The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-08-12

4 =
joyfully: "Ain't we havin' a good
time? Ida greatdeal rather play
with You than anybody.
He was very fond of the woods
the trees, the flowers, the grasses
the rabbits, the birds; all were hi
friends. They seemed to know h
would not harm them. The rabbit
came out of his burrow and drew
near to him the birds hoped dowr
to the lowest branches of the tree
under which he sat, and the timid
little chipmunk, for time, forget
ting its fear of mankind, paused and
with head on one side, stared boldly
at him, as he told to the tree some
wonderful story. He spent much Of
his in this way during the warm
weather, and would come home
flushed and happy and, and say: 90
mother what good time l had"
"Did you, dear? What did you
playp'
81 didn't play; only told the big
tree story, and the birds heard it,
to, for / saw them listening. l like
the birds, mother, they never talk ;
they don't say silly, silly, SILL only
the crow says, come come, come,
and flies away. / say:I can't come;
can't fly but he keeps saying,
come, come, come, till lie gets away
off. l don't like the crow, mother"
"Why do you talk to him in that
way?" the neighbors often asked ;
cit sounds so foolish"
"Does it?" she would reply, "per-
haps it does to you, but who would
talk to him, il did notp Who un-
derstands him as do? know my
poor boys mind is clouded, but that
cloud will be broken in Gods good
time; until then lie has only his
mo ther."
And they said when she was gone :
"Well, well, she thinks more of Linn
than if he were wise.''
Often he would remain il the
woods till the dews had fallen, and
then come home, carrying very
carefully. d daisy that had caught a
drop of dew on its silver rim, and
hand it to his mother saying "See,
mother, the poor little daisy is
crying"
"Poor little daisy, what made it
cry?"
Il guess it's because I told it about
the little boy who nobody liked,
only the birds and flowers, and one
day he went away-o, away Off a
mile, 1 guess, and they didn't see him
no more.'
"Poor little boy" she would say,
and carefully place the daisy in a
tiny box with others that he had
given her.
On day there came terrific
thunder shower, and some men hur-
rying through the woods found the
limb of Il tree in the path, OH lift
ing it beheld boyisll form beneath.
ut is poor, simple Johnny they
said.
Pes, it was poor Johnny, felled by
the arm of his friend, the big tree.
TLey bore him home. The lids
that were pressed tightly over the
large grey eyes flew open at the
sound of his mothers voice, and
she knew the vacant look had de-
parted.
Johnny, dear, are you in much
pain?'
The face that was drawn with
suffering tried to brighten as he
"no."
AS she took her place by the bed
side he said:
Mother will you watch till l
awaken"
Eyes, dear, mother will watch"
He smiled, and closing his eyes
peacefully, was soon sleeping
soundly-aye, soundly.
They tried to lead her away and
said lille does not need you now
"But promised 10 watch till he
awoke.
"He has awakened in heaven.
She looked at the Calm, childish
face and then, in a voice that was
joyful even in its agony, cred out:
THANK God, the cloud is broken!"
Then she said: Leave me with
my boy little while. will not
have him long;yo know he was my
eldest, my first baby
They closed the door and left them
together. She tenderly smoothed
the hair from off the pure, cold
brow, nurmuring through her tears;
"My poor, POOR boy" Then she
stopped close to his ear and MUIR
INJURED: johnny, sometimes too
shall sleep watch, johnny, till 1
awake"
wonder did he heal? They say
the ear of death is dull; but who
knows that it issso2
The year came and went. She
grew to be an old woman, and
grand children played about her
chair. When tired of play they
would ask her to tell about poor
Uncle Johnny, and their eyes would
open wide in childish wonder when
size tookfrom her pocket a ii ny box
and showed them the "crying
daisies" One Gay they came to her
Ledside, with sorrow ia their young
f. ces, to kiss her good boy, for papa
said she was going away, and the
two-year old DaOi, who had TO be
lliftedas he kissed the pale, wrinkled
cheek, touched tile worn old hands
that held the tiny box and SUE, tear
falIy, "Twining DAISIES.
She smiled in the baby's sorrowful
face and clasped tighter the tiny
box, and as she closed her eyes, they
heard her whisper: johnny. wat IN
| till awake And then-thenY 1t
was ended.