Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-08-12

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, yours out the tea.
1T tastes good, papa she says,
touching it daintily to her lips, and
then takes IL long draught as if to em-
phasize her words.
THAT is right, Pearl. Drink and
enjoy it.
He drains the tea IN his cup ut a
draught, and when she relills their
cups says:
Let me put some medicine in this,
my Pearl, SO that we will grow stronger.
Perpetual motion and perpetual life
two grand discoveries; they ought to
bring me fame and fortune.'
Perhaps they will vet, papa. They
have a book in the city, as You told Inc,
in which they have all the names of the
great people who live i'll Chicago
They caIl it DIRECTORY, so if you could
remember the names Of some OF the
doctors and mathematicans you used to
know | can find you where they live IN
the book and tell them all you have
discovered
'Thcy would not believe it, Pearl.
But, papa, | would explain it all to
them just as you do to me. | would
tell them that the philosophy of per.
pctual notion is plainly demonstrate
cd"
"Do not speak OF it now, my child.
We will rest for a time. | was so fear
ful lest evil should belall you when
you left me this morning that | worked
without ccasing 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 some song like YOU used
to do when you were onl i, chlld.'
But | am Il child no longer, papa.
| am almost a woman. will be four
teen 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 qulver
and shc cndcavorel to resist the desire
to sleep.
"SIeep, Pearl. You require rest,
She puts her arm about his neck and
kisses him. lie draws her close to him
with one arm, and with the other hand
raises his second cup Of tea to his lips.
my poor, tired Pearl, he murmurs,
and the lean, white fingers toy restless
Iy with her black hair.
The stars looked down and smiled
when they saw the two asleep. They
are tired, > they whispered to each 9TH
cr, and winkcd aud blinked, and look
ed wise. But when the moon came
she said, "This is wrong. They used to
watch ne nightly and ponder on str'nge
things. must wake them," and she
flashed her regal splendor full into the
old barn upon the sleeping man and
child. "Int them rest they are weary,
SAID the frost, and he spun curtain OF
rarest design over the often-patched
window panes. When the sun saw them
in the morning still asleep, he tho =:
Not yet at your labors, my friends. l
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 mice danced about them, and
ate at the bread she had brought, and
tore bits of his and her hair away to
! build them new nests for their young,
and ate at their flesh. And the vcrmln
lived all through the cruel winter, and
in the spring time they scampered over
the fields and enjoyed the sunlight, but
at evening always returned to the ola
barn, and wrought new nests for their
Young of black and white hair and bits
of old cloth,
But one day Il stray match got lgnit-
ed, and burned full many a nest built
OF black and white threads, soft and
warm. like the finest silk, and the old
barn for half an hour was sight Tor
passers by. The fire department WAS
called, but it WAS registered as a false
alarm, for it was an empty barn that
had taken fire Just outside the city linn
It's.
And the stars, the moon, the frost,
and the sunlight have looked upon a
fow whit. scattered bones, and the