The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-16

matter" Then he hurried away, to
attend to his other patients, leaving
Mr.. Talbot sorely distressed.
All the schools belonging to the
diocese of Manchester met, as usual,
in Albert Square, then, after singing
the National Anthem, joined IN one
long, grand procession, and passed
along the principal streets of Man
chester. The windows of every hotel
and warehouse and Office along the
route were filled with spectators, and
many of the street corners had some
sort OF platform, on which men and
women were standing.
Very few persons can see the pretty
sight without being moved. Hundreds
of people reckon it among their an
nual treats. Many of the parish
.chools had their own brass band, a
few of them had a drum and fife band
composed of scholars who attend the
school. They all practice the same
hymns and tunes, so, when n is
struck up, it is played and sung all
along the line; and the music and
singing blythe children; the large, hand
some silk banners, whose long cords
with silk tassels are carried by little
girls dressed in white; the smaller ban
ners; the wreaths and bouquets offiow-
ers; the clergymen in their robes; the
church wardens carrying their staff of
Office, and last, but not least, the boys
and girls from the industrial schools,
all form a sight which onceseen isnev-
er iorgotton.
There were many fair and pretty
faces; many "bonnie girls" as the
Lancashire people say. in that long
line OF Sunday scholars; but none fair
er or BONNER than Esther Talbot. AL
most every time she raised her eyes
she encountered some glance Of adj
miration, and, as that was what she
coveted, all thought OF her mother
was banished from her mind.
When the procession was over. most
of the elder scholars formed parties
and went to finish the day, with their
teachers or parents, Dr. at some favor
tie resort, while the younger ones re-
turned to their own churches, to feast
Oh buns and milk.
Esther had resolved to 60 directly
home and not join any party. She
thought ifshe gave the rest of the day
to her mother, she could easily atone
for having left her in the morning. But
her friends urged her so persistentlyt to
join them, and the warm, bright sun
shine seemed to promise such a de-
lightful day in the country, that at
length she yielded, thinking that for
that day she would enjoy herself to the
utmost, and afterwards would try to
be IA better girl to her mother"
At any rate, all remorseful thoughts
and good resolutions were entirely
gone when, an hour later, she walked
! the old-fashioned country lanes. The
blue air; the glad song ofthe birds; the
tangled beauty of the ~hedgerows; the
sweet simple wild flowers; the white,
feecy, fantastically-shaped clouds.
that ioated slowly along the "blue
ETHEREAL sky" and the companionship
of her happy young friends, who had
made her the belle and queen of their
little circle,-all caused her to forget
everything but the enjoyment which
this day of days had so long promis-
ed.
1t vas about nine o'clock when the
friend who had been her most con-
slant companion all day left Esther
at her fathers door. She would not
allow him to knock for her,
but bade him a hurried goodnight.
Now that the pleasure and excitement
OF the day were over, a strange trem-
bling and foreboding seized her. Every
word and look OF her mothers flash
ed through her mind. There seemed
to be a hush about the house, and
she stood a few seconds half-afraid to
lift the knocker.
Maggie answered her low, timid
knock. The child's face was swollen
and tear-stained, and Esther turned
sick with apprehension as she follow
ed her to the sitting-room. She paus-
ed just inside the door, takingin every
detail of the scene before her. On
each side IF the broad, comfortable
sofa lay one of the children, still in
their holiday clothes. She saw they
had cried themselves to sleep. Mag
| gle had sat down in q low chair, and
was sobbing as if her heart would
break.
MI. Newton, her uncle. was at the
table, his head buried in his hands;
his wife sat in Mrs. Talbot's rocking
chair, the little ~four-year-old Rosie
asleep in her lap. She looked up at
Esther, who stood with wide opened
eyes and blanched cheeks, not daring
to ask the meaning OF what she saw,
and there was no pity in her look nor
in the low, bitter tone in which she
said
ungrateful, heartless girl! How
could you 60 away this morning when
you knew your mother was suffering?"
flush, hush, wife, said uncle New
ton, in a hoarse whisper. Don't re-
proach her now. Her punishment