Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-23
s. Willie Villa -


looked up and began their olatter.
F" Did you speak to me, Mary?" asked
my husband.
emo"
"Why, L thought someone spoke
during the blessing. Well, Miss May
which part of the turkey shall L help
you to eat ?"
So they did not see him. I alone was
chosen. L looked into his face, smiling.
smiling down into mine SO tenderly-you
cannot know how tenderly, but in his
eyes [ saw-and [ thought my heart
would break to see ia certain sad re-
proachful look, that [ had caught on his
face once, years ago, when [ accused
him with injustice of some trifling child
ish fault-a look that had haunted me in
many still hour since.
And then [ heard him say distinctly.
though to not another ear was the breath
less voice audible:
81 want them to be happy. I want
you to enjoy the day. Did you think I
should not be with you, mother?"
He was with me, thank God and
was happy.
talked, [ laughed, I chatted with
the children; their merriment increased
with mine; my husbands pale face
lighted up, and I felt my own eyes
sparkling.
All the while, where they saw only
that empty chair, / saw the beautiful
still face and happy smile.
saw him mindful of the children's
jests. j saw his eyes, full of their own
own home-lov6, turn from one to an
other, and back again to mel saw
and was content. All that day he was
beside me.
He followed us into the sitting-room
and took his old seat by the cosy fire.
He listened to his fathers stories. and
watched the children at their games,
and joined us when we gathered around
the piano for our twilight song.
heard his voice; the children asked
what made me sing so clearly.
Just as the shades began to fall
heavily he drew me toward him by the
frost-bound window.
know he stopped and kissed me.
know he took me in his arms and said,
as he had said before:
Did you think [ should not be with
you, mother ?"
And then | missed him. Icalled to him,
but he did not answer. [ stretched out
my arms after HIM, but he did not come
back to me. The room grew dark; my
head swan; l tottered over to my hus-
hand:
"Oh, John I have lost him Oh,
Johu John =
Mary-why, Maryl. what is the
matter ?" and he caught me in his arms.
l looked up. [ was not in the parlor
by the frost bound window; the children
were not beside me. The sitting-room
fire had died down into the ashes; the
door into the hall was open, and my hus-
band had on bis overcoat. He was hold
ing me tightly in his arms.
How you shiver, Mary Why, my
darling what has happened?"
"John, where-when did you find
me?'
s. have just come in. I heard you
cry; you called my name, l think"
81 know! / know! L thought-Oh,
John Johnr'
And then I told him ali my dream.
When / had finished he was still a long
with yon."
At this moment the clock on the
mantle struck u.
We listened to it's strokes till the last
one died away.
1T is our Thanksgiving morning, ,
said my husband, solemnly. "Let us
give thanks to God"
SO we knelt down and prayed together
When the morning really came, with
it's fresh, frolicking winds, and sunlight
and blue skies; with its merry faces anC
gay voices, and the happy children
children rapping at my door, thought
of what he said: perhaps the boy has
been with yon.''
Sometimes | think he must have been
SO real and sweet is, even now, the mem
Dry of bis coming. Ali that day he
stood beside me: all that day [ saw his
peaceful face and felt the blessing Of his
smile, and heard his low, sweet voice.
What for months I had looked upon
and feared with the bitterness Of q great
dread, the face, and smile, and voice.
made almost painless.
The children's merry greetings did no.
hurt me; my fingers did not tremble
when they twlned the fresh green leaves
about the walls.
Into the very making of my pudding
[ threw my heart, and the day was once
more festival; just as truly a festival
think, as it was when Willie blessed il
and made it bright, because I know he
wished to have it so.
The older children went with us tc
church that morning. Harry and Susy,
finding the turkey rather an impedl-
nlent to religious edifcation, kept guard
at home. Susy's little whisper at start
ing did me good, think.
Mamma, you're just like the old
mamma you-you used TO was"
God knows I tried to be.
The church was very still and pleasant
that morning, and somehow the service
stole away down into my heart.
A bit of Mrs. Browning's music kept
singing itself in my soul:
I praise Thee while my days go on,
l love ihee while my days go ON;
| Through darkness and dearth, through fire anC
frost,