The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-04-21

and absence OF excitement are luxury 10
me. Then I have SO much reading l
want to do"
"Ah, yes" she sighed. "when was
married l longed to read, but there was
no time. / sometimes think l shall
never read again"
Il thought of the thinking that went
on day after day, and alas, night after
night; and I trembled for her reason.
Then something prompted me to break
the pause that followed by saying: "You
must miss the little ones the dear God
has taken from you. very much'-and |
was sorry the next instant, for great
spasm of pain swept across her face; but
with it l had learned the secret of her
WEAKNESS. She said, with evident eff
fort:
II have not been strong since baby
came and went. And must get well,
there is so much to be done before win
ter sets in." She opened her eyes
brown eyes they were-and thought of
Alice Cary's lines
"Her sick soul aweary with waiting
Came up to look out of her eyes"
Jenny, tie dairymaid. came in for some
directions and l went up stairs with that
look haunting NE. A few days later she
was feyerish and decidedly worse.
II wish you'd go in and see her. If
you wouldn't mind" her husband said,
as inquired for her as usual after sup
per. Then, instead of putting on his
broad brimmed hat and following his
brother to the barns. ne took it off again
and fingered the rim slowly. WAITED
for knew he wanted to say something.
Farmer-folk are generally very silent.
Silence is the rule, conversation the ex-
ception. And when they do speak they
have something to say. So / waited.
and he said, after clearing his throat and
looking out of the open door:
eff she would just cry or sleep. She
has not shed tear since the baby died.
l thought she bore up real well. but a
woman who came over to help lay it out
said she hoped she'd have a crying spell
soon.' didn't think SO much about it
then, but I reckon 'twould have been
better"
ssHas she no mother or sister to come
and stay with herr" asked. He shook
his head.
'Her mother died soon after we were
married, and she was an only child. l
have sister, but she has little children
and could not come, even If Minnie
wanted her. Our farmhouse is un-
usually far away from any neighbors,
and those nearest have never been such
as she was used to, or cared to see much.
l never realized until lately how lone.
some she's BEEN"
/ thought of the years spent in
this isolated life. The leaving all girl
hoods 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 uuen-
durable; of the settling down to hard,
unceasing 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-oh, 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 win
dow. She was lying with her face to-
ward it. the far-away, hungry look in
her eyes.
Mrs. c." said, as took her
thin. feverish hand in mine, is there
no one who could come and stay with
you, whom you would love to have near
you and care for you?'
I" No one," she said, wearily.
% How you must wish for your mother
now" went on.
Mother" she repeated, catching at
the word; .'Motherp Yes. 1t is mother
1 want now. How do want her! need
| my mother now.
1t was woman of thirty-five lying
before me, yet it did not sound childish
1t came to her like fresh thought; as of
something so impossible it had not oc-
Cured to her. II could only bring
the tears to her eyes; thought, as l re-
membered her husband words, IF she
would only cry or Sleep" A silent prayer
went up from my heart to the plying
Father in Heaven, and like an inspira-
ton come those beautiful verses of Eliz-
abeth Akers Allen.
/" Do you care for poetry?" asked,
as she started to turn the subject.
+" 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 . tired child. And
Ibegan:
Backward, turn backward. time, in your
flight,
Make me child again Just for tonight;
Mother. come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as OF yore.
Kiss from my forehead the burrows of care.
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair,
Over my slumber your loving watch keep,
Hook me to sleep mother. rock me to sleep.'
How still she was! 1t seemed as if she
hardly breathed.
Backward, flow backward, D tide Of the
years.
I am SO weary OF tolls and OF tears.
TOil roe mana fooy oil i'm In