The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-03-31
ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER.

NUN MI ~ SLEEP, MOIHEk.
II was in a farmhouse on our West.
ern prairie that the story came to me- in
the golden, glorious month of October.
Mine host, Mr.. c., was a hard.
working, successful farmer of middle
age. His father had owned and cult
waited the land before him, and had fol.
lowed his wife to 1.-THE long home" some
ten years before. A younger unmarried
brother lived with them, and the two
brothers owned and worked the farm
together Over many an acre of wheat
their reapers went: many cornfield
laughed with every breeze that rippled
over it, and fine cattle stood knee deep
IN the creek, or browsed peacefully on
the hill slopes.
" A well-to-do farmer" How much
that suggests of plenty, comfort and
independence. And all that can
surround farm life with beauty
and content seemed included in the
picture of those Indian Summer DAYS.
The large, white farm house was full of
quiet life; the cool dining-room, the
sunny kitchen, the great pantry and
dairy beyond the sitting-room, and long
hall opening into the broad, vine-shaded
porch, the parlor, with its closed blinds
and door, and the bedroom back of the
parlor, with its old fashioned mahogany
bedstead and bureau, clothes press and
open fire. Here it was my story came
TO me. Mrs. C was pale, quiet
little woman looking always very tired
Not so much tired from work or care as
from sorrow. She must have been very
pretty in her grlhood gentle beauty
OF clear complexion and soft eyes and
hair-but she looked prematurely old.
Nor was it that either, but ar indescrib-
able, heart-hungry, baflled look look
never found on mems faces and often
misunderstood i'll woman's face. The
more l see of Western country life the
more often find it settled on the faces
of farmers wives. She had good, relia-
BILE help and her husband was very
thoughtful of her in his great, strong,
clumsy way; but the house was very
quiet, save at meal-time, for no children
gladdened it with noisy merriment.
When, three weeks before, a sunny
room upstairs, with plehly of quiet for
rest, and the ''cream and honey that
can be found only in the country, had
been granted the stranger from NJ, she
was still presiding at the table, and
ordering the ways of her household; but
she looked to me as though she needed
a long rest. To sleep and sleep, like a
child. All, how many of us need to
sleep the sleep of childhood again!
wished that | might get near to her and
her woman's heart, for there was that
about her quietness which made my heart
ache for her. But she seemed always
busy, going from dairy to fruit-room
ard back again; only noticed as the
days went by she went oftener to her
own room to rest. Her husband said
one morning, as We gathered about the
breakfast table, and she asked incident
ally if he would send her one of the men
to pick grapes:
''Do let the grapes go.to-day, Minnie.
You had better lose them dozen times
over than make yourself sick. | wish
you wouldn't work so hardr'
And she looked up in that weary, sup
pressed way: what is there to do but
work. l cannot sit with folded hands:
| cannot play like a child" And each
day found her a little paler and more
quiet; the sorrowful curves to her lips
more dropping.
came across Mr. c. one late after
noon near the brook. He had been
mending place in the bridge that
spanned it, and we spoke of the fall
rains and the overfowing harvest, nearly
gathered. Then | mentioned his wife.
"She hardly seems as well to-day.
Has she not consumption or some local
troublep Have you no fear?''
II really do not know" he answered
slowly, great shadow creeping over his
face; "she does not cough, and there is
no consumption in her family The
doctor cannot seem to help her any; she
says she feels no pain; but, though she
will see to things round the house Just
the same, can see she grows weaker.
The fact is, she has not, been the same
since we buried the baby. Our three lie
together on the hillside vonder,n and he
nodded his head in that direction. Then
his eyes wandered to the roofs and gables
that sheltered her, as they stood out over
the brow of the hill. and he added II
am afraid l am going to lose her, and l
i can't seem to help it either!'' His
voice choked little, the team came
along; he turned to his men, and to
finish my walk A week later she was
unable to leave her room.
l went into the old-fashioned bedroom
to see her one night, after our early tea.
She was lying with closed eyes, and
feared to disturb her; but she looked up 50
sweetly that / drew.a rocker to the side
of her bed and asked her if there was
anything I could do. She shook her
head gently and asked me if was not
lonesome in their quiet life. told her:
mo, indeed! The qulet and fresh air
and absence of excitement are luxury to