The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-04-09


wild flowers and blue violets
Amt Ruey started back.
cts Nellyni said she, startled at the
wonderful resemblance to the fair face that
was now coflined and buried.
'Lord save us p gasped Uncle Zeb who,
like most illiterate men, was not without
spice of the superstitious in his nature.
''Don't go a-nigh her, Rucy. Maybe she
amt real -
eyes, I'm Nelly" said the child, empty
ing her flowers into the old lady's lap.
give brought You some Easter flowers"
And she looked solcmnly around her at
the fire in the deep chimney place, the
shining copper kettle, the blossoming rose
tree in the window, and the red reflections
of sunset on the wall.
La sakcs - said Aunt Ruey, looking
helplessly first at the flowers and then at
the child where did yon come from p
From the town-housc," said Nell
''But tomorrow is Faster Day. I counted
it up from the calendar that hangs under
the clock shelf in Mrs. CATS room.
Mamma said | was to come home on
Easter
Uncle Zcb put out his coarse, wrinkled
hand and touched Nclly's hair as softly as
if she had been piece Of Dresden china
in danger of cracking.
''She's pretty little creetur, amt she?''
said he. Come here, child. VIII you
give me kiss %
Yes" answered Nell, putting up her
coral lips to the old mans withered face,
and climbing mccremoniously upon his
lap ''Now give me some bread and
milk
''WelI, declare, Zebr' cried his sister.
"Ef you don't look queer with little
child a-settin' on your knee -
Uncle zeb wrigglcd himself this way
and that
Il dunno 'zactly how it looks, said he,
but tell you it feels mighty slick. Amt
she got our Nellys eyes right over az in +?
Get her some bread and milk, Ruey.
Easter, Is it really Easter tomorrow ?
You and me, Ruey, we amt been to
church in powerful long time. Let's try
how it seems tomorrow. Ye spose we
could make the little gal up a bed on the
old trundle in the west room p
''You aint going to keep here" said
Aunt Ruey, with eager, questioning eyes
full of a certain joy
Uncle Zeb strollcd the soft, brown curls.
:'Well, Dunno said he 1T seems
most a pity to send her back there,
doesn't it?
Aunt Ruey reflected.
I've most mind to try how like
her, said She Il alus was partial to
cats, and it does seem as if a well-behaved
child needn't be much moro trouble about
the house than cat.
And when she had brought in blue
edged bowl full Of milk and goodly slice
of bread, she actually gathered up the fast
whiting flowers and put them in cracked
pitcher on the mantle.
La said she, as she turned around,
'.if the poor child hasn't fell dead asleep,
with her head agin your waisteoat, Zebc-
dee
Il guess you had better mdress her and
put her to bed, " said Uncle Zeb, gently
laying down the limp little figure. with
its cheeks flushed with slumber. Gwen
60 right up and put the j'ints of the old
trundle together, you and me.
Aunt Rucy was little backward with
the buttons and strings Ii was long
time since her stiff, old hands had wrought
such work as this; but Nell never woke
up
'.She does look dreadful pretty there,
fast asleep, said She. IL guess wen
keep her. Zebcdcc.
Il guess we will, " said the old man.
"FolksIl call us dreadful silly"
s'Let EN-, )" said Uncle Zebeclee
When Foolish Frank, from The town
house, came to know ''cf they hadn't
nowhar seen little girl, Uncle Zebedee
informed him that they had decided to
keep little Nell ArbnSh.
''Eh ," said Foolish Frank For good
and all9"
"Ycs, said Uncle Zcbc,lee, "for good
and all Go and tell Mrs. Can so.
Foolish Frank went back, much wonder
ing.
But little Nell woke up, the next morn
ing, with gittering eyes and rose-red lips
apart as in a smile.
''It's Easter Day said She Il dream
cd mamma came to me and put her hand
ON my shoulder, and said we had both got
home"
Uncle Zeb and Aunt Rucy looked at each
other with fearful eyes And that day
the first in half score of years-they went
to church, through the budding woods,
with Nell skipping on before.
And wien The minister saw them come
in, he could not but think Of the blessed
Seriptural words:
And little child shall lead thcml'--
Helen Forrest Graces.
In the April Century Strikes, Lockouts,
and Affiliations is the title Of timely
article by George May Powell. Three
anecdotal articles in this number form an