Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-01-19

every venture ended in disaster, until at
last Harry's health gave way under the
continued series of bitter disappoin;-
merits. BY this time there were two more
little mouths TO be fed. And chen fell the
crushing blow. Harry died Of hemor-
rhage OF the lungs, the doctor said, who
reached the bedside of the young man
lust in time to pronounce this verdict and
pocket the last five dollar bill poor Matte
possessed.
The sequel is known. How she struS-
glcd for bread enough to sustain the con-
nection between body and soul until the
woaried brain refused to longer work and
the wheels Of life became cloggcd, then
ran slower and slower, and finally stop
ped altogether When she saw that the
end was near she told Lottic in substance
what i already known to The reader, and
she cxactcd promise from the prccocious
child that she would take Rory, and, with
the small sum of money which she would
find sccrctcd in their one dilapida;cd
| drunk. together with an old daguerrotyPc
Of her mother in her school girl days, find
her way to the dear old home among the
hills, thinking that hen they learned OF
her death they would blot out from mem-
ory her one disobediencc, ana receive the
lt;le waits with open arms.
The kind-hcarted inmates Of the great
tenement house prepared the wasted,
7 wolll-worn body for its last rcposc. The
wccping children had taken their last
look at their mothers face, had pressed
the last lingering kiss on The lips now 50
cold, and the body was borne away to the
grave provided by charity. The little
ones were taken 20 4 railroad station and
placed in care Of the conductor, who
kindly agreed to interest the next con
ductor in their behalf on whose line they
were to finish their journey.
When the homeless little wanders ar
rived At the Out-of-the-way station OF L,
the bluT conductor saw them safely on
the platform, AMI with 4 sigh Of relief,
swung his green lantern and tha long
train pulled slowly out and left the tired
children alone in the deep darkness Of
descending night in the mountains of New
England. Looking around her, Lottic
perceived a faint light in one of the win
dows Of the depot, and leading Rory 10y
the hand She cautiously approached it. At
the first glance the room appeared to he
empty, but closer examination revealed
the form of boy stretched Out on Il bench
behind the stove. Rapping sharply AT the
window. she at last succeeded in prouSing
him. lie soon appeared at the door rub
bling his eyes, and called out in sleepy
voice:
"Who's there?'
'Iottie and Rory Woodman, answered
the little girl. eve have come all the
way from New York to find Grandpa and
Grandma Hammond"
Deacon Hammond:" echoed the boy;
"wcll, guess you'll skursely git thar to-
night. It's good piece OF stretch from
here, an besides, it's beginning to snow
asin, an SO | guess the best thing you
can do is to turn in here for :hc night"
go, no, we are so tired, and want to get
home Tonight, for tomorrow Sunday"
said LOttic. "Show me which road to
take and we will go on tonight"
"Well, if yer will 60, como on, an I'll
start yer Alright. It's early yet, glancing
Mt the big clock on the wall, "only half
past five, an you can hardly miss IL on a
straight road. Ef | see any one. going
your way III tell 'em to give yer lift. +"
So saying the boy took up lantern,
and followed BY the children, struck of
intoth darkness. Reaching point where
four roads branchcd, he said:
"Hcre you are. This is the cross roads
am all you'll have tor do Is to plod right
along on this road till yer git thar. IF I
didn't hey TO sit up an wait for No. 3,
I'd 90 along with yer. But taint morc'n
three parts Of a mile, anyway"
And now, having started them safely
OH their way, the boy retraced his steps
to "sit up"-by lying sound asleep on the
bench-for No. 3.
go, Lot,ic, lets go back" said Rory.
fcarfuly cutching his sisters arm, ''aiu't
you afraid Of bears or something, it is so
dark"
"No, Rory" chcerfully answered Lot
tic, Good is everywhere and can see in
the dark. That's what mamma said. so
give me your hand and VIC will soon be
home"
But the way seemed long to the feet Of
CITY bred children, mnaccustomed as they
were to long walks. The snow flakes fell
faster &nd faster until the little black fin
gers were wrapped from. head TO foot in
Winters ermine robes, aud still there
was 10 light ahead TO tell them they had
reached their journeys end. After wlia.
seemed to the weary little one hours walk
ing, Rory sank down in the snow, utterly
exhausted, and began to weep bitterly.
81 can't walk any more, Lottie," he
walled, mot step, I'm tired, aud, 0, 70
sleepy
"But little brother" demonstrated Lot
tie, ''we must 90, or we will freeze TO
death before morning"
'No, We won't, sister; It's nice and
warm down here in this little hollow, and
if we smuggle down together we will
hardly feel the snow, at all"
"Aiter trying in vain to get the little
fellow to proceed, Lottic knelt down be-
side him on the snow and pilIowing the
curly head on her knees, she bowed her
own upon IL and soon they were both