The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-08-05
wHIsTLING IN HEAVEN.

| You're surprised that ever should say so
Just Walt till the reason I've given
| Why say shan't care for the music,
Unless there is whistling in heaven.
Then you'll think it no very great wonder,
-; Nor so strange, nor SO bold a coneeit,
Ihat unless there's boy there a-whistling
| Its music will not be complete.
1t was late in the autumn of 40;
We had come from our Eastern home
Just in season to build lis cabin,
Ere the cold Of the winter should come;
And We lived all the while in our wagon
That husband was clearing the place
w here the house was to bes and the clearing
And building it took many days.
SD that our heads were scarce sheltered
In under its roof, when our store
Of provisions was almost exhausted,
And husband must journey for llore;
Tie nearest place where lie could get them
was yet such distance away,
That it forced him from home to be absent
At least q whole night aud day.
You see, we'd but tw or three neiglbors,
And the nearest was more than II mile;
And we hadn't found time yet to know them
For we had been busy the while.
And the man who had helped at the raising
just stayed till the job was well done;
And as soon as his money was paid him
Had shouldered lis AK and was gone.
Well, husband Just kissed me and started
l could scarcely suppress deep gioan
At the thought of remaining with baby
So long i'll the house all alone;
For, my dear, was childish and timid,
And Drawer ones might we'll have feared,
For the wild wolf was often heard bowling,
And savages sometimes appeared.
But smotlered my grief and my terror
Till husband was Off ON his ride,
And then in my arms / took Josey,
And all the day long sat aud cried,
AS thought of the long, dreary hours
When the darkness OF night should fall,
And was SO utterly helpless,
With no one in reach Of my call.
And when the nj ght came with its terrors,
To hide ev'ry ray of light,
hung up q quilt by the window,
And almost dead with affri.ht.
l kneeled by the side of the cradle,
Scarce daring. to draw full breath,
Lest the baby should wake, and its crying
Should bring us a horrible death.
There knelt until late in the evening,
And scarcely an inch had stirred,
When suddenly, far i'll the distance,
A sound as Of whistling heard.
l started up dreadfully frightened,
For fear twas an Indians call;
And then very soon remembered
The red man ne'er whistles at all.
And when was sure twas a white man,
thought, were he coming for i'll.
He'd surely approach with more caution
Would come without warning, and still,
Then the sounds, coming nearer and nearer,
Took the form of tune light and gay,
Aud | knew that needn't fear evil
From one who could whistle that way.
Very soon heard footsteps approaching,
Then came a peculiar dull thnnp,
AS it some one was heavily striking
An ak i'll the top OF a stump;
And then, in another brief moment
There came light tap on the door,
When quickly | undil the fastening,
And III stepped boy, and before
There was either a question or answer,
Or either had time to speak,
just threw NY glad arms around him
And gave him Il kiss on the cheek.
Then l started back. scared at my boldncss,
But lie only smiled ut my fright
As lie said, . I iii Your neiglbor's boy, Elick,
Conc to tarry with you through the night.
1--WE saw your husband go eastward.
Aud made up our minds where he'd gone,
And l said to the rest of our people,
That woman is there all alone,
And I'll venture she's awfully lonesome,
ana tnOuSl Snc may nave no SfeaL lear,
think she would feel bit safer
If only boy were but near
$50, taking my ak on my shoulder,
For fear that a savage might stray
Across my path aud need scalping,
/ started right down this way;
And coming in sight of the cabin,
And thinking to save you alarm,
l whistled a tune just to show you
l didn't intend any harm.
g And SO here am, at your service;
Why. all you need do is to say SO,
And should'ring my AK, I'll away"
dropped in q chair and near tainted,
At the thought of his leaving me then.
And his eye gave knowing bright twinkle
As he said, guess Ill remain
And then just sat there aud told him
How terribly frightened I'd been,
How his face was to me the most welcome
OF any ever had seen;
And then lay down with the baby,
Aud slept all the blessed night through,
For felt was safe from all danger
Near SO brave a young fellow and true.
So now, my dear friend, do you wonder,
Since such good reason I've given,
Why l say shant care for the music,
Unless there is whistling in heaven?
Yes, often I've said SO in earnest,
And now what I've said l repeat,
That unless there's boy there a-whistling,
It's music will not be complete.
-Harpey's Magazine.