Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-11-24
'sBright Sparkles In the Church Yard


were inmates of gilded palace of sin in
the city. One was hardened in her sin
the other had waded only ankle deep in
the black waters of that moat which cir
cles the walls of perdition. The other
night they went to hear the Jubilee
Singers, and sat unnoticed in the gallery.
The sweet, tender music, so touching and
true to nature, entered like a limpid stream
into the soul of the young girl, and filled
her whole heart. She leaned forward
and caught every word, with her eyes
shining and her red lips trembling. Peo-
pie turned round and wondered at the
fair face, and watched her soul shining
through her great eyes, but they never
suspected who she was or whence she
had come. There she sat, still and i'm
mobile, with her small, gloved hand
tightly clenched, and every nerve in her
little body strung to an almost painful
tension. All was still in the pavilion.
The very gas lights held themselves
motionless, as if afraid to make a sound.
The great audience was hushed. And
when note sweet and tender, but full
and rich as moonlight, swelled and rose
like sea, and then like a shower of
pearls falling through the, sounding
waters woman's voice sang:
"Bright sparkles in the churchyard,
Givelight unto the tomb;
Bright summer-spring's over
r'" Sweet flowers in their bloom"
The girl in the gallery gave a great
shuddering sob. The singer looked up
and saw her and went on
My mother once
Iu. Mymother twice
In ha hna phat1 inin
In heaven once, E
In heaven twice, "a
In heaven she il rejoice.
Again the girl in the gallery uttered a
long, shuddering sob, and hid her white
stricken face in her trembling hands.
But still the music futtered about her
like the rustling of an angels wings
Mother don't you love your darling child.
Oh, rock me in the cradle of the deep
She sat still and hard till the last Ca
dence of the music had wandered out in
to the moonlight, where the angels who
wished to learn it off by heart, caught il
up, and bore it in triumph into heaven.
81 must go from here" said the girl
hoarsely, as she rose to her feet, "don't
follow, I'll be better soon."
Her comrade reasoned with her, but
she kept saying hoarsely, "let me 60
don't follow mel will be better soon.
She hurried out and fed like fright.
ened deer. She was mad! Fer eyes
were hot and dry-her brain was burst
ing, and all the while wondrous choil
was singing in her ears:-
"Brght sparkles in the church yard,
Give light unto the tomb
Bright summer-springs over,
Sweet flowers in their bloom"
She fed like hunted thing till tn,
lights of the city were far behind ant
she was alone on country road. Sh
stopped to rest moment, but the cho
rus went onward through the sky ant
she could not stop, for the words wer
beckoning to her
Your mother. once,
Your mother, twice,
In the heaven she'll rejoice.
Tireless she followed on, on, through
the long, long night. The moon wen
down and she got blind and staggered
and groped upon her way, but still sh
said hoarsely, II must go on. I'll b.
better soon."
In the morning farmer threw opel
his door, and saw lying on the steps tn
soiled figure of girl. He picked her VI
and laid her on his own bed, and his wifi,
laid the wild, pleading face against he
warm bosom. A stream of music reached
the ears of the dying girl.
"Mother, don't you love your darling child?
Then rock me in the cradle of the Deep
She sank back with weak, pleased
smile. "Rock me, mother, that's it-oh
how nice it is. Oh, rock me-rock me-
rock me, mother. am too tired to say