Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-11-24

the afternoon she would 60 witt the
children for q ramble over the b Il If
the day proved fine; in the evenil rshe
would ask the men to come into the
parlor, and play and singfor then and
try to give them a pleasant hour So
she said nothing more about q holi-
day, and Mr.. Aiken gave the matter no
second thought.
But sometimes even yet the angel of
the Lord speaks to mems hearts in
the day was ended the farmer went to
bed, and slept the deep, quiet sleep OF
a man in perfect health resting from
honest work. Toward morning ne
awoke, and then for awhile he lay in
that half-waking housekeeping state
where dreams are apt to visit the
mind.
Was it dream? Was it q. memo
ry? Or was it not something com.
posed of both? Again the house was
darkened, cautious footsteps moved
lightly through the silent rooms,
voices were never heard above q whis-
per, for the wife and mother lay dan
gerously i'll. He came in from the
barn Just as he had come on that sor-
rowful afternoon in the spring to find
that the feeble spark of life in the little
newborn daughter had suddenly gone
out. But now it was not the baby
that was dead; the kind neighbor who
had been taking care of it sat beside
the fire holding it in her arms, and
tears were running down her cheeks as
she tried to soothe it's wailing cries.
"Poor little baby" she murmured,
"poor little motherless thing"
With deadly fear clutching at his
heart he passed her aud went into his
wife's room. A rigid form lay on the
bed, covered with q sheet; but even as
ne sank on his knees with g. bitter
groan q soft voice seemed to whisper
in his ear, "She is not gone; she is
given back to you. This is only what
might have been"
"Thank God" he fervently ex-
claimed; and suddenly the vision
faded.
It faded, but gave place to another.
He stood at the gate watching his eld-
est boy training his favorite colt. The
pretty creature was full of life and
spirit, but Willie was good rider and
kept his seat easily. Up and down
the road they went several times, but
&c last, just as they were passing the
gate, hunter concealed by the will
lows in the creek unexpectedly fired
his gun.
The frightened colt gave leap to
one side, and the boy was thrown.
Had his head come in contact with
the gate post? The father sprang to
raise him with q dread hecould not have
expressed; but the boy looked up in
his face with q brave attempt to smile.
Don't be frightened, father; it's only
q broken leg, and that will mend; my
neck wouldn't" And again as he
lifted the lad in his arms, he whispered,
"Thank God thank God" And now
it was midnight; he stood upon the
mill overlooking his home; all was still;
the inmates of the house were locked
in slumber. Suddenly a bright light
flashed from one of the windows, and
in another moment he could see the
curling flames filling all the rooms.
He tried to shout, but his voice died
in his throat; his feet were rooted to
the spot; he could not move. With
unutterable horror he saw the fire
stealing from floor to roof: yet the
sleepers did not awake. His wife and
children-must he see them perish be-
fore his eyes? With mighty effort
he broke the spell that bound him,
uttering a cry of agony, and at the
same instant his wife's hand was laid
upon his arm. "Johni John! what is
the matter ?"
- he Mill, n Iooxo
sigh of relief. SIT was only a dream.
Thank God it was only dream"
After that he slept no more. The
words he had spoken three times
echoed in his heart. "Thank God
thank God!" Had he anything to be
thankful for?
Harriet" It was not the impera-
tive tone in which he sometimes
spoke when she oversight herself
in the morning. It was more
like the voice of one who years ago had
never uttered her name but in tones of
tenderness. She was awake in g. mo-
ment.
'tIs it time to get up?"
"No, not yet; but [ have something
to say to you. think made mis-
oconO oAAO AhO4 dII1S, 0OoA. VO Will k0Cp
Thanksgiving, as you suggested"
"Oh, John, I am so gladl"
The unmistakable tremor in her
voice smote him to the heart.
"Why, you foolish little woman, if
you cared SO much about it why did
you not say SO ?"
"Because'-and now she had con-
quered the momentary emotion and
spoke lightly enough; "because never
was a spoiled child. was taught to
take yes or mo- for an answer, with
out teasing, and have never lost the
habit"
81 don't think you have. But now
make all your arrangements, and your
programme shall be faithfully carried
out"
Ii the men were surprised when they
were told there was to be nc work
done on Thursday they did not say
SO, and they readily agreed to Mrs.
Aiken's conditions that they should
eat their Thanksgiving dinner and
spend the evening with her.
1t was day to be longremembered,