The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-03-29
WHOLE NUMBER $50.

Il nave not Deen StrOnn SINCE OaDy
came and went. And 1 must get we'll. |
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, the dairymaid, came in for some
directions and went up stairs with that
look haunting NE. "A few days later she
was feverish and decidedly worse.
II wish you'd go in and see her, il |
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. he 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 1 waited,
and he said, after clearing his throat and
looking out of the open door:
'.If She would just cry or sleep. She
has not shed tear since the baby died.
/ thought she bore up real well. but 8
woman who came over to help lay it out
said she hoped She have a crying spell
soon.'a I didn't think so much about ii
then, but I reckon 'twouid have been
better"
"Has she no mother or sister to come
and stay with herP' 1 asked. He shook
his head.
'.Her mother died soon after we were
married, and she was an only child. !
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" tz rH sH s6
I ! 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 unen-
durable; of the settling down to hard,
unceasing work that filed the empty
1hands 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--sc
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 l 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." I said, as 1 took hel
thin, feverish hand in mine, g is there
no one who could come and stay with
you, whom you would love. to have near
you and care for you9'
" No one," she said, wearily.
" How you must wish for your mothel
now,'' 1 went on.
Mother" she repeated, catching a
the word; "Mother? Yes. 1t is mothe
want now. How do want her! nee(
my mother now. -.
/ 1t was a woman of thirty-five lyin.
before me, yet it did not sound childish
1t came to her like fresh thought; as o
something so impossible it had not oc
Cured to her. If I could only brin,
the tears to her eyes; thought, as Ire
membered her husband s words, eff sh
would only cry or Sleep" A silent praye
went up from my heart to the pityin;
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.
Il used to-" she answered.
/
try to sleep want to repeat some to yo
l know you'll like. She smiled sadl
, but shut them and rested her cheek o
her other hand like tired child. An
Ibegan:
Backward, turn backward, o time, in 70,
!, Make me child again just for tonight;
Mother, come back from the echoless shore.
Take me again to your heart as of yore.
2 | Kiss from my forehead the burrows of care.
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hal
: Over my slumber your loving watch keep,
l Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep
3 How still she was! 1t seemed as if 81
: hardly breathed.
j Backward, flow backward, o tide of Il
am SO weary of tolls and of tears.
Toll without recompense, tears all in vain:
h have gro grown NV weary W of dust and decay,
Weary of filnging my soul-wealth away,
Weary of sowing for Others to reap;
= Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep
t Was it the echo of sigh that trer
:: bled on the air? And ah! her lips quive
h "Tired of the hollow, the base and untrue,
. Mother, mother, my heart calls for you.
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
s Blossomed and faded our faces between;
Yet with strong g yearning and passionate pa
: Come from the silence so long and so deep,
n Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep,
t Can it be tears that glitter on the dal
lashes? And-oh, they come! Stealir
V under the lids, down the pale cheek
}. through the thin fingers sinking soft
:. into the pillow:
Il "Come, let your brown hair, just lighted wi
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
d Let it fall over my forehead tonight,
s Shading my faint eyes away from the light.
10 For with its sunny edged shadows once mo
e Lovingly, softly its bright billows weep,
q Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleeI
q Still the tears came. Silently, stead
# lv. Great warm, refreshing tears, th
: had long refused to flow. My voice W
e very unsteady as l began the last vers
e Mother, dear mother, the years have be
e Since last listened thy lullaby song;
N Sing then, and unto my soul it shall seem
- womanhood's years have been only drea
- ClaSpod 10 thlne arms IN q loving embrace. :
,r With thy light lashes just sweeping my fat
II Never hereafter to wake or to weep.
7 Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleel
L L hardly dared stir lest 1 break t
20 20 spell, and / repeated the last verse oy
- - and over again, though there was
" need for the hand held relapsed
- hold, and-she slept! Was ever poe
sent on more direct mission?
IL The sunset had faded into twilight
T. 7 heard the low tinkling of the cowbe
- = as the herd-boy drove them slowly hon
~ ~ ward. Some late bird called to its IN;
&c &c from a neighboring tree. l rose sof
ar -, to go, and turning, saw Mr.. c. star
Of ot ing in the doorway. The tears VIZ
=. -. III his eyes as well, and look shone fir
i. their honest depths that was not for
~ =, to share: AS passed him l whisper,
" "She is safe" And she aOGs.-Ht
Liringstone, in Chicago Adcancc.
as MIR. J. P. Bradlee, who owns lal