Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-08-05

| a Sabbath stiffness was in the air; no
stir of human industry married .hc rest
full quiet; only the soft music of birds
and insects and breczes playing with
leaves and grass-blades.
Doggy, I 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 wouldP
But I've never seen her yet; for day
like this, when the blue shows so plain
the san Is always so bright il hurts my
eyes, and when IL rains the clouds hide
the sun, they hide away the pretty blue,
too; so of course / couldn't see her
then. Isn't il too bad, doggy But
look, doggy Way down there in Dea-
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 in
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 il and had scratched one little
hand, too, and there were tears in the
pretty blue eyes when she said:
20, doggy, isn't it too badP 1t isn't
here, after all, but way over By tho
woods, and I'm awful tired; aren't you,
doggy"
Doggy sat down in a crestfallcn
manner. Susie certainly looked very
crestfallen, but in moment she bright
ened up, saying:
"Never mind, doggy; il isn't so very
much farther, and when we get there
well be sure to get rested. I'm afraid
it'll be harder to climb up through.
don't know as we could climb a tree,
but maybe therc'll be II stump we can
stand on, and mamma'll reach down
and take us. know she'll reach down
il we cant climb up, and when she
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 so
much since she went up there"
So the tired little feet trudgcd on and
on, but before they reached the woods
clouds hid the sun and sky. heavy rain
drops began to fall, and threatening
thunders were heard.
30, hurry, doggy cried Susie.
"Thosc ugly clouds have hid the blue,
but perhaps we can see it in tho
woods.
But when they reached the woods
poor Susie sat down in despair. She
was tired and hungry. il was getting
dark, and the rain Kept falling faster
and faster.
80, doggy" she sobbed. "it's no
use. I've lost my mamma and can't
find her, and now l believe I've lost
grandma, too"
When the sermon was ended and the
closing hymn was given out, Susie s
After the bcncdction. she spoke to q
number of people about it. Where
can she be?' was asked by all, and
several commenced search for her.
When the storm came up more people
started out. There was no evening
service Mt church. for by that time the
whole town was aroused, but the min
ister's PRAYER, "Our Father. watch over
and guard the lost one. aid and COM
for, the Borrowing ones looking for
her, we pray thee" was echoed by
many hearts.
II was morning when they found her,
ve'y wet and fast asleep. Tendcrly the
the little figure was lifted and carried
gently home, the little dog following
sorrowfully, with downcast head and
dropping tail. Loving hands laid her
on soft pillows, rubbed the tired, cold
little feet and placed cool cloths on the
hot head.
All that day and night she slept, and
her dumb friend watched mournfully
beside her with grandma and the doe
tor, pricking up his ears and wagging
his tail intclligcntly when the red lips
murmurcd. as they often did; almost
there, doggy: surely we are almost
there or. We'll find her soon,
doggy; yes. very. very soon
Dawn came. Everything seemed
more beautiful after the recent storm.
The rain had busted and polished the
leaves till they shonc and glistened in
the gay, bright sunlight. The roses
cheeks were II deeper. bright red. Just
as little childrcn's faces have more
color after the wind and sun have
played with them Everything out of
doors seemed happy with renewed life
and beauty except the tiny bird who.
the Sunday before, chirpcd so mcrrily
at the church window, but who now.
torn and beaten by the storm. Law on
grandma's window.sill, cold and stiir
and dead.
A sunbeam stole through the shutter,
kissed the curl by Susics check, and
crept across her closed eyclids. They
opened suddenly; but the blue beneath
them had a PARKWAY look. and the lit
tie girl seemed listening to a voice no
Others heard. The watchers looked
on in brcathless silence.
Her expression be anne more atten-
tive, more rapt. almost there,
doggy; don't YOU hear her call us?"
Suddenly she gave Il joyful cry, 20,
mammal and then more family, "My
own dear mammal The lids once
more and forever hid the lovely eyes
beneath their snowy covers; the roses
left her checks: but the smile still rested
on the silent Fps. The little hands
folded contcntcdly together, as though
clasping unseen but well loved fingers.
A soft sigh-and Susie had found her
mamma Carrie Ctark, in Interior.
| RlJRGl ARS.