again NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. gayly, then
so sadly and YEARLY that the tears
would rush to the eyes of the patient
women: 3
1.-The tides out, Father; I'm coming
to shore
"What shore was he nearing?" Su-
san wondered, one day, after so many
had passed away anxiously and slowly
wondered with pain at her heart,
the motherly soul; tor this lonely child
who had come to them in such Provi-
Dental way-Susan held to that was
growing strangely dear to her, and not
only to her, but to Debby and Jane,
who, perhaps, could not have told what
was stirring their hearts. and bringing
out caresses and tender words that the
unconscious boy neither felt nor heard.
(Which shore was he approaching?"
again and again Susan asked herself
and the doctor; and then prayed it
might be this. if only that they might
!
his feet should touch upon that other
shore.
All this and more good Susan thought
and prayed on; and then there really
came day-a most wonderful day, for
they never left off going back to it with
jov and triumph when the brown eyes
opened and smile right up into good
Susan's face, causing her to beam down
upon him so cheerily he really thought
at first he had gone to Heaven, and that
was the face OF an angel who was to
lead him straight to father and mother.
To tell of the slow return to healtl,
would be wearisome; therefore we
shall skip it. But there came day.
after weeks of nourishing and care,
when Willie-that was his name-Willie
Brent told these good friends, includ-
ing DIR. Jones, of his dead mother-so
long dead-and his father, fisherman,
at Ellerton, ON the coast, ten miles
away, who had been drowned within
sight OF his home-a poor old tumble
down shanty; and, after that Willie,
having started out to seek his fortune
and to get out of sight of the cruel sea,
strayed across the country here, there
and all over, begging his way, but
without seeming to find fortune, and
sank at last under the hay-stack, where
Tower found him OH. at once.
"And now, when must he be NOV
ing Off"
This was asked one day after health
and strength had come back to the
sick boy, filling out the cheeks and
tinging them with a rich color. the
bright eyes, shone. also, so honest and
clear that Susan, c!asping him in her
strong, motherly arms, cried out: ''Do
you suppose we shall ever, ever let you
go away? No, not while l live and
breathe! Lord ply us all! No, never"'
And then two young arms wound
themselves around Susan's neck, and
the brown head, rosy cheeks, and all,
lay upon Susan's shoulder.
Willing hands and nimble feet Willie
Brent brou yht to the quiet old home
stead, and the tenderness that SIC.
cored him in that hour of need was the
brightest spot in Will:e's life to turn to
in after years, and was always remem-
bered by him. but most tenderly after
Susan-Mother Susan. as he had very
early learned to call her was carried
out from the old home to rest on the
hillside. st Nicholas.