Huntsville gazette., 1885-05-16

SuSlo. III meet Qor at tQo OOOT W00u
church is out, and it will be all right if
take her hand and walk home with
her." s
Down to the floor slid two little feet,
and tip-toed noiselessly up the aisle,
while very short distance above them
shone two bright eyes, glancing quickly
from side to side. But no one saw the
little girl, and in a moment she stood
on the church steps in the free air and
sunshine. Having come thus far, she
did not care about going farther. but
sat down on the steps, and listened in q
dreamy way to the minister's voice,
which was only faint murmur when
it reached her. But just as her head
was drooplng in sleep a little
dog came down the street. He was
funny little dog, with a yellow
and white coat, bright black eyes,
short, stubby, independent tail, and
general air of importance. He stopped
in front of Susie, wagged his tail,
barked in friendly manner, and trot-
ted briskly away. He did not 60 far,
however, but came back and repeated
his attempts at making friends.
do you want me to come with you,
doggy" asked Susie. Doggy barked
''Yes," so Susie walked down the steps,
and the little girl and little dog were
soon tripping down the street like old
friends.
A Sabbath stiffness was in the air; no
stir of human industry marred the rest
full quiet; only the soft music of birds
and insects and breezes playing with
leaves and grass-blades.
doggy, l 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, I think, may be she
looks down at me sometimes.
Shouldn't you think she would?
| But I've never seen her yet; for a day
| like this, when the blue shows SO plain
the sun is always so bright it hurts my
eyes, and when it rains the clouds hide
| the sun, they hide away the pretty blue,
too; so of course couldn't see her
then. Isn't it 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 a great tear in
the little dress where cruel thorn had
caught it and had scratched one little
hand, too, and there were tears in the
pretty blue eyes when she said:
80, doggy, isn't it too bad? 1t isn't
here, after all, but way over by the
woods, and I'm awful tired; aren'ty you,
doggy"
Doggy sat down in a crestfallen
manner. Susie certainly looked very
crestfallen, but in moment she bright
ened up, saying:
"Never mind, doggy; it isn't so very
much farther, and when we get there
we Ii be sure to get rested. I'm afraid
it'll be harder to climb up through. /
don't know as we could climb tree,
but maybe there'n be a stump we can |
stand on, and mamma'n reach down
and take us. know she'll reach down
if we can't 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
20. hurry, doggy" cried Susie.
''Those ugly clouds have hid the blue,
but perhaps we can see it in the
woods.
But when they reached the woods
poor Susie sat down in despair. She
was tired and hungry. it was getting
dark, and the rain kept falling faster
and faster.
30, doggyr' she sobbed, '.it's no
use. I've lost my mamma and can't
find her, and now I believe I've lost
grandma. too"
When the sermon was ended and the
closing hymn was given out, Susie's
grandma was surprised to miss her.
After the benediction, she spoke to a
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 at 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 CON-
fort the sorrowing ones looking for
her, we pray thee" was echoed by
many hearts.
1t was morning when they found her,
very wet and fast asleep. Tenderly 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 doc
tor, pricking up his ears and wagging
his tail inte1ligently when the red lips
murmured, as they often did; almost
there, doggy; surely we are almost
there; or, "We'u 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 shone and glistened in
the gay, bright sunlight.
A sunbeam stole through the shutter,