The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-01-03

and kept very still. He thought 1 didn't
SEQ his lips culver, and the tears that he
tried TO hide in the WOODEN shawl After
d moment hS spoke up just rs pleasant as
-ver
Perhaps You'd better--let mother know
i amt getting well-so fast as was?'
l told him jsst as quietly as could that
had thought for some time that his mother
had better come and see i she couldn't do
better than / at nursing. so / had sent
word to her that morning. He seemed
really pleased, but didn't have breath
tell me so for long time. After a while
he seemed easier, and almost thought he
had gone to sleep; but in minute his eye
opened. "Antie"--I was at his side in
stantly--'ds you think I'll get well?"
What could l sayp Did You ever hive to
answer such a hard question? I never did
myself. totell tho truth. Il hope So, Vii.
lie. but M afraid not.
Another question followed: "Wili mother
come-in the morning?"
Perhaps SO. Can't you go to sleep?"
He shook his head, and pretty soon laid
his hand in mine. gave it a warm pres
SIRE.
'Auntie, I'm fraid-T haven't been good.
Didn't ever forget top pray, though-just a,
My first thought was to send for the
chaplain: but. no. Willie had asked me, so
prayed the best could-prayed that the
mother might come soon. and if not that,
the dear Savior would help the suffering
boy here and the mother Mt home, and that
they might meet by and 10y in Heaven.
When ] raised my head l thought he was
dying. l cilled an attendant and the doc
tor: but after time he became conscious,
and then began a struggle for breath that
lasted all through that long weary night.
Not one word of complaint. and always
smile when we tried to relieve him. NJ
day break he was better. As soon as the
ST zee came was at the door to See ii one
OF It's occupants wasn't little woman in
black. ought to have known that the time
was too short, but | was too excited to be
reasonable. l can't forget what an anxious
face turned to me.
Did she Gomez
I could only shake my head, and swal-
lowed hard to keep the lump out OF my
throat.
IF she-dont come-till too late-tell
her--its all right. You rrAyed-prayed me-
through"
These were the last conscious words he
ever spoke. l was almost glad to have him
unconscious, bee luse his breath came So
hard. l never left that bedside all the
morning. The doctor came, and said he
could not last long, ard | saw the same
beautiful look coming back to his face. !
whispered:
Willie" and kissed his fore head grow
ing moist with the death damp, Just as l
thought his mother would have done were
she present.
Now me-down-,lown--to
sleep"
And he was dead. even while I held him
to my beating heart.
Do you know anything about hospital
funerals? They buried him next day and
still his mother had not come. There was
q pine coffin, few flowers L had a great
deal OF trouble to get a short prayer, and
dust to dust"
The one mourner had to choke back her
tears, and go back TO dati $, grown more
sacred. but never more to be lIghtened or
refreshed by the smiles and cheers of her
own boy.
She came next day l showed her the
little wood slab aad o her how he talked
OF mother, and the message lie left. and
how he went TO sleep. She did,. blame
me Bit seemed to know that | had done
what l could 70? him, and so comforted me
more than did her. She took the pine
cufin hack with her to bury her boy by her
Husband. Never shall l forget how she
smiled through her tec-3 as she talked of
thar icing together. There can be sublim-
lty II sutf ling l have seen it. This Tes-
lament, you see, was given ME by that moth
er, when on that dreary morning she started
out from the dark, gloomy hospital with
her boy