Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-05-08

the evening before the funeral by the
side of her dead darling, she felt as
though there could never be any more
brightness or pleasure for her this side
Of eternity.
She sat there fearless, speeches. and
despairing, and heard not the timid
knock that came upon the door. nor
did she notice the figure that mo-
ment later entered the room, until a
voice choked with sobs said:
''Please, Mrs. Sunderland, mayn't
see him?''
Then she turned and saw Charlie
Cooper. The boys swollen eyes showed
that he had been crying, but Mrs. Sun.
derland looked at him, alphabetically.
and when she had realized what it was
he wanted, turned quite calmly towards
the coffin and withdrew the cloth that
covered the waxen face.
Charlie gazed for a few moments
upon his dead schoolmate, awed and
silent, though the tears chased each
other down his cheeks. In a little
while the mother kissed the marble
brow, still with that unnatural calm
ness, and recovered the face.
Charlie was trembling from head to
foot with repressed agitation. and Mrs.
Sunderland almost unconsciously laid
her hand upon his shoulder as if to
calm him. At her touch the boys self
control gave way; with a child's in
stinctive desire for comfort and support
in sorrow, he flung his arms around
her and dropping his head upon her
bosom, burst into a violent tit of weep
ing.
20, Mrs. Sunderland!' he cried, II
can't bear to have him die; l can't
can't he was always so good to me-"
The mothers lips quivered; her fea-
lures worked convulsively; the healing
tears came at last to her aching eyes,
and with her face bowed upon Charles
curly head, she, too, wept freely and
softly, and with the blessed tears the
first bitterness of her anguish passed
away.
Mrs. Sunderland's friends came "a
her and took her away from the scene
of her bereavement. All that affection
could do was done to cheer her, and
after few months her healthy, cheer
full temper began to reassert itself, and
SO aided the effort of beneficent nature
that by September she felt able to re-
turn to Greenville and her boys grave
and to become again, in a measure, hes
old calm and gentle self.
The schools had just reopened, AMI
though the remembrance of one Short
year ago, when her own boy was there,
the brightest and most hopeful of thu
young throng who commenced the
together. brought pang Of
almost unbearable pain TO the mothers
heart, she endured this suffering as she
had endured all the rest, uncomplain
ingly.
The examination for promotion wa,
again held, and this time Charlie Coop
er ranked first among the five of his
class who were promoted to the higher
Mrs. Sunderland was sin
cerely pleased when she heard of the
lads triumph, and few mornings later
when she met him, she stopped to shake
hands with him, congratulating him
most cordially. '.But how does it hap
pen you are not in school, this morn
ing?" she asked.
'I--l--don't go to school, just now,"
be stammered. eve stopped awhile
''Why, how does that happen9 Surely
now is the very time you ought to be
most regular in attendance
81 know-rd like to be, but again
he stopped, much embarrassed, and it
was no. without a good deal of ques-
tioning that Mrs. Sunderland at last
drew from him the Information that he
had ceased to attend school on account
Of his fathers inability to procure fol-
him the new set of school books his pro-
motion had made necessary.
Fathers had felon on his hand all
summer, and it's not well yet. He
hasn't been able to work much, and
we've had to be awful economical
Mother cried like everything when
father said he just couldn't spare tic
money to buy lot of new books; she
was mad at first, but she soon got over
that, for she knew father touldn t help
it. She's saving up now, and so am l.
and we'll raise the money between II.
before Christmas, | guess, though those
kind of books do cost like smoke,' he
with a rueful sigh.
After he had gone Mrs. Sunderland
went into her darkened parlor, and, sit
ing in her rocking chair, rocked and
cried softly for long time.
Then she went upstairs and opened
deep drawer in bureau, from whence
ssued 4 strong perfume of withered
rOse-leaves. She removed the linen
owel that shroudcd TIE contents of the |
drawer, and from one corner drew forth |
! slate and pile of hool-books-al-
most new. she opened the books one |
~ one, and in each she kissed the
lame Frank Sunderland" inscribed |
n big bOyish hand; then she laid her |
heck upon the books, fondling them as
hOugh they were living creatures, and |
;riod again.
At last she wiped her eyes and tied |
Up the books in neat strong package.
Il am dong just rs he would want
he to do she said to herself She
wrote the name of Charlie Cooper upon
lie package, and giving it to her little
directed her to take it to
he house of her neighbor, MIR. Cooper.
The evening of the same day, rs Mrs.
sat alone. reading over a
ew verses from her Bible before retir-
NC for the night, she heard hustle of
footsteps, the door opened,
nd her little maid said.
Here's Mis- Cooper wants to see
on a few minutes, Mis- Sunderland"
Mrs. Cooper, tor she it was, advanced
oward Mrs. Sunderland as the latter
rose. 1--we come to talk about them
looks you sent to my Charlie" she said,
oughly, almost fiercely.
Yes, replied Mrs. Sunderland, dep
ecatingly; - hope you don't feel Of