The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-14
A Dying Boys Story.

A youthful soldier had a PRESENT.
ment that he should die on certain
day of the year, because it was the an
niyersary of the drowning of his sister.
He was taken sick, and as the day
drew near he grew rapidly worse. The
doctor and nurse pooh-poohed his fears
as absurd, but he said all the same he
should die on a certain night The
day came and he was very low. About
s o'clock he called comrade to his
bedside and said:
at is almost time, Billy. Goodbye.
In an hour | shall be with my sister,
and we will be looking at our mother
Nonsense, said his comrade, "If
you were with your dead sister how
could you be looking at your mother
who is living and well?'
ITS strange story" he said, fee
bly,, "but if you don't mind it l will tell
it to youi it will make the time short
err
1T was three years ago my sister
Jessie was drowned at o'clock at
night. She was engaged to be married,
and on her birthday, three months be-
fore her wedding, mother gave us all
party. On the evening of that party
mother cried bitterly because it was
the last birthday she would have sister
with us. My sister ran to her, and,
throwing her arms about mothers
neck, said:
Never mind, dear mother, | will be
with you always on my birthday,
whether dead or alive" 1t was rash
speech, and our good folks shook their
heads grayely, for they did not like it.
I'VE are Scotch people, you know,
and very superstitious. People said
Jessie had bound herself body and
soul" He paused exhausted, and
having rested little, proceeded more
slowly: "My sister was married and
she and her husband went away to live.
In few months we heard she had
been drowned while crossing swollen
stream in buggy with her husband.
1t was, bitter blow to all of us.
Mother fretted good deal, and faith
er, although he said nothing, looked
old and haggard, and we all knew he
was grieving his heart for sister. The
anniversary of sisters birthday drew
near, and mother fretted more than
ever and father looked older and older.
The night came, and we knew sister
would keep her promise and be there.
We sat in the room, waiting for the
first sound of her footsteps. | heard
| her first coming up the walk, and the
water was running from her garments.
| She came to the open window and look
ed in. 1t was only for a moment, and
then she was gone, and we knew we
should see her no more for year.
Last year she came again, and tonight
she will come to our old home and look
in at the window, and mother will be
watching for her. He closed his eyes
and lay still for so long his comrade
thought he was dead, but at last he
opened them again, and continued:
when | enlisted it almost broke
mothers heart. On the day ! left her
! told her | would come back TO her in
body or in spirit. She said | never
would come back. ! knew | should
die somehow and something told me
should perish on the same day of the
wear and at the same hour that sister
died It's almost time" he said, land
| soon must 90. Don't you hear her
coming and the water dripping from
her dress. See, she is putting roses in
her hair How cold and clammy bel
hand is, and it grows dark" With
these words he raised up little, held
out his hand and fell back dead
| pbi}1H6I,)bin Press.