The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-06-09

| SONtANN
break y
: ..He was in school and learning fast,
hut ont of hours he was always studying
over books about machinery and steam
Such an odd child as he was, with
thoughts far beyond his years! Some
times, sitting here by myself, 60 over
in my mind the strange things ne useu
to say to me in those days. =,
81 remember that one evening nc had
been reading for long time in some
book that he had got out OF the public
library; but by-an-by he stopped and
leaned his head on his hand, looking
into the Goals. All at once:
Mother, said he, isn't it wonder
full thing that God could trust men with
it?'
"'With what, Jack?'
"sWith the steam-the power in 1t, L
mean! 1t was long time before lie
did. But when the right time came,
and somebody listened, then he told
$50 motherr said he, with his eyes
shining. what must it have been to be
James Watt. and to listen to such a
secret as that?'
I'm minute he spoke again.
"And it's never safe to forget to lis
ten, because we can't know when He
might speak, or what there might be to
heart
] .'Icould not answer him fc~.a choking :;
in my throat, but laid down my knit
ting and put my arm around him; and
he looked up into my face with some
thing in his eyes that | never forgot.
1--WE were getting on well then. The
little house and garden were almost paid
for, and we thought that nowhere in the
world were happier people than we, or
a brighter, cosier home. My husband
and | were always talking of this and
that to be done for Jack as soon as the
last payment should be made. But be-
fore the money was due my husband
came home sick one day.
d" Don't be frightened, Mary he said.
Il shall be better tomorrow
''But he only grew worse next day.
1t was lung fever that he had, and for
many days we thought he must die Yet
he rallied after time-though he kept
his hacking cough-and sat up and
moved about the house, and at last
thought himself strong enough to take
his place again. But that was too
much, for at the end of the first week
he came home and fell fainting on the
threshold.
"It's of no use, Mary, he said after
he came to himself i can't run the
engine, and if could, it isn't right for
peoples lives to be trusted to such weak
hands as minen
He never did any regular work after
that, though he lived for a year.
Consumption is terrible disease,
sir! To see one that you would give
your hearts blood to save slipping,
slipping away before your eyes, and
you helpless to hold him back by so
much as hair S breadth from the black
gulf of death; ah, sir! | trust you have
never learned how hard it is!
Young as he was, Jack was my stay
and comfort through that dark time
My poor husband had matters in his
mind that he longed to speak to me
about but | always put him off, for |
could not bear to listen to ANYTHING like
his going away from us.
'But at last, the very day before the
end came, as | sat by his bed holding his
hand in mine, he said, very gently but
firmly: Mary, wife, [ think you must
let me speak to you to-day!
81 fell to crying as if my heart would
break, and he drew pitiful sigh that
went like sword through my breast;
yet | could not stop the sobs Then
Jack rose up from the little stool where
he had sat so quietly that l had almost
forgotten that he was there, and came
and touched me.
Mother! dear mothern he said: and
as [ looked l saw his face perfectly
white, but there were no tears in his
eyes.
"'Mother!' he said again, please 90
away for a little while. l can hear
what father wants to say
you will think me cowardly, sir, but
did as the child babe me. / left the
door ajar, and l could hear my hus-
bands weak voice, though | could not
understand the words, and then nv
brave boy S answers, clear and low: not
break or tremble in the sweet voice
And at last Jack said: is that all. dear
father?' and Yes, l will be sure to re-
member it-every word!'
''Then he came out and kissed me
| with almost smile, and went through
| the outer door. But an hour afterward.
| when l went out to the well, | heard a
little choking sound, and saw him living
on his face in the long grass under the
apple-tree sobbing his very heart away
SO L turned about and went into the
house as softly as | could, and never let
him know.
CATER it was all over and we had
time to look about us, we found some
debts left and very little money. 1t
was hard thing for me, that had had
for so long strong, loving arm be-
tween me and every care, to have to
think and plan how to make ends meet
when could not even start evenly at
the beginning. But Jack came to nv
help again.
FEATHER said that you were never to
work hard, dear mother, because YOU
were not strong, but that | must take
care OF you some way. He thought
you could let two or three rooms to
dodgers may be, and that the best thine
for me just now would be to get a train
boys place. He said the men on our
road would be sure to give me chance
for his sake
81 do not know that had smiled be-
e..