The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-03-31

ilies whom they had left behind. This
done, they returned 70 their old homes 70
make the necessary preparations for re-
moval, and were MOI expected TO return
for several months. This left the Spencer
family alone, with the nearest neighbor
several miles away. They were, howsv-
er, too brave for fear, too busy for home
sickness, and they thought their new
home the loveliest spot on earth. With
the thought of their friends who would
soon be with them, they were cheerful and
happy. The children played merrily
around the cabin door, or wandered lit
tie ways to gather berries, or TO pluck the
lovely flowers that blossomed in profu-
sion. Occasionally friendly Indian wan
dered that way, and stopped for an hour,
but white faces were seldom seen. One
day party of Indians passed that way,
one of their party being apparently ILL
They stopped at the cabin as was their
custom, begged come bread and went their
way. Several days passed, when little
Lucy was taken suddenly and alarmingly
i'll. Whether she had contracted the dis
case from the Indian will never be known,
but certain it is, that it proved to be con-
tagious fever, of a malignant type. Now
every energy Of the anxious parents was
bent to care for their suffering child
There was no physician in many miles,
the distant neighbors were strangers, and
Mrs. Spencer, though brave woman,
shrank from being left alone with sick
ness, and perhaps with death. They made
use of the few simple remedies in their
possession, and all that tender care could
do was done, but in vain. for at the end Of
five days, little Lucy closed her eyes in
death.
The reasons that had prevented calling
for assistance in the first place, were now
doubly powerful, and with their own hands
the bereaved parents prepared their darl-
ing for her burial; with their own hands
grave was made, but few feet from the
door, where the mother might watch the
sunshine play over it in after days,and with
their own hands they lowered the simple
coffin to Mother Earth, and covered it
with the dewy sod.
For the next few days what anguish
was there. To the sorrow for the dead,
was added the anxious fear that the other
children might fall a prey to the same dis
ease. This anxiety was not without just
cause. A week had not passed before the
others were Frustrated and suffering. How
shall / describe the agony with which
these pioneers, lonely and soIrowing, with
no human habitation in sight, no one to
speak a comforting word, watched over
their darlings, how they closed the sweet
blue eyes, and smoothed back the wavy
hair of "Baby jamie" and ere another day
had passed were called upon to perform
the same sad Offices for little Mary, the
last offering to the Death angel. You
who mourn for little ones with kind friends
around to comfort You, to do all that is
necessary for the dead, and who have the
assurance that all that human skill could
do had been done to preserve the life for
which you mourn, picture, if you can, the
sorrow of these parents, for no pen can
describe it.
When the next white traveller passed
that way, instead of three merry children
playing around the door, he saw three lit
tie graves lying side by side, and a sad
shadows come and go above them, a man
still trying to appear brave and cheerful,
but bowed with sorrow as with the weight
of years.
In few months settlers came to the
/ spot and busy. sounds Of life were heard
where Death had so recently been met in
solitude. But from constantly breeding
ho,. ha Ind ~ ar
had broken down, and she was now a
harmless maniac. At times she was able
to attendto her household affairs, but she
spent the most Of her time in visiting,
and talked and rambled on in an aimless
sort Of way.
Thinking by change Of scenes and asso-
Citations to benefit the condition of his wife,
Mr.. Spencer removed with her to his
former home. The cabin was soon in ruins,
the fences were broken down, and the
whole with these three lonely graves,
formed sad picture of desolation. Such
was the picture when I first passed the
spot.
Now, however, the scene is changed
in the place Of desolation and loneliness,
fertile and well cultivated fields are here.
Near the spot stands q comfortable farm
house, with all the modern appointments |;
yet never do pass the spot, but a vision
Of that early scene rises before me. How
mathematical is it of the fact, that for ev-
cry lasting good that we enjoy, the path
is made in sorrow and in tears! How
many, while noting the improvements
around, and enjoying the comforts which
only the works of years can supply, pause
to think of the life of difficulty, and dan
ger and sorrow, that attended these early
days!
!. A COMPANION PICTURE.
AS companion picture TO my last
sketch, there is called to mind the story
Of one whom will call Smith, land here
let me premise that although these
sketches are true to the life,there are many
good people who are averse to having
their names given to the public, and q
proper regard for their feelings will induce
me in many instances to substitute fcti-