Middletown transcript., 1886-08-19
wHrsrn1NG IN. HEAVEN.

You're surprised tnht l of0i snOuiu say ~
/ inst wait till tho reason I've given,
.Wbv say shan't care for the music,
II unless there is whistling in heaven;
Then you'll think it no very great wonde
Nor 80 strange, nor so bold conceit,
THAT untess there's boy there a-whistlin,
Its music will not be complete.
/ Il was late in the autumn of 40;
We had come from our far Eastern home
/ Just in season to build us cabin,
Ere the cold of the winter should come;
| And we lived all the while In our wagon
That husband was clearing the place
| where the house was to stand ;and the cleai
ing
And the building it took many days.
So that our heads were scarce sheltered
In under its roof. when our store
OF provisions was almost exhausted,
And husband must journey for more;
And the nearest place where he could ge
them
Was vet such distance away,
That 1T forced him from home to be absent
At least whole night and day.
You see we'd but two or three neighbors,
And the nearest was more than mile,
Ana we hadn't found timey to know them
For we had been busy the while;
And the man who had helped at the raising
Just staid till.the job was W ell done;
And as soon as the money was paid him,
Had shouldered his AK and had gone.
Well, husband just kissed me and started.
could scarcely suppress deep groan
At tho thought of remaining with baby
So long in the house all aionel
For, my dear, was childish and timid,'
And Drawer ones might well haYe feared
For the wild wolf was often heard bowling
And savages sometimes appeared.
But smothered my griet and my terror
Till husband was on on his ride,
And then in my arms took Josey,
And all the day long sat and cried,
As thought of the long dreary hours
When the darkness of night should fall,
And was so utterly helpless,
With no one in reach of my calf
And when the night came with its terrors,
To hide ev'ry ray of light,
hung up quilt by the window,
And, almost dead with alright,
i kneeled by the side of the cradle,
Scarce daring to draw full breath,
Lest the baby should wake, and fits crying
: should bring us q horrible death.
There kneIt until late in the evening,
And scarcely an inch had stirred.
When suddenly far in the distance,
A sound as OF whistling heard, -dt
l started up, dreadtully frightened.
For fear twas an Indians call; =,
And then very soon remembered
The red man ne'er whistles at all.
And when was sure twas white man,
1 thought were he coming for Ill,
He'd surely approach with more cautiop-
Would come without warning and still
Then the sounds coming nearer and nearer,
Took the form of tune light and gay,
And knew needn' It fear evil
From one that could whistle that way.
Very soon heard footsteps approaching,
Then came peculiar dull thump, ia
As If some one was heavily striking
max in the top OF stump;
And then, in another brief momeRt,
There came ligh tap on the door,
When quickly undid the tasteniugs,
And in stepped boy, and before
There was either question or answer,
Or either had time to speak,
just threw my glad arms around him,
And gave him kiss on the cheek.
Then I started back, scared at my boldness,
But he only smiled at nay fright,
AS he said, /" I'm your neighbor's boy, Elick,
Come to tarry with you through the night
1--WE saw your husband go eastward,
And made up our minds where he'd gone,
And said to the rest of our people,
That woman is there oil alone"
And venture she's awfully lonesome,
And though she may have no great fear.
think she wonld teel bit safer
If only boy were but near.
So taking my ak on my shoulder,
For fear that savage might stray
Across my path and need scalping,
started right down this way;
And coming in sight OF the cabin.
And thinking to save you alarm,
Iwhistleda a tune just to show you
l didn't intend any harm.
" And so here am at your service;
But if you don't want me to stay,
Why all you need do is to say 30,
And shouldring my ak I'naway."
dropped in chair and meier tainted,
just at thought of his leaving me then,
And his eye gave q knowing, bright twinkle
And he said, "I guess I'll remain"
Aud then just sat there and told him
How terribly frightened I'd been,
How his face was to me the most welcome
OF any ever had seen;
Then I lay down with the baby,
And slept all the blessed night through,
For felt was safe from all danger
Near so brave young fellow and true.
So now. my dear friend, do you wonder.
Since such good reason I've given,
Why say, shan't care for the music
| Unless there is whistling in heaven?
Yes, often I've said so in earnest,
And now what I've said repeat.
That unless there's boy there a-whistling,
Its music will not be complete.
-Harper's Magazine.