Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-05-30
THE SHADOWS ARE FALLING.

: uBnt' Alter long years oL Sloou anu
anxiety, the light broke upon our child
less household. A little girl came to
us to seek home, and we took her in
to our house and hearts. Where all
had been dull and cherries before, the
new light fell so brightly and pleasant
: " that we could scarce believe our eyes.
The heavy, sombre carpets, which had
laid untrodden by childhood's merry
feet so long, sparkled and warmed at
the touch of her tiny shoes. The glass
Of the windows, which had been so
clear that it sent chill to our house,
took on rosy tint, and the grand old
furniture, which before seemed only a
reminder of the death of those that
owned it before us, frightened, and its
polished veneer flashed back again the
charm of her sweet presence.
My old wife came to me last week
and whispered in my ear, saying:
Husband, the month just gone has
been such bright and happy one.
Oh, how sweetened is the very atmos
phere of our home since that little waif
came to share it with US. The world
says we are kind and generous to the
child; but the world does not know.
We have gained more than the child
by making her ours. The days have
been so flooded with sunshine since she
came, and all the world is brighter than
it even has been since the first year
after we were married. 1t is SO pleas
ant-too pleasant-too good to last
long, I am afraid"
Our new-found treasure came to my
knee and lifted her up and kissed her
cheek, forehead and lips and stroked
her sunny curls, and my wife took her
from me and pressed her to her bosom
and the babe twined its fingers in her
hair and patted her cheek caressingly
and called her mamma" she laughed
outright with great joy.
That evening vixen I came home
from my Office, my wife met me at the
door, and, white and anxious, whisper
ed to me:
"She is ILL.,"
l followed hel to the little bed we
had bought for our babe, and there,
pressed down among the snowy pill
lows lay the baby face, flushed and hot.
The lips were half-open. Her breath
came shortly, and ever and anon she
sighed as if in pain, but there was a
half smile on the baby face, and at
the touch of my hand she cried
''papa," in her delirium. I hurried
away for physician, and as brought
him told him hurrriedly how much
the little one was to us, and begged
him to spare none of his skill, as 1
could not bear to lose her.
We were at home he went to her
bedside and felt her chubby little
wrist to note the pulse, took silver
spoon and pressed upon her tongue
that he might examine her throat. 1
saw a shadow fit across his face. I
knew it was a desperate strait. He
said he would be back in half an hour,
and went away. The sun had set be-
fore his footballs had died away and
the shadows were thickening about
when he came again. He looked per-
picked when he saw his little patient,
so dear to us, but the next moment his
lips were resofutely shut, and knew
he would bring our baby through if in
reach of human skill. Six weary days
have gone since then. The physician
is consulting with half dozen others
in our parlor. Our beloved one lies
painting in her little bed; the color is
gone from her cheek. Her breath is
coming slower-she gasps-she strug-
giles, and my good wife, almost as pale
as she, dashes the froth from those
pinched lips with her kerchief. There
are hard, deathly lines on the sweet
face-the little fingers are cold and
blue-her hair feels damp and heavy.
AL hiO" hlVW Dtdtu Is
knocking at the door the harvest is
ripe and the Reaper stands waiting.
... The consultation is over.
"Prepare for the end-it is near"
says the good doctor, and although
expected it, my heart almost breaks
and my wife presses the dear little
form to her bosom and sobs violently.
The sun is setting. For moment it
shines on the white face of the babe.
and then the shadows lengthen and it
is gone. A gasp-a stified cry of joy
Oh its frothy lips-it is over. The sun
shine has gone out from our home, and
the old gloom-the sombre shadows
are deepening, and when on the NOR
row, the little coffin shall have been
borne to the grave, they will be so
thick that naught can dispel them
until the glorious sun shall rise on
that eternal day yet to dawn.-Ee.
LITTLE Minnies mother had several
times spanked her for going out onto
the street The other day as the GRO