The Red Cloud chief., 1885-07-17

.'Whist whist. my bairnie! Don't
re 90 TO think the Lord begrudges We
your happiness in the blessings Him
self has give We to enjoy. Don't ye 20
to misjudge Finn So"
.-Oh! Il He has taken Fred from me -
IL He has shall hate Him. | shall
hate Him." cried Annie. wildly. clench-
ing her slender hands. oh. II God il
so cruel. so pitiless as that. | will never
love Him. never pray to Him again,
never. while I i've"
"Aunie. Annie! God help We. We
don't know what We sre saying" ex
claimed the poor old woman. with tears
dropping over her withered cheeks.
How dare We call Him cruel. II He
bids ye let go your hearts dearest.
what right have We even SO to set your
will against Him ~ made We. and Is
works all things together for your
good? My Jem says there's . reason
in all the Lords doings; It's only our
eyes as Is weak and don't always see
plain. Rs wicked Of We to talk so.
Annie. and l couldn't a-b-ar it. only
Jem says he is sure the Lord don't
listen when we speak that We don't
mean: and We don't mean what We are
saving now. WHY. ye've just said
there's no blessing in the world as has
been denied We your life long. and We,
now We couldn't take one sorrow from
Him even if He sent it ye:"
.aOnly not thi, one?" sobbed Annie.
her face hidden in the old woman
dress. ..Only not this! ! could bear
anything else: but only not this"
20. Annie! it's no for US to say
what shall be Of the Lords sending.
What lie sends. good or bad. that mus,
we take; and its no for us to choose
the what or the when. II one poor soul
lies dead Wonder. then there's sorrow
come into the world somewhere by rea-
son Of it. It's 80 that some n must
bear the grief We say We can not, nor
will not, bear. Is others stronger than
We. then. that We should be spared. and
your pain put on them? What right
have We. Annie, to claim To be- spared.
and take no part in the worlds trouble'
the very trees has storms sent them.
AMI stand, up against them whilst they
can. So them that God sends this sor-
to the day. whoever they chance Ia
be. must cen submit their wills to il.
and. ~ nv Jem would say, may the
gracious Lord Tighten it TO the heart He
fixes it upon"
The old woman bowed her head rev.
erently as she spoke. and Annie looked
up at her. half awed. though with
cheeks still wet with rebelliOus tears.
And just there. some n stopped over
them and lifted the young girl to her
feet. softly saying her name All {. what
voice of all living could so say it save
one? Ii was as ii her lover had been
given back to her from the very regions
Of the dead. and. after an almost FIR ght-
encd glance at him. Annie threw herself
upon his breast. with an inarticulate cry
Of relief and rapture. Perhaps when
souls first meet in Heaven they feel
as she felt in that moment.
But the young man gently ~unclasped
her clinging arms, and. holding her
hands in one Of his, went nearer the old
nurse. and stood looking down at her
without speaking.
oh. MIR. Fred" the old woman
cried. catching his hand. while a look
Of such unsellish delight irradiated her
wrinkled face As absolutely TRANSPORTED
it. 1.-The Lord be thanked that it is not
We who have been taken!"
mo. not l." Fred said slowly. while
in the relief that seemed to set all
her senses free again, heard the cricket
chirp. and saw how the golden needle
of light had slipped away from her lap.
and felt it where it lay bright and warm
her foot. Not l." he said. ''but
And there he paused again.
speech difficult, and laid his
hand on her shoulder rs If to steady
her; and then, in despair ut his w
rowardice in breaking the news to her,
he turned abruptly to Annie. Help
her if yon an. Annie" he SAID. Tell
her. Jem was on the train. too. 1t is
her Jem who was killed.
The old nurse spoke never a word.
she understand? She felt u trcm-
bling: but she did not weep or moan or
move by a hairs breadth; only sat with
her hands dropped helplessly in her lap.
unseeingly up at him who had
u Ou&ut tuC uC"S. ~ SSCiutu as IL w
could be felt. Annie had flung
on her knees BY the old wom-
ms side again. and was covering the
,Oor old hand with vain kisses and
;ainer tears. Her heart was full Of an
ntolerable pity. that took almost the
shape of self-reprOach. What words of
could she dare 90 speak to one
Who was old. and weak, and poor. and
and who had lost, not one gift
,ut Of many. but the one only blessing
he had:
For q few moments the stricken
sat there speeches.. aging visi-
,ly before their eyes in the first awful
hook Of the bereavement She was as
she had gone deaf and dumb and
lind in an instant or rather. as il
With faculties all Ov%erstrained and
euse. she had been suddenly plunged
ntO = sphere with which theirs had no
communication. But after q time she
oused herself with an effort, drawing
long breath. and moistening her dry
ipS
don't fret for me. children" she
aid. brokenly. with . wan smil., NOV.
ng her hand. tremblingly, to Annie's
AIT. "Some one had to be taken. We
ee. and some one has to suffer. and it's
etter l than another; for I've not so
ong IS some to wait. les near the
Of the day with me; the night
rill Be- upon me soon: and ! don't need
be strength to bear II. - them a has
ut begun the day. DOM We fret
Innie; don't We fret dear. The Lord
laid His burden upon me; but His
and will b under when my old feet
ILL.,"
She got mp ~unsteadily. still smiling
hat faint, wan smile. and stood . mo-
,eut looking uncertaiEly about her. as
tying to find herself in this strange
rorld she was lost in. and. suddenly. |
he chirp Of the cricket smote her ear.
Ike . familiar sound from the friendly
III world of the m 4, linking the then