The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-07-18

barked in friendly manner, and trot-
ted briskly away. He did not go far,
however, but came back and repeated
his attempts at making friends.
''Do you want me to come with you,
doggy" asked Susie. Doggy barked
Yes" so Susie walked down the steps,
and the little girl and little dog were
soon tripping down the street like old
friends.
A Sabbath stiffness was in the air; no
stir of human industry married the rest
full quiet; only the soft music of birds
and insects and breezes playing with
leaves and grass-blades.
Doggy, l wonder if we can't find
mamma. Grandma says she's gone
away beyond the sky and lots of
times I've tried to see her; cause, you
know, doggy, think, may be she
looks down at me sometimes.
Shouldn't you think she would?
But I've never seen her yet; for day
like this, when the blue shows so plain
the sun is always so bright it hurts my
eyes, and when it rains the clouds hide
the sun, they hide away the pretty blue,
too; SO of course 1 couldn't see her
then. Isn't it too bad, doggy But
|
con Dodd's meadow lot the blue sky
comes right down to the fence, and
may be mamma'll be watching for us,
and lift us right i'm
Doggy listened very intelligently to
all this, and when his little friend
fastened on, he kept close behind her.
On and on they hurried; but when they
reached the place the poor little feet
were very tired, the little shoes were
very dusty, there was great tear in
the little dress where cruel thorn had
caught it and had scratched one little
hand, too, and there were tears in the
pretty blue eyes when she said:
30, doggy, isn't it too bad? 1t isn't
here, after all, but way over by the
woods, and I'm awful tired; aren't you,
doggy"
Doggy sat down in crestfallen
manner Susie certainly looked very
crestfallen, but in moment she bright
ened up, saying:
"Never mind, doggy; it isn't so very
much farther, and when we get there
! we'll be sure to get rested. I'm afraid
it'll be harder to climb up through. l
don't know as we could climb tree,
but maybe there'l be stump we can
stand on, and mamma'n reach down
: and take us. / know she'll reach down
= if we can't climb up, and when she
r holds us We'll be sure to get rested.
never used to be tired at all when my
=, mamma held me, but I'm tired sc
much since she went up there"
So the tired little feet trudged on and
v on, but before they reached the woods
e clouds hid the sun and sky, heavy rain
l drops began to fall, and threatening
. thunders were heard.
30, hurry, doggy cried Susie
d "Those ugly clouds have hid the blue
a but perhaps we can see it in the
:, woods.
]. But when they reached the woods
n poor Susie sat down in despair. She
$ was tired and hungry, it was getting
h dark, and the rain kept falling fastel
d and faster.
d 30, doggy!'' she sobbed, 'it's NJ
= use. I've lost my mamma and can
g grandma, toe"
When the sermon was ended and tn
closing hymn was given out, Susie
grandma was surprised to miss her
y After the benediction, she spoke to
> number of people about it. ''Wher
e can she bePn was asked by all, an
10 several commenced search for her
When the storm came up more peopl
y started out There was no evenin
le service at church, for by that time tn
IL whole town was aroused, but the mir
I, ister's PRAYER, "Our Father, watch owe
~ and guard the lost one. aid and CON
81 fort the sorrowing ones looking fo
y her, we pray thee" was echoed b
~ many hearts.
rs 1t was morning when they found hel
" very wet and fast asleep. Tenderly til
ne the little figure was lifted and carrie
gently home, the little dog followin
e; sorrowfully, with downcast head an
III dropping tail. Loving hands laid HI
~ on soft pillows, rubbed the tired, col
X X little feet and placed cool cloths on Il
t,o9 hot head.
~ All that day and night she slept, ar
- her dumb friend watched mournful
IN beside her with grandma and the do
% tor, pricking up his ears and waggil
oi his tail intelligently when the red Ii
murmured. as they often did; "Almo
no there, doggy; surely we are almo
- there's" or, "We'n find her 500
On doggy; yes, very, very soon"
ed Dawn came. Everything seem
nd more beautiful after the recent storl
he The rain had busted and polished t
NO leaves till they shone and glistened
ed the gay, bright sunlight.
asst A sunbeam stole through the SHUT
kissed the curl by Susie's cheek, a
yht crept across her closed eyelids. tn
zen opened suddenly; but the blue bene9
if them had far-away look, and the
18th tie girl seemed listening to voice
others heard. The watchers look
,et on in breathless silence.
sic, Her expression became more att
EN- tive, more rapt. almost the
KY doggy; don't you hear her call US
the Suddenly she gave joyful cry,
BOD mammal and then more family, ="
md own dear mammal" The lids Of
she more and forever hid the lovely e
but beneath their snowy covers; the re
n a left her cheeks; but the smile still res
ice, on the silent lips. The little ha
hen folded contentedly together, as thol
] Il ,,~saau Ln,E I'LL 1~-vaI g.