Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-15

that first winter We had some hot
discussions relative to the merits of the
old English authors, and then, with all,
we took German. We could do the
grammar about our work. there were
many Germans in Che mill. and we did
get on quite little in that throat dis
torting language.
You think it was sll sunshine; if it
had been. should not be telling this
story to You. You hope Jack never
broke his crown. ..but he did. all the
same-me." as little sprite at my ell
tow says about her playthings. Love.
thank God. can last not only until
death. but beyond, but the rainy days
are quite necessary in the journey to
make us thankful for the sunshine. if
for nothing more. We were to have
our share of dark days. but no one
could take away from us the happy re-
membranes of that year of work and
pleasure.
One night Jack came home in high
spirits. the mill would stop day for re-
pairs jill. We can have holiday.
and we will have lark" Our first
day together since We came out of the
little parsonage. how pleased we were,
like two children let loose from school!
We arose the next morning with the
sun. we did the work together. and. ar
rayed in our best clothes, left our dear
little home, with the sunshine flooding
the tiny kitchen and Dick" in his cage
singing as if he would split his throat
in ecstacy. How happy We were, The
people we met all seemed friends. and
we danced along like two kittens on
frolic- Jack had proposed that We 60 to
city twenty miles away and spend
the day. We reached the station in
good time. and the express IN half an
hour left US At our destination. and
steamed away. kissing like some wild
creature mad with fury. The people
must have thought us half demented.
for We raced about, into the book
stores looking at pictures. pricing fab
RIGS at the great dry goods houses. and
altogether behaving shockingly for old,
staid married people. But you must
remember that Jack had only reached
his majority and Jill was but just seven
teen. All, well, what = red-letter day
it was with its autumn glories. the mar
Ksts full of blushing fruit, a glamour on
everything! H. seemed to Jack and
| an enchanted land, everything
was free to Us, we could see
and enjoy it all. We got our
lunch at little Dutch parlor. with y
motherly attendant. who evidently re-
garded us as two babies who had es-
capped our parents for a day. She ac-
cepted a ridiculously low sum tor it
all, and her broad, good-natured face
smiled all over when we went out.
Every moment was Just packed full
of it Yesterday. after returning from
Mrs. Lords fashionable reception. how
perfectly happy We were, and how
it ended. But must no. anticipate.
In the early dusk. Just as the lights
began to twinkle along the streets and
people were trudging home from their
toll. as the West was hung with flame.
We were flying out toward the city
where We lived: and how glad We
were to return. just as eager As we
We're to leave in the morning: | thought
how the kit chen would look. and what
1 would prepare for tea in honor of our
outing.
Well. we We're coming into the city.
a little tired. but satisfied with our day-
We were on the evening express. and it
was always q scene OF confusion when
the ira n got in; two tracks on either
side had their trains, bells were rng-
ing. escaping steam with that hiss and
swish-sh that is SO deaiening. Ii was
quite dark. save ss the headlights Of
the engines glared nn us like huge
evil ewes; the crowd was great and
one was almost bewildered in the glare
and noise. We had found our way out.
Jack and I-poor Jack, but had care
lessly left my bag on our seat. 1t was
Jacks present, aud he rushed back
after it. The rest is a blank. but l
learned aftarward that our train was
lac: Jack was coming toward me, a
smile on his handsome race, when there
WAS rush. roar. glancIng lights.
and when | looked again Jack was
down, almost AT NV feet. white, limp
and senseiess. but. thank God, not dead.
By some mistake the Western
express had passed without warning, he
was past the rails. but the baggage car
had struck him ant hurled him. fortu-
natelv, away from the train. The bag
was in his clenched hand, but thought
he had left ME forever. The crowd
surged in. physician appeared. and he
was borne into the depot. lie revived
q little. then went off in a s~ooD that
seemed like death itself. They got him
home on Q mattress. the worst was
known. he had a compound fracture OF
the limb; the bones were set. and / was
left alone Not until the kind doctor
hal gone and the unknown friends, did
| realize little how our holiday had
ended.
There was the kitchen with our table
pushed against the wall, but had pre-
pared no lea. for Jack lay there so
ieathlv pale. save a red spot on each
cheek, and he did not know me. Oh.
Jack. will you die and Leave your little
Jill all alone? And then the tears came
and had refreshing cry. After that
| saw my work before me and prepared
for ii, praying that he good Lord would
uot leave me quite alone
This was the case: Here a. Jack
confined to his bed perhaps for three
possibly a cripple for life; he
could earn nothing for the present; we
had saved one hundred and twenty dol
lars; our rent was ten dollars a month;
Jack had tumbled down and broken not
his crown. but his leg. would Jill come
tumbiing after' l thought so for those
first few hours. and then it came to me.
What if he lsy there in the last long
sleep and could not wait on him any
more2 and fell on my knees with sobs
of thankfulness. ashamed of repining.
How quickly We adjust ourselves to
sober fact, For two weeks Jack had a
high fever. and much of the time he
talked of that bag, and how
sorry be was he could not get it. Every
day he seemed to be sinking lower and
lower, and the old doctor eyed me visit
fully as he went out; l knew what he
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