The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-09-10
..C5oiNO HomE,s

.stVul goa give Us lodging so-nightfs'
che asked the farmer. who Was stand
ing in his front yard he and little
Emily has come right smart way
since daylight. !"
81 mustn't tell that. !" she said in =
low voiee.
James Lac looked ct her pale face
and trembling limbs. 81 had an old
mother myself; abe went to heaven last
year, snd for her sake. mother, you're
moro than welcome u meal and bed
in my house. But what are your folks
thinkin' about that they Let the baby
go wanderin' about the countrYP"
my folksf" she repeated "Wby,
they're all gone. The last was Sam,
Emilyss father. When he went 20 Cal !
ifornia he said, Mother, I'll be back
in 8 year or / won't be iyin'.' Hos
been gone three year. so of course he's
gone. with Mary and Jane and Jacob.
All my children IL there, you see."
The restless look wandered about,
and her thin fingers twisted together
nervously.
Good Hrs. Lee was as unsuccessful
In finding out anything about their
guest as her husband had been. The
freely save those which touched on her
destination. but they seemed to excite
and distress her:
ssYou can talk about your child dy.
In, honey" she said. ssbut dyin' and
dead means eternal life. She's await
IN for youj and Is I'll get there first,
IN give her iiesssge for you. won't
forget il, /" aud the bright happy look
came back. you've been good to me
and Pn not forget it
Every now and then moods of deep
| thought came upon the woman and she
seemed lost to all consciousness of her
surroundings. When little Emily knelt
at her side Tor her evening prsyer, she
said. solemnly:
''Pray, God. dearie. We may soon get
home"
The old woman looked at her with
vague trouble in her eyes. She seemed
| trying to find some clue to something
in her mind which eVaded her.
/ The next morning. after an early
breakfast, the old woman In her gentle
way thanked her kind entertainers and
prepared to go.
'.lt's coming on to snow or freeze.
mothef," said the farmer. as be walked
to the gate with her. You'd better
stop here with US to-day. In fact.
looking up at the sky. ~ don't think
can let you go. I'll keep you until the
weather clears"
..Oh, know the way, it's straight
ahead and no turnin' to left nor right
cot1ldn't miss the way" She took
the child's hand and trembling In eV-
cry limb, started of But when she
had gone few steps she returned 70
mir. Lee. who was watching her with
troubled eyes
you've been so good to me-" she
said. ''Pn tell you where Pm going.
Bend down and let me whisper in your
ear: Honey. I'm going to my children
-there? and then in pursuance of heI
idea TO turn neither to left or right.
she travelled straight before her on 9
long unused road, which led them into
thorn bushes, and at last into a dreary
wood.
There isn't 3 mile-post nor sign.
board, dearie," the old woman mutter-
edj shut I'm sure to be on the right
road. reckon this is the Valley Of
the Shadow and he promised to be
with me-"
al don't see nobody" the child said,
shivering. "And. oh, grannie, I'm SO
coldi"
Come, lots sit under this tree,
dearie, and Pll.Wrap you up till you
get warm. No, you don't see nobody,
and / can't see neither"
: "rm SO cold, grannie.' murmured
, the child.
''Can you walk on, dearieP" sh.
said.
NO." sobbed the child, my fee
hurt, and I'm so tired. Let me gel
into your lap. grannie. and go Il
f Sleep"
!. Tenderly the old woman wrapped
, the child in her own cloak, leaving her
self exposed to the cold. which was in
creasing. and chafed her cold hands
! until the little one fell into q profOunt
D sleep. ''rve always heard say" sh
/ muttered, '.it's darker and more storm
the hour before you get there. Pei
l haps we're very near nows and whe
the sun shines we'll see it.
at see the jasper walls aligbt.
Through cloud and storm of cotnin' night
n Obi blessed home the way is long,
But hope is clear and faith Is strong.
Two men found her late that afteI
l. noon. One was MIR. Lee, the other
;. tall, middle-aged man with q care wor
@ face.
Al my Gddi here she is" said til
farmer, land we lost SO much preciOu
q time going down the other road"
The other threw his arms around th
l. insensiblo form. and the movemeI
3 awakened the child, who opened he
# eyes and stared at him. But he say
nothing but the face that rested on hi
bosom.
g Speak to me. mother" he crieC
% GIVE como back to you, your ow
q Tom"
u Her eyelids quivered, and with
e deep sigh she opened her eyes ut
. my Tom," she cried, in tones of ecst;
cy. '.And I've got there at last2 OF
u there they all are I'm there at last.
70 Yes. she was there at last. She ha
gone home YOUTHS Companion