Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-09

came in his eyes, and happy smile
breaking over his face, h' sprang to M:
fathers outstretched arms, with cry OF
delight. s'Dear papa!" he cE'ed; "Baby
fin papa in gate big s'ip!"
When Mr.. Grant left the sAip, the
sailors one and all kissed the little one
good-by with fearful regret, for he had
become their pet and plaything. his
fathers pockets were filled with minia-
ture boats and wooden fishes made by
the kind hearted seamen; and baby's
tears fell, too, when he left his rough
friends.
"My old friend,'' said Captain Car
ter, as they left the ship together, 81
love that child like my very own; he's
a splendid fellow; 1 declare 1 hate to
give him up, even to YOU
God bless you," said Mr.. Grant.
"a whole lifetime of gratitude could
not repay the debt owe''-and the two
strong men shook hands with tears in
their eyes.
It was late when Mr.. Grant returned
home. The snow was falling, and the
night was very dark. Mike met him at
the depot, and his joy was unspeakable
when the happy father, telling the glad
news, led him where Allie sat with big,
wide-open eyes gazing at the passengers.
"Miky! Miky!" he screamed, as he
caught sight of the delighted Irishman,
who tossed him in the air with his strong
arms, his way of showing his happiness.
On reaching home, Mr.. Grant left the
child with Mike in the stable, while he
went to the house to break the news to
Mrs. Grant. Calling her out, for he was
afraid to have Rose hear, he led her on
gently, step by step, through the nara
tive, until she knew the truth. If the
meeting between father and child was
touching, what must the mothers have
been?
And now Rose must be told, yet they
feared to tell her, whose poor little spirit
seemed SO nearly gone, for JOY some
times kills as well as sorrow. While they
were wondering how to tell her most
gently, baby took it into his own little
hands. They were sitting in the room
where he had played that bright after
noon six months ago. Rose was look
ing YEARLY toward the sea, while her
father told them how he had heard
that day of little child rescued from
the sea.
"So you see,'' he said, as he saw
Rosebud turn and listen eagerly, it is
not yet hopeless for us; and do you
think, dear, you could bear to hear ~
but sudden wild light in her eyes made
him pause, afraid to 60 on; and at the
same moment he caught the sound of
Mikes voice in the hall: s'Please, dar-
lint, stay with old Milky till papa comes
for you"
mo me won't tay, me want Wose-
budi' an imperative voice answered,
and the next moment the door was
thrown open, quick footsteps crossed the
floor, and two little arms were clasped
around Roses neck, who with a white,
startled face, looked vacantly from one
to the other. For moment they feared
for her reason, but as the little arms
clasped closer around her, and the little
head dropped on her shoulder, the stony
look passed away, and for the first time
since Allie left home the tears came, as
she pressed kiss upon kiss on his pretty,
white forehead. And Allie was very
tired, and wanted some one to sing him
to sleep. So Rose choked back the
sobs, and hugging him tightly as if she
never could let him go again, she rocked
to and fro, singing all the while in a
trembling voice his favorite lullaby.
Soon the small head fell lower, the little
veined lids closed, the breath came short
and quick, and "Baby mine - was
asleep. Yet not more sweet was his
sleep, nor more peaceful, than on that
starlit summer night when the little
boat was his cradle, and his lullaby the
low murmur of the waves as they
rocked him to rest.
.