Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-31
ROCK ME TO SLEEP, MOTHER.

1t was iu farm-ho on our West
ern prairie that the story came to ME, in
the golden, glorious month Of October.
Mine host, Mr.. c., was hard work
ing, successful farmer Of middle age.
His father had owned and cultivated
the land before him, and had followed
his wife to "the long homo" some ten
years before. A younger unmarried
brother lived with them, and the tive
brothers owned and worked the farm
together. Over many an acre of wheat
their rsapers went; many a cornisld
laughed with svery breeze that rippled
over it, and fine cattle stued knss-deep
in the creek, or brOwsed peacefully on
the hill slopes
"A well-to-do farmer" How much
that suggests Of plenty, comfort and ia
dependencsl And all that can surround
farm life with beanty and content seem
ed included in the picture of those lndi-
an Summer days. The large, white farm
house was full of quiet life; the cool di-
ning-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 bedstsad and
bureau, "clothes press" and open fire.
Here it was my story came to me. Mrs.
c. was pale, quiet little woman,
looking always tired. Not so much
tired from work or care as from sorrow.
She must have been very pretty in her
girlhood-the gentle beauty Of clear
complexion and soft eyes and h2ir-but
she looked prematursly old. Nor was it
that either, but an indescribable heart
hungry, baffied look; look never found
on mems faces, and often misunderstood
in 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, reliable 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 plenty of quiet for
rest, and the "crsam 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 Look
ed to me as though she needed a long
rest. To slsep-and sleep like child
All, how many of us need to sleep the
sleep of childhood again. l wished that
| might get near to her and her woman's
heart, for there was that about her Qui-
etness which made my heart ache for
her. But she seemed always busy, going
from dairy to fruit-Ioom and 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 incidentally if he would send
her one of the men to pick grapes:
do let the grapes 60 to-day, Minnie!
You had better lose them dozen times
over than make yourself sick. l wish
you wouldn't work SO hardw
And she looked up in that weary, sup
pressed way: What is there to dc but
work? l cannot sit with folded hands
| cannot play like child" And each
day found her little paler and more
quiet; the ssrrowful curves to her lips
more dropping.
l came across Mr.. c. one late after
noon near the brook He had been mend
ing place in ihe bridge that spanned
it, and we spoke of the fall rains and
the overtiowing harvest, nearly gather
ed. Then l mentioned his wife
"She hardly seems so we'll to-day. Has
she not consumption or some local trou-
bie7 Have you no fear?"
81 really do not know" he answered,
slowly, a 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 yondsr," and he
nodded his head in that direction. Then
his eyes wandered to the roofs and ca
bles that sheltered her, as they stood out
over the brow of the hill, and he added:
II am afraid am gsing to lose her, and
I can't seem to help it eitherw His
voice choked a 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.
| went into the old-fashioned bedroom
to see her ohe night, after our early tea.
She was lying with closed eyes, and
feared to disturb her; but she looked up