The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-03-28

chung about and kissed her as though
they could no more be a-weary of her
lips than she of theirs, till, out of breath,
they kissed no more, but squeezed her
to them with all their little tender
mlght-the truest, fondest pair of lovers
woman ever had yet.
And to such lovers as these she never
grows old, nor wakes their love chill;
twenty years hence, whether here or
with God, she will be as dear, as beauti-
full in their eyes as now, while far away
most recesses of her heart, she will
cradle them warm, the tiny creatures
whose tender feet had neither will nor
strength to stray further from her side
than her voice had power to win them
back.
"Happy year, mummy" said Dody,
patting her face with little velvet
hand; tits your burfday, but I've got
noting for you" he added, his voice ris-
ing as his heart swelled.
He means many happy returns OF
the day." said Doune, presenting the
rose and struggling out of his mothers
arms; ''but he's so very little, you real
ly must excuse him."
''Thank you, my sweethearts," she
said, and her voice might have painted
her to blind man as she stood, Dody'S
pink toes curled like rose-leaves at her
waist, and on her young face such q
glow as makes the mother yet
The hottest thing alive.
"But these cold wet feet" she added,
feeling them anxiOusly, land this drip
ping night-gown'-and she shivered as
though blast of death had struck her,
as she wrapped her arms about him.
nj, IN in, oI,, a. oh
fear as love when she carried him over
the threshold he was so rarely privilege
ed to cross; but when he found himself
warmly wrapped in her elbow-chair,
and she on her knees before him warm
ing his cold feet at her breast, while
against his little limbs she laid her head
in the old, old worship that requires no
teaching, he resigned himself to cir
cumstances with all the unconscious
grace and dignity of childhood.
ny on Is StDeet little mummy" he
said, framing her chestnut head in his
hands, adding, as one struck by a sud-
den recollection, would 90 like to hear
me say my pairs? me knows such pity
worses, and 'oO's neuer heard me say
them-not never!"
''Say them to me now," whispered
Mrs. Eyre, hiding her face in his neck
that he might not see the color that
overspread it;-nOt for her had been the
er, as rarely, indeed, had she stood by
her children to bless them as they slept;
her husbands love overshadowed all
her life, and demanded of her an un-
divided allegiance in which her mother
hood found no place.
20, mummy" he cried, his eyes wan
dering over her head to the open win
dow beyond; "me quite forgot-us is 60
ing cowsiping wiz 90; lots of time for
pairs bimebyl"
mo, no." she said, the red of her
cheek pressed to the warm white Of his
neck, Il want to hear them"
Perhaps the man who believes in
nothing receives no greater shock to his
unbelief than when he hears his child
lisping out at its mothers knee
Pity my simplicity,
Teach me how to come to Thee.
He would be less than human could he
detach those little folded hands, cloud
with doubt that innocent mind; as he
listens he must surely put himself in
the child's place, and, for one brief mo-
ment, believe.
And peese Gawd, don't send daddy
'ome till we'se bin cowsiping, COS cow
sips is nearly over, Amen" concluded
Dody; adding in the same breath, "Ol
look at that little boy in your eyes!"
us 90 going to ky?" he said, in won
der; then, spying brown mole on her
beautiful neck, and thinking that it
was something that hurt her, he leaned
forward and pressed with devOut faith
his tender lips to it, "tO make it WE'LL"
as she had now and again done for him
in his childish aches and bruises, and
for want of which he had so often cried
himself to sleep.
"Madcap!" said stern voice behind
them; and they turned aghast to see the
master of the house looking with. a
frown Of strong disapproval at the
group.
"Off with you'll" he said, glancing
from one child to the other, for Doune
had just reappeared, bearing his BROTH
er's clothes; but the one stood notion
less, his brows drawn into an absurd re-
production of his fathers frown, while
Dody, made desperate by vanishing
joys, actually dared to nod his small
head gravely at his father, and re-
mark
"Us is going cowsiping wiz mummy!'
Next year, perhaps" said Mr.. Eyre,
dryly, and pointed to the door with a
gesture that neither child dared resist;
they ran TO each other, and not daring
even to pause and kiss their mother,
clasped hands and tottered down the
corridor, sobbing bitterly as they went.
Good morning, ma'am!'' said Mr..
Eyre, with trenchant emphasis, as the |
sound of those little footsteps died
away, and still Madcap had not adj
vanced step to meet him.
Good morning, sir!" she replied,
wiping tear away with equal spirit.
And pray" said he, lis that tear
due to my absence, or my returnY"
ITO neither" she said, sitting down
by the open window, and looking up at |
the pale sky as if she sought and found |
her children's faces there.
$50 that's over" said Mr.. Eyre. as he |
loosened his riding-cloak and threw it |
aside.
what is?" said Madcap, looking
round.
mo more than L can make shift to |
live without" he said, as he sat down
at some distance, and stopped to I'M
fasten his spurs.
what could that have beenp" said |
Madcap, the mother in her eyes dwind- |
LING To two SpeckS aS she insansihlv an