Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07


"IIas she no mother or sister 10 come
and stay with her ?" asked. He shook
his head.
Her mother died soon after we were
married, and she was an only child. | have
a sister, but she has little children and
could not come, even II Mirnie wanted her.
Our farmhouse is unusually far away from
any neighbors, and those nearest have never
been such as she was used to, or cared TO
see much. | never realized until lately how
lonesome she's been"
thought Of the years spent in this isolated
life. The leaving all girlhood's associations
and friends in the distant New England
state, and coming to this new strange life;
of the babies who had come like CLEANS Of
sunshine, and then were snatched away, TO
leave the lonesome monotony almost uneu-
durable Of the settling down TO hard, un-
ceasing work that filled the empty hands
but not the aching heart; of the last baby,
who had come like whole flood of sunshine
to the lonely house and mother heart, and
the three months in which she held her
darling close-so close and then-ob, how
could it be the bright, beautiful boy must
be laid with the others, in the grassy slope.
| thought of all this as left the dining
room and crossed the hall to her door. The
warm sunset came in through the western
window. She was lying with her face
toward it, the far-away, hungry look in her
eyes.
a. Mrs. c." said, as l took her thin, fe-
verish hand in mine, ais there no one who
could come and stay with you whom you
would love to have near you and care for
you 2"
"No one she said wee lily.
"How you must wish for your mother
now" | went on.
Mother" she repeated, catching at the
word. Mother Yes. 1t is mother I want
now. How | do want her l need my
mother now"
1t was woman of thirty-fve lying be-
fore me, yet it did not sound childish. 1t
came to her like a fresh thought; as OF
something so impossible it had not occurred
to her. II l could only bring tears to her
eyes, thought, rs | remembered her hus-
bands words, " If she would only cry or
Sleep A silent prayer went up from my
heart to the plying Father in HEAVIER, and
like an inspiration come those beautiful
verses of Elizabeth Akers Allen.
"Do you care for poetry 2" I asked, as
she started to turn the subject
al used to-" she answered.
"Now if you'll close your eyes and try to
sleep want to repeat some to you | know
you'll like. She smiled sadly but shut them
and rested her cheek on her other hand like
a tired child. And began:
Backward, turn backward, Time in your asht
Mother, come back from the echoles shore.
kiss from nv forehead the burrows Of care
Smooth the few silver threads ont Of INV hair'
Over my slumber your loving watch keep,
| Rock me to sleep mother, rock me to sleep
How still she was. 1t seemed as il she
hardly breathed.
Backward, flow backward. 0 tide of the years,
am so weary of tolls and OF tears
| Toll without recompense tears AL In vain.
Take them and give me my childhood again.
| have grown weary OF dust and decay
wsaTy wsaT Of Of s0%Us Rfps y oes e Teap away
Rock me to sleep mother rock me 10 sleep
Was it the echo of sigh that trembled
on the air? And all her lips quiver.
Tired Of the hollow the base and untrue
| Mother, o mother, my heart calls for you
Rlossomed and faded our faces bctween
| Yet with strong yearning and passionate pain
| Long tonight for your presence again;
Come from The silence 50 long & and 80 deep deep.
Can it be tears that glitter on the dark
lashes ? And-oh, they come Stealing
under the lids, down the pale cheeks, through
the thin fingers sinking softly into the pillow.
| Come let your brown hair just lighted with gold
| Fall on your shoulders again "a OF oldi
| For with Its sunny -eig ell shadows more
| HAPPY will throng the sweet visions OF yore,
| Lovingly, softly, ts bright bilows weep
| Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me 10 sleep.
Still the tears came. Silently, steadily.
Great warm, refreshing tears that had long
refused to flow. My voice was very un-
steady as began the last verse;
| Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
slug then and unto my soul it shall seem
| WomanhoOd's years have been only dream.
| Casped TO thine arms in a loving embrace
| with thy light ashes Just sweeping my face,
| Never hereafter to wake or to werp,
| Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep.
hardly dared stir lest break the spell,
and | repeated the last verse over and over
again, though there was no need, for the
hand | held relaxed its hold and-she
slept Was ever poem sent on more di-
rect mission
The sunset had faded into twilight.
heard the low tinkling of the COW BELLS as
the herd boy drove them slowly homeward.
Some late bird called to its mate from a
neighboring tree. rose softly to 60, and
turning, saw Mr.. c., standing in the door
| l.