The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-29
.But he is not ill., answered the wife,

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still more bewildered.
'Not in body" remarked Miss Brown,
with significant smile; "but in mind,
we mean; he pays great attention to the
Frys next door, you know"
!" And Miss Fryis very pretty" added
Miss Jones.
If she had not been so angry Margaret
would have laughed; John had walked
home with their neighbors twice, and
she was very fond of them. John might
not love her; that she had found out, She
thought; but she knew him to be the
very soul of honor. She was generally
50 quiet that when her anger blazed out
they were startled.
Will you be so good rs to leave nv
husbands affairs aloner' she said. eff
you wish to be wicked there is no need
to show such bad taste as to come here
and endeavor to do harm"
And then they, feeling that for once
they had been vanquished, quickly took
their departure. But their words had
left sting behind them.
Was itso visible, then, even to these
gossips, the fact she had found out some
time ago, namely, that she was not to
him all that he was to her? When she
had discovered it she had determined to
take thankfully what he could give: but.
alas! beloved, who will be grateful for a
few crumbs, seeing full meal beyond?
The hunger of the soul cannot be stihed;
it cries out for food. Well, she tried not
to blame him; he had mistaken his feel
ing for her, and was tired of her; but
there was her baby.
She never told her husband of that
visit, though she believed he regretted
his marriage: she only chung to the child
such a frail little reed to lean upon.
And one day it broke.
1t was Sunday-one of those sweet
days IN the late autumn which nature
saves out of the summer. The trees
had lost their leaves, and the sunshine
showed all their delicate irregularity-
their beauty of mere form, which had
been hidden by the foliage. The golden
asters andred geraniums still frightened
the sheltered garden. A ball was lying
on the frosty grass, but the tiny fingers
that had played with it would never
touch it more, for Baby Jack was going
fast to a land in which, let us not say,
there are no toys for the angel children.
You remember Martin Luther's letter to
his boy Hans, in which he tells him of a
lovely Paradise, with golden toys, whips,
and drums and childish delights.
This little child was dying of Group.
His mother could only hold the little
form on her knee, while John knelt be-
side her trying useless remedies to COM
fort her. At last he stood still, looking
down sorrowfully at the signs of ebbing
life.
Suddenly he knelt and touched the
little clenched hand with his lips, and
heavy tears FLASHED down upon this
dear little boy; it was hard!
Margaret bent forward "You do love
him, Johnn' She was Jealous for him
that he should have his full share of love
before he went. John understood, and
his look answered her. What instinct
had made her ask?
The futtering breath grew shorter and
shorter; it vas near the end now, and
little Jack opened his eyes and said, for
the first and last time, quite clearly:
Mamma" That was all she was to
have-the one word, and the angels
would have the rest. Terrible, awfuily
mysterious aeath hao Dorne away the
Sp,[ SPIT Vi 'ne oaoe' iei. only tne liIIle pouy
coiu anu "hiIe AZ sno"-wrealn' ouc
siii,ie hotereu on Iiie 'ihy lace.
AT .haI moment Inc pells rang ouC !or
morning SERVICE ming Ihe ciear All WIN
'nelt soieiiih l iS ie >,
cold Toho coftlu Morro,.of ooulH y,aa,D
sail 'onl' solIly' MarS"IeU coull weep
sheii' anu 'he NURSE Iooh inc oeau chllo
rom her arms anu ~eh1 solliy out'
slul'ihs the ooor'
V.
So John comforted his wife, but her
grief grew silent. She was gentle to
him, but her thoughts were with the
dead child. She told herself that it was
better that he should be with the angels,
and he would sing hymns, and perhaps
play in the golden streets; but she had a
hurt feeling, for he would never be her
own baby arain. Mothers hearts are
hungry things, and she felt that she had
nothing left. Her husband OWNED this
mixed feelino. but in the sbyness of his
new love could not penetrate her silence.
After a while her strength failed; and.
in GREAT anxiety. he brouoht her back to
Cloyerleioh. to the old rooms that had
been powered bv the annie blossoms:
-. =,