The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-05-20

| his dead schoolmate, awed Nnd silent
though the tears chased each other down
his cheeks. In u lit le while the mother
kissed the marble brow, still with that
unnstural calnrness, and recovered the
face.
Charlie was trembling from head to
foot with repressed agitation, and Mrs.
Sunderland almost uneonsciotsly laid
her hand upon his shoulder as il to calm
him. AT ner touch the bows self-con-
troll gave wav; with child's instructive
desire for comfort and support In sor-
row, he flung his arms around her and
dropping his head upon her bosom,
burst into violent fit OF weeping.
30, Mrs. Sunderland T. ne cried, 81
cant bearto have him die; .can't--I
Saa1+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 ewes,
and with her face bowed upon Charlie s
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 to her
and took her away from the scene of her
bereavement All that affection could
do was done to cheer her, and after a
few months her healthy, cheerful temper
began to reassert itself, and so aided the
effort of bene6cent nature that bv Sep
tember she felt able to return 10 Green
vile and her boys grave, and to become
again, in measure, her old calm and
gentle self.
The schools had just reopened, and
though the remembrance of one short
year ago, when her own boy was there,
the brightest and most hopeful OF the
young throns who commenced the
school.year together. brought pang of
almost unbearable pain to the mothers
heart, she endured this suffering as she
had endured all the rest, accomplishing
lly.
The examination for promotion was
again held, and this time Charlie Cooper
ranked first among the FIVE of his class
who were promoted to the higher de-
partmerlt. 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, ngratulating him most
cordially. "But how does it happen you
are not in school, this morning2" she
asked.
"I-I-don't go to school, just now,"
be stammered. "f've stopped awhile" !"
"Why, how does that happeni Surely
now is the very time YOU ought to be
most regular in attendance
Il know-I'd like to be, but'>again
he stopped, much embarrassed, and it
was not without good deal of q ,estion-
ling that Mrs. Sunderland at last drew
from him the information that he had
ceased to attend school on account of
bis fathers inability to procure for him
the new sci OF school-5ooks his promo
ton had made necessary.
"Father's had felon on his hand all
summer, and it's not we'll 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 the money to huy lot OF
new books she was mad at first, bat she
soon got over that, for she knew father
corldn't help it. She's saving up now.
and so am I. and we'll raise the money
between US before Christmas, ! guess,
though those kind of books DO cost like
smoke," be concluded, with rueful sigh
After be had gone Mrs. Sunderland
went into her darkened parlor. and. sit.
ting 10 her rocking.chair, rocked and
cried softly for 8 long time.
Then she went up stairs and opened a
deep drawer in hureau, from whence
issued strong perfume Of withered rose-
leaves. She removed the linen towl that
shtouded the contents OF the drawer, and
FROM one corner drew forth slate and
pile of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. new She
opened the books one BY one, and in
each she kissed the name "Frank Sum
|derland," inscribed in big boyish hand
then she laid her cheek upon the books,
fondling them as though tbey were liv-
ing creatures, and cried again.
At last she wiped her eyes and tied up
the books in neat strong package.
~ am doing just as he would want
me to do," she said to herself. She
wrote the name OF Charlie Cooper upon
the package. aud giving it TO her little
kitchen msid, directed her to take it to
the house of her neighbor, MIR Cooper.
The evening of the same day, as Mrs.
Sunderland sat alone, reading over few
verses from her Bible before retiring for
the night, she heard hustle of approach
ing footsteps, the door opened, and her
little maid said.
Here's Mis- Cooper wants to see you
a few minutes. Mis- Sunderland"
She ushered into the room tall, gauut
figure, whose head and shoulders were
-shrouded in dark shawl, and then dis
creetly withdrew.
Mrs Cooper, for she it was, advanced
toward Mrs. Sunderland as the latter
arose. "l've come to talk about them
books you sent TO my Charlie" abe said,
roughly, almost fercely
"Yes," replied Mrs Sunderland, dep
recatinelv ."l hope you don't feel often
ded Charlie told me his father did not
feel able to buy him the books he need
ed Just now, and thought it pity be
should he obliged to get behind his class
on that account"
"My Charlie says them hooks is the
ones you bought last year for. your
EranE - thaf 2'
Yes" Mrs. Sunderland said, her
voice faltering a little, "they We're my
bows Charlie was fond Of him-I
couldn't have given him those books if
he Rad not heen."
"You're right" and the farca voice
grew suddenly husky; my Charlie's
been a-crying hover them ever since he
got them, and ] don't wonder, for the
sight of 'ern has made me do what
never did for living creature in hall my
life afore. I've come hover 10 beg your
pardon for all my hugliness to you and
to him that's gone you puor, dear soul,
you --hido, hido," and fierce, evl.tem-
pered Mrs Cooper ended her sentence
by bursting into hearty ct of crying.
Mrs. Sunderland clasped in hers the
| knotted, t5ilsWorn hands outstretChed