Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-09
BABY'S SECRET.

ioned chair, smile of intense sorrow
breaking over her pallid lips.
Are you tired of playing alone,
baby?" she asked softly, LAYING her
small thin hand tenderly on his golden
curls.
"Oh, so tired! When will you be
able to play with me again in the gar
der? You used to be so gay; now you
are always sad, and sitting in here
alone" reproachfully.
A few tears trickled down the little
girls pale checks, and she heaved a
deep sigh.
Poor Artie! l wish | could run
about as | used. 1t makes me very un-
happy to think of those bright days,
when we ran so joyfully amongst the
pretty flowers, chasing the bluewinged
butterfly, or when tired, resting be-
meath some shady tree, watching the
tiny birds fly from branch to branch,
singing so sweetly. VIII that time ever
come again, wonder!"
Artie listened in silence to his sisters
words. scarcely grasping their mean
ing, only knowing that she had
changed since those days; the once
bright merry child had become pale
and languid, never leaving. without
aid, her chair by the window.
Shall you be i'll long?" he asked in
his sweet childish voice, his innocent
blue eyes raised questioningly to hers.
Il do not know, baby dear. | think
soon the pain will leave me- earnestly.
Then we shall be able to play to-
gether in the garden again." 4 ray of
hope filling his mind.
Nina smiled sorrowfully, and her
eyes wandered towards the pleasant
scene stretching before the open win
dow.
Summer will soon be over, Artie,
and in the autumn there are no flowers
to cut, or butterflies to chase; even the
birds leave us then for SUMMER lands. "
Artie's bright look faded, and his
rosy lips took doleful curve.
..Dr Cliff is very naughty, Nina. not
to make you well. Why does he come
here every day if he does not cure
yOu?"
Nina's answer was interrupted by
the entrance of Mrs. Arrol. to whom
Artie ran with outstretched arms.
What is it, baby-what has hurt
you?" she asked tenderly, lifting her
little son on to her knee, as she sank
into a chair beside Nina.
Nina rapidly explained, her words
bringing a troubled light to Mrs. Ar
rolls eyes, bitter pang to her heart.
Poor Artie! Well, he cannot want
you more than |; he must have patience
for little while. Soon you will be as
strong and well as ever" she said
feeling far from believing
the words she used to soothe the boys
grief.
She had known for some time the
fatal truth: that her gentle little girl.
in spite of all their nursing, would
soon leave them in sorrow; the doctor
had broken the news 10 her one sum-
mer eve, when Nina, after long run
with Artie, had quietly tainted away.
Since then she had grown gradually
weaker; unable to play with her
brother; too weary for anything but
rest. day after day, in her large chair,
drawn close to the easement from
which she could see the dear old gar
den, where Artie roamed in moody
solitude.
The days passed swiftly by, and still
Nina grew more fragile; and one
Artie. suddenly entering the
house, saw DIR. Cliff and his mother,
the latter with fearful face, talking
in the hall.
"You say the end is near? Can you
not tell me how long it will be before
my darling leaves me?" Mrs. Arrol
asked pleadingly.
The doctor shook his head. then
pointing through the open door, said
gravely:
"Do you see yonder trees-the once
green foliage yellow, and dropping,
eaf by leaf, to the ground? When they
have all fallen, and the trees are bare,
your dear child will droop and die
also."
Mrs. Arrol hid her face in her tremb-
ing hands, deep sobs breaking from
Ter grief stricken heart; she scarcely
needed the doctors kind consoling
words. How could she be resigned,
when one of her loved children was
lowly fading from her?
She did not notice Artie, with white
roubled face, and wistful eyes, steal
ilently out in the garden; and for long
he child walked about, forgetting, in
his new sorrow, the interrupted play
With Carlo, his big cherished dog.
Many times after this, Mrs. Arrol
would look at her little boy in silent
wonder; he was so strangely quiet-so
Slowly, one by one, the withered
caves fell to the ground, each taking
omething from Nina's fragile life.
Soon Mr.. Arrol, fearing the end
night come in his absence, gave up
,oing to business, wandering instead
imlessly about the house-too panied to
tay always near his darling, and not
airing to be far away.
One morning, after a short tender
isit to Nina, he stepped into the gar
en-, now no longer gay with bright
overs or the sound of childish mirth.
He had not gone far, ere he came
pom a sight which made him pause in
lute amazement. Standing on chair,
eneath a wide-spreading tree, was
rite, absorbed in winding strong
bread round the twigs and branches
'ithin reach.
Full of curiosity, Mr.. Arrol stepped
,rward.
"Artie," he began softly. what are
OH doing. my little man?'
Artie, not having heard his fathers
,otsreps, started violently, almost
,sing his balance on the high chair
The thread dropped from his hand to
lie ground, and he turned white
cared face to Mr.. Arrol
What are you doing, Artie?" he re-
eated.
Gaining courage from the extreme
entleness of his fathers voice. and the