Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-02-12
skis Ne, Msmma, Can't 60 to Sleep

AiIhA VIZ ii-h1'
The only beauties she possessed
were an exceedingly Transparent
skin and the most mournful, large
blue eyes.
| had been trained by a very stern
strict, conscientious mother, but
was hardy plant, rebounding after
every shock; misfortune could not
daunt, though discipline tanned me
/ fancied, alas! that l must GO
through the same routine with this
delicate creature; so one day when
she had displeased me exceedingly
by repeating an ofense, ] was de.
termined to punish her severely.
was very serious all day, and, upon
sending her to her little couch,
said; "Now, my daughter, to punish
you, and to show you how very,
gery naughty you have been, shall
not kiss you tonight"
She stood looking at me, astonish-
ment personifpd, with her great
mournful eyes wide open--I suppose
she had forgotten her misconduct
till then, and / left her with big
tears dropping down her cheeks, and
her little red lips quiyering.
Presently | was sent for. ooh,
mamma, you ,cW Hiss me; l Cunt 90
to sleep if you don't! she sobbed,
every tone Of her voice trembling;
and she held out her little hands,
Now came the struggle between
love and what ] falsely termed duty.
My heart said, give her the kiss Of
peace; my stern nature urged me to
persist in my correction, that | might
impress the fault upon her mind.
That was the way had been trained,
till was a most Submissive child;
and ! remembered how often ! had
thanked my mother since for her
straightforward course.
knelt by the bedside. "Mother
can't kiss you, Elem" / whispered,
though every word choked me- Her
hand touched mine; it was very hot,
but / attributed it to her excitement.
She turned her little grieying face
to the wall; I blamed myself as the
fragil form shook with half-suppress-
ed sobs, and saying: "Mother hopes
little Ellen will learn to mind her
after this," left the room for the
night Alas! in my desire to be
severe / forgot TO be forgiving.
Ii must have been twelve O'Clock
when was awakened by my nurse
Apprehensiye, / ran eagerly TO the
child's chamber; had had q fearful
dream.
Ellen did not know me. She was
sitting up, crimson from the fore.
head to the throat; her eyes 40 bright
that | almost drew back ut their
Chances,
From that nightraging fever drank
up her life; and what think you the
incessant plant poured into my an
gnished heart? ooh, kiss me, mamma,
do kiss me; / cunt go to sleep!
You'll kiss your little Ellen, mamma,
wont you2 | can't go to sleep. |
wont be naughty if you'll only kiss
,me! Oh, kiss me, dear mamma, |
emit go to sleep"
Holy little angel! she did go TO sleep
one gray morning, and she never
woke again-ucver Her hand was
locked i'm miac, and All my veins
grew icy with its gradual chill
Family the light faded out of her.
eyes; whittier and whittier grew the
tremulous lips. She never knew
me; but with her last breath she
whispered: II ,cM be good, mamma,
if You'll kiss me"
Kiss her God knows how passion
ate, but unavailing, were my kisses
upon her cheek and lips after that
fatal night God knows how wild
were my prayers that she might
know, if but only once, that kissed
her. God knows how | would
have yielded up my very life, could
! have asked forgiveness Of that
sweet child.
Well, grif is i'll unavailig now!
She lies in her little tomb; there is
marble urn at her head, and n rose
bush at her feet; there grow sweet
summer flowers; there waves the
gentle grass; there birds sing their
matings and yespers; there the blue
sky smiles down to-day; and there
LES buried the freshness Of my heart,
Parents, You should have heard
the pathos in the voice of that strick-
en- mother. as she said: "There are
plants that spring into greater yigor
if the heavy pressure of a footstep
crush them; but, oh! there are
others that even the pearls of the
light dew bend to the earth. "-New
York Nars-Ldter
tn Riud tO gsOrC scraPing