The Dickinson press., 1884-01-12

che poor beggars
.e as this. 1t will
you a new lease
promptly accepted,
s,peated again and
sngues are 1oosened,
becomes quite ami
lilies of wit and peals
Inter followed each
#ssion, until the hour
o'clock points the hour
Sd Grant, the guest of
hastily from his seat.
ival, how time fies!'
no idea it was so late,
no #dary to be home by 10
o'clo #
s'Ths. IS the disadvantages of
married plied the bachelor host,
Grant. for a benedict
"We'l talk about that another time"
responded Mr.. Grant, smiling. Per
haps the advantages more than counter
balance the disadvantages. Anyhow, I
am satisfied, Percival., and so you would
be if you had as good a wife as mine."
And Richard Grant, grasping his
friends hand, wishes him goodnight"
and wends his way homeward.
Ethel, the 8 year-old daughter of Mr..
Grant, is dying. Already her wan little
face bears a spiritual look, and her
mother can no longer hide from herself
the fact that death is neal.
The little one has but II cry, 81 want
papa!' and as Mrs. Grant hears it her
heart, is sad Indeed. Mr.. Grant is o
good husband and indulgent father, but
he is not what the world call q domesti-
Gated man. He knows that his child
.'papa's old pet" as he is wont to call
ler-is on the verge OF eternity. Yet
so strong is his inciination for company"
that he cannot leave his. friend until
midnight.
So Ethel calls for papa in vain. Her
mother sits by the bedside with an agoni-
Zed look on her features aud the hot
tears coursing swiftly down her cheeks.
"Bring Tecdy' mama dear"
Already the voice is becoming more
feeble and tremulous. No time is to be
lost, and Teddy, the baby, is held be-
A ray of light Eliminates her face as
She looks lovingly on her little play
mate.
.sDear Teddy"
Suddenly, very suddenly, there comes
a change.
ooh, mamma, it is so dark-so dark!'
Mrs. Grant bends over, presses her
own lips to the child's, and with a
mighty effort to restrain her grief,
Patience, my darling! The light is
coming"
ooh, mamma, nurse Ethel"
The mother cannot resist the appeal.
She lifts child, pillow and clothing to
her lap, and awaits the end. She has
not long to wait. The little face assumes
u wax-like hue. Evidently the white
winged messenger is near.
"By, mamma! By papa!"
a breathless silence reigns in the
room. Other mothers are present, and
they weep silently.
"Ethel sleep-papa-klss!"
And Ethel sleeps-sleeps the sleep
has gone to God who gave it, and mamma
and Teddy will see her here nevermore.
- = Is y Il
AWhat, UP still. Mary? Why did you
wait for me?" Mr.. Grant inquiries, a
touch of impatience in his voice.
"Hush, Richard! There are others
in the house, and trouble has come to
as"
1t is 1 o'clock, and Mr.. Grant has just
returned, flushed with vine, and in ex-
uberant spirits, The impress of sorrow
is on his wife's features, and there is
such a strange light in her eyes that he
pauses to look at herr"
.What do you mean, Mary?"
sob, Richard, we have lost 'papa's
old.'pet!' And Mrs Grant, unable longer
to restrain her grief, filings herself in
her husbands arms and weeps pi.ifully.
Gently disengagine himself he hastens
Yes, it is quite true. There before
him les the earthly shell-all that is left
to him of his little darling. He is quite
sober now. Then comes his wife to joir
him. and tell him all that has taken place
"if you had but been here, Richard"
she y plaintively, cit would not been
50 hard to bear. Why did you mo-
well, my dear, I met Peicival, ant
Inc invited me home. We had a glass OF
two OF wine, and conyerslns together
the time slipped away" n:,
"Have YOU never thought, Richard
how it must be for me sit here hour at
ter hour, listening. for the footsteps tina
seldom comes till morning." ,
"No. Mary, l have not thought mucf
lUOUl IL, OK ptIudpo odOuio Aob AA"''
neglected you"
Fit is natural that you should like tn
companionship Of your friends; but it i
more natural that l and the child1e'
should have your first attention. Tn
dear child whom God has taken from u
has often cried herself to sleep calm:
for you"
bear It. We are sorely stricken, ant
must help each other to bear our sol
row." x,
The house seemed to be deserted, al
though several people were movin
noiselessiy about. With the spirit {
Ethel the sunshine had for the time de
parted, and the shadow of grief wa
present everywhere. g 3 $
"Earth TO earth-ashes to ashes-dus
to dust" Solemnly and with a measure
cadence the words are uttered, and tn
pretty casket is lowered to its final rest
ing place, canopied by an avalanche an
o~opiously watered with the tears OF a
fection.i
The little vine that hung so closely t
the parent stem has been severed at la;
and Richard Grant mourns as only
father can. There are other children t
claim his care, but just now his thought