The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-09-29
paw her promised visit, nor had Mr..

pay her promised visit, nor had Mr..
Graham been to tell her the reason.
Each day brought fresh disappoint-
ment, new sadness. The flowers had
long since lost their fragrance, their
beauty had faded, and just when she
was beginning to think everyone had
deserted her. footstep coming up the
stairs revived her dropping spirits, and
she watched the door with eager inn
patience.
A tall dark figure, which she at first
scarcely recognized, entered, and came
silently towards the bed.
did you think you were forgotten,
May" he asked gently, in sorrowful
voice.
MAY looked at him, and the bright
welcoming smile died away. His face
was so strange pale and haggarl, with
u deep settled melancholy, his eyes full
of sadness.
"What is the matter? have you been
i'll? she asked quickly.
NO, dear. am quite WE'LL
And Miss Graham?'
There was silence for few moments,
then. with an almost imperceptib!e
break in his voice. Mr.. Graham said
''She has been very i'll, but now She
is well and happy
II am 50 sorry, did not know she
was i'll. When will she come and see
me? have missed her so much.
Mr.. Graham drew chair to the bed
SADIE, and sitting down, took tae tiny
hands in his.
And miss her too, Nav. She has
gone long way from me. -
Gone awayn' MAY repeated in blank
dsmav. But she will return?'
mo. dear, Flo will never return.
God sent one of his angels to fetch her
to his home: and she WAS glad to 90. "
"Do YOU mean she is-dead?n May
said in strange hu8hed voice.
YES, she is dead. "
With a low anguished cry May bnrieG
her face in her hands.
1t seemed almost impossible that the
bright sweet girl who had looked 50 well
ard happy when she had seen her last,
should now be lying dead, gone for
ever from this earth. while she, a help
less ailng child, was still alive.
ut was very sudden she heard Mr..
Graham say; ''she caught fever from
one of the cottages she visited, and she
was not strong enough to fight against
it. But. May dear, you must Try and
remember whose will it is that she
should be taken from us.
at is 50 hard. She was all | had to
love. Why did not die instead?" May
sobbcd bitterly.
Mr.. Graham soothed the child as well
rs he could. but her grief would not be
restrained.
For days she would lie gazing up at
the little window, trying to catch q
glimpse of the sky, beyond which the
only one she loved was now resting.
Nothing had power to rouse her from
the apathy into which she had fallen;
once She had said the sunshine was all
she needed to make her happy; now, as
the days grew lighter, she almost wish
ed for the winters darkness.
One morning the sun, absent so long,
returned to brighten the earth with its
glory; higher and higher it rose, send
ING forth rays of dazzling gold, and one
ray, peering through the patched
widow, fell across the bed.
The child opened her eyes, and y
smile Of peaceful happiness crossed her
face.
"At last" she murmured-"a last
the winter is over, the sun has come"
then her head fell languidly back on the
pillows, her eyes closed, and still with
that smile of heavenly light shining on
her pale sad face, fell asleep to wake
no more in this world, but in the home !
where all is happiness and rest.
She lived to welcome the sun, but
her golden guest could not bring the
the happiness she craved; with tie first
ray her soul fled for ever