St. Landry democrat., 1884-05-17

her own, he turned towards her angrlIy
crying: "What's the use of being s.
hatetulE you ought to be ashamed o
yourselt"' at which words his mother
anger rose to the exploding point.
i iii thank You to mind your owl
/ business, Charlie Coopern' She said
ana then turning ferociously upon in
| offensive Frank, ''as for you, you youns
harlstoerat, J want you to get hotf my
premises, and stay hoff 'em. We don't
want no fsyorites round here" Then,
throwing the contents of her bucket,
| not absolutely at Frank, but with az
utter disregard of what she was doing,
she dashed the water in such way that
the lad was completely drenched.
Mrs. Sunderland advanced to, the
fence to help Frank, shivering and cry
ing, to get over it. Her gentle temper,
proof against insults OF attacks directed
upon herself, was at last aroused
Frank was a very delicate child, and
the effects OF such shower bath upon
such morning might be serious. With
flashing eyes and face flushed with in
dignation, she turned upon her enemy,
who did have the grace to look little
ashamed of herself.
''You are a wicked, cruel woman,
Mrs. Cooper, and henceforsh I viii
have nothing to do with YOU Then
she hurried Frank to the house, and
mingled her tears with his as she helped
him to attire himself in dry garments.
The lad had a cold and sore throat
as the result of his drenching, and his
anxious mother, during the period OF
his indisposition. entertained towards
Mrs. Cooper resentment hearty;
enough to have satisfied even DR.. john.
son. Frank got well that time, how
ever, and was soon at school again
bright and merry as usual.
But he had several attacks of sore
throat before the winter was over, and
they left him 50 weak and punY that his
mother never before welcomed spring
weather so gladly as she did that year.
Frank seemed to get quite well and
strong as the warm weather came, and
there ore perhaps less prudent, for in
May he again caught cold and came
home sick from school,
He was severely i'll from the first; in
a few days diphtheric symptoms de-
veloped themselves, and twenty-four
hours later the bright young soul was
freed from its frail tenement, and Mrs.
was childless widow.
| will not dwell upon her desolation;
the whole community sorrowed with
her; everybody had liked merry little
Frank Sunderland, and his mother was
almost an equal favorite. If friendly
could have lightened her
grief that solace would have been hers:
perhaps it did, even though uncon-
'ciously to herself, but, as she sat the |
he evening before the funeral by the /,
'ide of her dead darling, she felt as
;hough there could never be any more
brightness or pleasure for her this side
If eternity.
She sat there fearless, speeches. and |
and heard not the timid
mock that came upon the door, nor
lid she notice the figure that a mo-
nent later entered the room, until
'oice choked with sobs said:
'sPlease, Mrs. Sunderland, mayn't T
ee him?''
Then she turned and saw Charlie
cooper. The boys swollen eyes showed
hat he had been crying, but Mrs. Sun
.erland looked at him, alphabetically,
nd when she had realized what it was
e wanted, turned quite calmly towards
he coffin and withdrew the cloth that
overed the waxen face.
Charlie gazed for few moments
pom his dead schoolmate, awed and
lent, though the tears chased each
t&er down his cheeks. In a little
yhile the mother kissed the marble
row, still with that unnatural calm
ess, and recovered the face. I
Charlie was trembling from head to
Dot with depressed agitation, and Mrs
almost unconsciouslv laid
or hand upon his shoulder as if to
aim him. At her touch the boy s self
ontrol gave way; with child's in
;inctiye desire for comfort and support
/ sorrow, he flung his arms around
er and dropping his head upon her
osom, burst into a violent tit of weep
g.
20, Mrs. Sunderlandr' he cried, II (
init bear to have him die; l can tt
ln't-he was always so good to me-"
The mothers lips quivered; her fea-
res worked convulsiyely; the healing /
ars came at last to her aching eyes, e
I'd with her face bowed upon Charles c
lrly head, she, too, wept freely and c
fly, and with the blessed tears the t
st bitterness of her anguish passed
way. a
Mrs. Sunderland's friends came to
II and took her away from the scene !
her bereavement. All that affection =
uld do was done to cheer her, and !
ter few months her healthy, cheer i
temper began to reassert itself, and
aided the effort of benefieent nature II