The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-07-19
iced it, for it surprised and delighted

Ray, you know, my DEAR, little Misc |,
L. is singingl'
"And we both listened. and then she
sang the words right out, and what do
you think they werep No, not a bit OF
hymn tune. Twas this:
For will marry my own love,
My own love, my own love.
"Then she stopped, but after little
she sang again:
For true of heart am l.
"Well, my dear, to say was aston
ished ISN'T saying much.
"But kept still, you may be sure,
and when 1 went in after awhile with
Ellen, my funny little Swedish maid,
to tidy up things a bit, and said Good
morning. to little Mss L., there was
new look on her face. Not thai the
shadow 1 told you about was all gone,
either. Well, of course, it puzzled me,
and the next day and the next watch
ed her, and she seemed different In some
way.
"Then Wednesday, my dear, l said
something. You see twas this way.
l went in with a plate Of cakes for her,
and said: These doughnuts are not
as good as usual, I'm afraid and she
said, do not think l shall lay that up
against you, Mrs. Ray" and laughed
such a merry little laugh, my dear, that
1 Just stopped and looked at her in
blank amazement.
The light-heartedness that showed
itself in the foolish little pun and in the
laughl
81 set down my plate and took hold
of her with both hands. Little Miss
L., said 1, now do tell me what makes
you look so sunshiny for two or three
days2"
"'Why, am I2" she asked, and 8
pretty pink color came into her cheeks
then she grew little bit grave ant
hesitated, and then
"'Well, I'll tell you, dear Mrs. Ray,
she said, though am afraid you viii
think me very, very foolish. 1t is lit
tie dream 1 had last Saturday night
But first must tell you that once
once there was some one 1 loved-oh
: very dearly, Mrs. Ray, and he lovet
me, too; but there was little-wha
shall say2 1t was just little foolisl
quarrel, anyway, and he went ava
angry, and-and-' her voice began t
: tremble. Then she said, with littl
s impatient cough that was almost sol
9 1T was two years ago, and have neve
seen him sincel But l know, and sh
q looked right at me, and spoke quite eai
r nestly, Il feel so sure, some way, ths
he is coming back to me soon. An
now I'll tell you the Dream
"Then she came and sat down rigf
/ by me, my dear, and took one Of hi
>. hands in mine.
!. "'I dreamed, she said, 'that the det
n boy l loved was sitting in some room
+s which seemed to be my home, and
q was Sunday. 1t is all very hazy an
ar indefinite, and had not spoken to hin
# but | went to his side and handed hi
a paper, or an envelope, or somethir
. like that, and he did not look up, b'
!, put out his hand and took mine al
= drew me nearer to him. stood the
- lust an instant and some one said
~ him: "Ralph, are you going to churt
"A this EVENING"" and without replying
- looked up into my eyes and asked, "a
~ you?' l shook my head, and he answe
Of ed the question quietly, No, l thir
a. not and held the hand more closel
: And some way knew that we were
a peace, and great happiness came in
~ my heart, ana right then awoke al
a found the tears rolling down my cheek
~ and 1 turned my face against thepillc
. and prayed little prayer, and ask
40 God to let the dream come true and
,v send him back to me, that we mig
~ help each other 10 be better and happi
90 all the rest Of our lives, and ever sin
~. that I've had new little hope. Al
or that is all. Is 1t very, very foolishr
IA ''She looked at me so wistful
"a why, my dear, said l, and then w
~ my dear, said right over again, a
~ then | Just rose right up and we
70 away, fo- my throat was getting choke
od and l knew l was going to act like
~ silly old woman and cry.
'It was the simple, tender way
nd which she told it, don't you seep A
et the childlike faithl twas so long Sill
IN had seen that kind of faith, Y
IRE know, my dear, I've been about grt
es deal, and have seen something of Il
,ut hard world, and there isn't much
an that kind of faith to be found In grow
up people. You find it in little oI
tle who kneel to say the Now l lay m
a to be sure, but had almost forgott
led all about it.
swell, the days passed by, and
e., hopefulness still shone out of her ey
ma and sometimes heard her singing.
for Zone day about the 4th of Februa
rm l think, when went in for little ch
nd she was painting valentines. Such pr
) ty and original little thingsI l m
nv tell you about them.
mo "Several weeks before little Miss
vav had asked me for all the wishbones
her the chickens we ate, and as we inva
she ably have chicken soup at our Sumo
md dinner, l had taken her quite NUM-
hat Of them. Well, my dear, she was us
she them in this way: On heavy, SOU
and white card she put one of the wlshbol
zee. which she had gilded. Tied it on, y
TO know, with very narrow, bright ribb
and in the lower left hand corner of
me- card we're some flowers paintsd-forg
me-nots on one, remember. Then
vet the right hand upper corner was so
ght appropriate little rhyme in gilt lettt