The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-02-10

: ever nau as much Trouble as have
5 mother? 1t seemed as thigh we
couldn't bear another drop ofrouble
! when father lost the beautifi home
, where Judge Walton lives. i that
was just nothing to what ca, after
J ward. When father fixed up is cot
tage and brought US here, it seed so
bright and cOzy such a dc little
home in nest of flowers we
didn't miss the grand homeo very
much. But, then, father wasick so
long, we had to mortgage it to We, and
now he is dead, and we must lie even
this home, and there's no plac for us
to go in all the world. !"
The brave boy, who had bee such q
tower of strength to his feeblmother,
who had comforted, and plaaed, and
worked with such untiring chGfulness,
broke down, and great so5s nook his
slender form, as he laid his brEn head
in his mothers lap.
"Just to think" he sobbe I" that
the Judge, who has SO much, lust take
this pretty home, tool I don believe
God cares for us any more, or would
help us now"
Frank +"
There was reproachful toe in the
mothers voice, seldom used wen speak
ing to her boy.
" Well, mother, suppose cod really
does care, only we can't undeItand why
he should make us suffer SO mich. Only
think, when I went to Judly Walton's
to-day, and begged so earnestly that he
would let us stay here, wheuI told him
that father had died here, aid that the
little home was very dear 10 my sick
mother, and that / would ply him every
cent of rent, if he would oily give me
time, he actually laughed in ny face"
A crimson flush spread over the boys
white brow, and fash of anger deep
ened in his brown eyes.
Yes, mother, he laughsd-such a
scornful, contemptuous laugh and
leaned back in his chair, eying me coolly
from head to foot, as though measuring
my height, then he said, sarcastically:
" Want to speculate with any Of your
spare money, after supporting the fami-
ly and paying rent?"
I" didn't .dsvree ouuIeGnlng dreadfully
disrespectful if had; SO just snatched
up my hat and ran out of the room. As
| reached the hall saw his little Elsie
standing there, with two big tears in her
round, baby eyes. She slipped soft
little hand into mine, and whispered
s"Essie loves 90. Essie so sorry
naughty papa Essie div 90 her pen
NY
ooh, mother, how can such man as
Judge Walton have such sweet little
girl as Elsie?"
1t may be-" replied his mother,
thoughtfully, that God will reach his
heart through her"
81 believe it is the only way posi-
BILE" said Frank, vehemently. Moth
ing short of an angel could ever reach
his stony heart. At any rate, he might
have let us stay; it wouldn't have hurt
him any. Now, Two got place in Mr..
Barlow's store, with pretty good wages,
and the promise of better if [ prove
faithful. Why, mother, 1 would work
my fingers to the bone, if need be, just
to keep you in the dear home where IA
ther died.
''NG. my dear boy, it would be self
ish and wrong for me to stay here if it
made it harder for you. But I had
thought, perhaps, the Judge Well,
never mind; we will not talk about it.
The darkest page in the future is not
leaving the old home, Frank"
''What is it, mother?'
"It is that all thoughts of your edu-
cation must now be given up"
Frank did not answer, but wistful,
far-away look crept into his eyes, as the
dusky shadows of twilight settled over
mother and son, sitting together on the
little porch. The sweet June air was
fragrant with the breath of the blossoms
that filled the yard.
Long they sat there in silence, each
thinking of the dreaded morrow, when
they must forever leave the home made
dear to them in SO many ways.
Mrs. Rea was just recovering from q
long illness, brought on by fatigue and
mental suffering at the time of her hus-
lands death, and she was in no condi-
ton to meet brayely the new trouble
that awaited her.
At last, pressing loving kiss on
Franks brow, she said, in low tone:
"Let us leave the future in Gods
hands, my son, feeling sure that He
knows best. And now it is getting late,
and, as there will be much to do to-mor-
row, we had better go to bed and get
what rest we can.
After kissing his mother goodnight,
Frank went up to his room. AS he
stood in tho 1oor q foipf o.loaro e ,o4.1~
light shone in through the bright, south
window. The muslin curtains were
drawn back to let in the summer air,
and as Franks eyes rested first on one
object, then another, in the little room.
his heart gave great throb of pain, for
tomorrow he must leave it all.
Instead of going directly to bed, he
threw himself on a couch that stood
across one corner of the room, and
watched the moonlight with fearful
eyes. -~N ~
He never knew how long he lay there,
but he was aroused by the cry Of "Fire,"
and, springing to his feet, he rushed
down the stairs and out into the
sultry summer night.
A lurid CLEAN shot into the sky in the
direction OF Judge Walton's home. A
few moments later and the boy was
standing in the midst of an excited
crowd. The fire had made such rapid
progress that there was no hope of say.
ing the house.
The servants were huddled together
in frightened group, and some one had
just dragged the Judge out of a side
door, nearly suffocated, and so terribly
bruised that he was unable to stand.
At that moment, from an upper
window, which was open, little. golden
head was thrust two dimpied. baby
hands were reached pleadingly toward
the crowd, and an eager little voice
called.
Papa, tate Essie p
The Judge sprang to his feet, unmind-
full of the bruises, tottered step or two
toward the house, and fell with a moan
of despair.
Below that window was sheet of
lurid flame, over which no ladder could
be placed, and to reach the place in
time to save the child by any one unac-
qualnted with the interior of the build
ing was impossible.
The servants would not return. and
the master could not. What was to be
done?