The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-07
. / w Ant My MA NINA.
TON Adds. I


hind the distant hills in the midst Of glories
indescriba bic, ana deep breeding night hung
| over the quiet valley.
| Toward the north, tho thick ciu tering
lights of town sent up by puny challenge
10 the radiant stars massed overhead
Toward the south, stretching down the
valley like the tail Of q little comet, the
lights in hundreds Of suburban villas peered
like curious eyes into the outer darkness.
The en- tirs Gene was one OF peace and re-
pose LII one of the villas the uplrawn
curtains reveals q pretty sight. A beau-
tiful lady sat in q chair in the center OF Che
| drawing room. an from opposite corners
| two manly little fellows were making re-
peated onsloughts upon her, their apparent
object being to see who should gain the chair
first and rewarded for his proves with
kiss from its fair, sweet occupant
A gentlemen seated at one end OF the room
glanced up row and then with sort Of
frowning smile as peal after peal OF boylsh
| laughter di turbed his calm communion
with his favorte evening paper; but he had
not the heart to put stop to this lnpr 8
visei game, so it went merrily on.
Meanwhile outside wee figure was toll
ing up the road from an adjacent house.
She was evidently a fugitive, for she was
hatless, and her stockings had fallen down
from her knees and were rolled about heI
diminutive shoes. leaving the little white
legs exposed 10 the chill autumn air. A
mass Of tangle golden curis fl atei back IL,
the breeze AM the sweet vlolst eyes were
yelling over in great tears, which rolled
down the ,uddy rheeks and splashed upon
the little hands holding tight to her breast q
ragged doll.
Great sob> con vulsed the tiny creature as
she half ran along the dusty roud.
20 bod, tell me where my mamma is, the
baby voice implored. And ever and again
that plaintive little cry broke forth ooh.
Dod tell me where my mamma is.
No one had yet missed her FROM home, so
there was no pursuit.
Presently she arrived at the house with
Che upturnei curtains. 1t was only a few
rods from her own home, but to the weary
little feet tbs distance had been tremendous.
She paused at the gateway, and hearing
the sound Of Tau shter thin, and attracted
by the brightly Lighted windows, She tolsd
up the steps to the piazza, and approaching
the nearest window at down and looked In
Something in tho merry scene within
seemed to bring fresh sense of desoiation
TO the little heart without The golden head
leaned heavily against the bright pane, and
a wal-"O Doi, ] want my mamma, to1"
- burst from the quivering, rosebud mouth.
20 bod. want my mamma. too The
gam. ceased >u'danly. for the word, see med
To cut taroustl the clear gla IS to the ears
within
One of the boys ran to the window, but
drew back, quickly, and with amazement
and pity il his voice cried out:
"Oh, mamma, come quickl There's a
poor little girl outside
The beautiful! lady came swiftly to the
window For one moment she gaz,d, mo-
tlone with pity, on the tiny creature lying
huddled 10 against the pane; taen, quickly
raising the broad sash, she put out her arms
aud gathcrei the little girl lovingly into
them.
at i, little Grace Meredith she ex-
claimed, in won Ter. "Why, darling, how
didyou coms here all aloneT
Tue lady preset the child to her warn
n, ,raer brea,t, AMI seating herself in a
chair wiped away the tears from the sweet
eyes.
Il want my mamma" was ali little Grace
could say.
The tears sprang suddenly to the lady's
own sweet eyes.
sJohn" ~he whispered to her husband,
who bad left his paper and was regarding
the group with curious emotion John.
20 over, plea Q, and tell M Meredith his
l,tt!e girl Is with ns7fsafe and s. md And"
She addel, Us the gentleman was about to
leave TASK him i,lease, to let her stay with
us tonight 1t viii do her good to be- with
the chillrsn, poor motherless little dar-
ling.
The child looked from the gentlemen to
the lady with grave ques tionin, eyes, but
sal nothing Her mother had been buried
tue day eli re AMI her little heart as filed
VITO longing for the dear cafesses she had
lived and thrivei upon.
II want nv mamma !" she said again, In
tones that ,eemed to imply they couli give
her what she 20 much desired.
Yes. DEAR said the lady soothingly,
tears d, piping from her eyes Il on the
golden head, .Ye dear, you shall have
mamma ons Of these days. one Of the beau-
nful distant days when God in Hi. good
ness shall give the chile back to its motoar,
and the mother to her child Hush. darling,
hush. Mamma is waiting for you way way
up beyond the shining stars, and You shall
go to her, dear, when God has made you
ready ter the change.
And so thsY soctbed little Grace, and sano
to her, and ths bays brought out their play
things for her and ali were so COOL an
gentle to her tnat for time she forgot the
soreness IN her little bosom AMI was happy.
But that night after the golden head mad
sunk YEARLY t. 10 and the tiny white -robsd
form lay still in the crib that hal beer
found for it. the beautiful ladys eyes ag ain
overturned as tremulous sob reached her
ear, and in her sleep little Grace again mur.
INJURED her baby pet ton:
10 bod, | want my mamma too Z