The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-13

smells COCA aftcr We have had nothing but
warm water for days and days
"Hanl me my medicine chest, my Pearl
We must both take some medicine to make
us stronger and cheer our spirits
She smiles through her tears, and places a
small paper box beside him on the table
Brushing his hair from his face she draws
the table closer to the stove, moves his chair
nearer the table, and seating herself, pours
out the tea
1T tastes good, papa, she says, touching
It daintily to her lips, and then takes long
draught as If to emphasize her words
THAT is right, Pearl Drink and enjoy it,
He drained the tea in his cup at a draught.
and when she reflled their cups said: aLet
me put some medicine in this, my Pearl. SO
that we will grow stronger. Perpetual mo
tion and perpetual lfe-two grand dscov-
cries; they ought to bring me fame and
fortune
"Perhaps they win yet, papa. They have
book in the city, as you told me, on which
they have all the names of the great people
who live in Chicago. They call it 'direc-
tory, so If you could remember the names
of some Of the doctors and mathematicians
You used to know j can find out where they
live in that book and tell them all you have
discovered
They would not believe it, my PEARL
"But, papa, l would explain it all to them
just as you do to me. / would tell them
that the philosophy of perpetual motion is
plainly Demonstrated
"Do not speak of it now, my child We
will rest for a time / was so fearful lest
evil should befall you whenyou left me this
morning that worked without ceasing to
quiet my anxiety. Later in the evening we
will discuss the latest phase of our intricate
labors, but now when you have had enough
to eat you can move your chair close to
mine and sing to me some song like you
used to do when you were only child
"But am a child no longer, papa am
almost woman / will be IA years old
next week"
She sits down beside him and leans her
head on his shoulder. He strokes her soft
hair gently till it looks glossy and smooth
Her heavy eyelids culver as she endeavorr
to resist the desire to sleep.
sleep, sleep my Pearl. You require
rest
She puts her arm about his neck and kisses
him. He draws her close to him with one
arm, and with the other hand raises his sec
ond cup Of tea to his lips
MY poor tired Pearl, he murmurs, and
the lean, white fingers toy restlessly with
her black hair.
The stars looked down and smiled when
they saw the two asleep. "They are tired, ~
they whispered into each other, and winked
and blinlSed and looked wise But when the
moon came she said: This is wrong. They
used to watch me nightly and ponder on
strange things l must wake them,n and
she flashed her regal splendor full into the
old barn upon the sleeping man and child
"Let them rest, they are weary, said the
frost, and he spun a curtain of rarest de-
sign over the often-patched window-panos.
When the sun saw them in the morning
still asleep, he thought, mot yet at your
labors, my friends 1 must despoil your
home of this pretty curtain the frost has
wrought across your window
And the stars, the moon, the frost, and
sunlight all did what they could for those
who had loved them. But the father and
child did not stir; and the rats and the mice
danced about them and ate of the bread she
had brought, and tore bits Of his and her
hair away to build them new nests for their
young, and ate of their flesh Aud the
vermin lived all through the cruel winter,
md in the spring time they scampered over
tae fields and enjoyed the sunlight but al
evening always returned TO the old barn, al
nightian, and wrought new nests for their
young Of black and white hair and bits Of
old cloth, and fed their young on human
flesh.
But one day stray match got ignited
and burned full many a nest built Of
black and white threads, soft and
warm, like the finest silk, and tn,
old barn for half an hour was {
sight to idle passers-by. The fire depart
ment was called, but it was registered as .
false alarm, for it was an empty barn thai
had taken fire just outside of the city limits
And the stars, the moon, the frost, ant
the sunlight have looked upon few whit,
scattered bones and the heavens have weep
upon them; and as they crumble to dust til,
earth absorbes them And the stars, tin
moon, the frost, and sun still gaze on strang,
ambitions strange misfortunes, strange sac
endings-L L. Somers in Inter Ocean.