Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1885-10-31
SUSY'S MISTAKE.

In a darkened room, where the shut
tiers were closely bowed and tied with
broad black ribbons, lady was I'M
folding and stroking with tender hands
the contents of small trunk. Not
packed for travellers comfort, the
trunk contained only the possessions
of babe year old, who had "gone
before" to the heavenly home. For
six months had made a weekly visit
to the trunk, unfolding and refolding
every baby garment, packing carefully
the baby toys and stroking tenderly
every tiny object endeared by the
touch of the little one she had lost.
Yet, on the day when the sixth month
had rolled by, her tears fell upon the
dainty embroideries, the worn socks,
the broken toys, as last as on the day
when she first put aside the clothes,
Baby Willie would never wear again.
Her dress of heavy black, loaded with
Grape, suited well her pale, tear-stained
face, heavy eyes and griefdrawn
mouth.
WI lie she was yet busy at her mourn
full task the door opened softly, and
two beautiful boys of four years old,
her twin sons, Eddie and Charlie came
into the room. Seeing their mother
busy, they softly stepped to her side,
and stood quiet until Eddie spied tin
horse and wagon on the floor A
moment later he had grabbed it. and
was pulling it down from the summit
of pile of little garments. Down
toppled the whole pile, the cart rafting
noisily. The mother looked around
with quick frown.
you naughty, heartless boy p she
cried, sobbing. "How can you touch
your poor, dead brothers things? l
think you are old enough to know
poor Willie is gone, never to come
back, and mamma is so sad-so-"
Here the sobs choked her; and the
children, terrified began to cry, too.
eddie sorry, don't ky, mamma
one sobbed.
SIS Charlie bad boy, too" asked the
other, with a piteous wall in his voice
that should have gone straight to the
mothers heart.
Go to the nursery" she said, and
the little ones trotted off, hand in hand
vaguely conscious that they were iu
disgrace. and ready to be comforted
by rosy-cheeked Mamie, their nurse
"And, dear knows" said that warm
hearted individual to the cook, sit is
a shame for the poor darlings. It's
not blaming Mrs. Aiken | am for cry
ing her eyes out for the beautiful boy
she lost, Didn't / love every curl of
his hair, the pretty pet? But look at
the two that's left. Wouldn't they be
comfort 10 anybody, and Mrs. Aiken
only speaks to them now to set them
CRYING. Sure she can't expect babies
like them to remember their brother
more than six months, and if they
were downright wicked, she couldn't
be harder than she is if they laugh or
romp. She'll break their spirits en-
tirely."
And the mother, rocking to and fro,
with the picture of her dead boy clasp
ed to her heart, was thinking:
Everybody is forgetting Willie but
me. But | will never forget. | will
never, never cease to mourn fox my
darling. Oh, Williei Willie"
Breaking in upon her sobs came a
whistle, merry whistle Of popular
tune, and the door of the darkened
room opened again noisily.
"Where are you, Susy? Oh +
Voice and face fell, and Mr.. Aiken
stood silently at the door, his eyes
slowly gathering the mournful express
sion suited to the funeral aspect Of the
scene before him.
Il was hoping you had gone out
when | did not find you in the sitting
ROOM" he said; "but Mamie told me
you were up stairs. | wish you would
not spend so much time in this room,
Susy. 1t is wearing awayyour health"
ooh, Fred the Rother sobbed,
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