The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-02-24

stances.
Baby Dan was a winning little fell
low, whom we all loved so dearly that
we were glad grandma's omens did
not portend any thing disastrous to
him, even though we did not believe
in signs. But one day, grandma came
down to breakfast without her usual
morning smile and CHEEKY greeting.
She looked very solemn, and spoke
soberly when she spoke at all.
Are you not well?" asked father
81 hope this whole family may keep
as well for year to come as | am
now," she said, mysteriously.
Baby Dan sat in his high chair by
grandma's side, and in the midst of
the morning meal she suddenly
dropped her knife and fork, threw her
arms around the baby, and burst into
tears
why grandma, what is it?" cried
mother, in real alarm.
Poor little DEAR she cried, she
amt long for this world! I've dreamed
three nights of white colts. I told
you, Susan, what'd happen if you cut
his toe-nails of Sunday, or let the
other children raise your parasol in
the house. told your
Grandma's distress was so evident
that none of us felt like laughing, and
mother said:
Don't worry, mother. You know
that all signs fail at times"
mime don't" said grandma, in a
tone of deep conviction. ''And as
was laying in bed this morning, lit
tile bird flew in at the window, and
lighted on my bedpost. / know what
that means, Susan. Danny amt go
ing to be here very long; you'll see
that he isn't. And the worst of it is
that he'll be took off sudden, and in
some uncommon way"
No reasoning could shake grand
mother s conviction in the least, and
her continued depression and gloomy
predictions made us all feel very I'M
comfortable. indeed, so strong is a
superstition that not one of us children
could help looking upon dear little
Dan as doomed child, in spite OF
mothers arguments to the contrary.
Grandmother had other unfailing
signs indicating Danny's early demise.
A white kitten came to the door one
day, and grandma shook her head
gloomily.
"But / have always heard that it
was a sign of good luck to have kit
ten come to the house." said father.
"Not e0hite kitten" replied grand
ma. "a black or gray kitten is a
good sign, but a white one is a sign
Of" She stopped over, caught Danny
up in her arms and hastily left the
room.
An old white rooster that we had
crowed on the doorstep that day, and
grandma ordered his instant execu-
ton as the only means of averting his
share of the disaster threatening Danny.
Grandma's signs multiplied fast, and
were of a positive, never-failing char
acter. She came down to breakfast
one beautiful June morning, bowed
down with the dreadful conviction
that the cid would come that very
day. Danny's condition did not war
rant an expectation of death from dis
ease, at all events. He seemed to be
swapping his little pink fingers at all
kinds of signs as he lay in his cradle,
kicking up his heels and Growing glee-
fully. He was almost year old at
this time, and grandma had said he
would never live to see his first birth
day.
During the forenoon we were visited
by some of our relatives who had
driven q distance of ten miles to spend
the day at our house. We were de-
lighted to see them and gave ourselves
up to a day of enjoyment. Even
grandma joined in our pleasure, seem
ing to forget her doleful prophecies of
what the day would bring forth.
After dinner, which was the great
event of the day, the entire family,
with the exception of grandma and
baby Dan, strolled outinto the orchard
with our visitors. From the orchard
we went on over bit of meadow land
in search of wild strawberries, which
were abundant. Then we went I'D a
grassy hillside and into little grove of
oaks and elms, There we ali sat down
on the grass and enjoyed what we
called ga real sociablo time" until
father bethought himself is look at his
watch, and said:
"Why, it's nearly four o'clock. We
have been away three hours. Danny
will have quite worn grandmother out
with the care of him. We must hurry
| home.
When we reached the house we
found grandma fast asleep in her rock
ing-chair on the piazza, a lock of hel
gray hair blown over her face by the
June wind and her wrinkled hands
crossed peacefully in the sunshine thai
fell across her lap. She heard oul
footsteps and was awake in an instant
"Where is Dannyp" asked mother
cit isn't possible that he has slept all
this time"
IL guess he has, said grandma; 81
haint heard q sound from him.
Mother stepped hurriedly into tn,
room in which Danny always took hi.
MONDAY nap. She came out instant
ly, quite pale, and saying in q trem
bling voice: He isn't there; he's
gone!"
"What did you S say, Susanp'
asked grandmother, rising to her fee
and speaking with painful delibera
ton.
Hes gomez" said mother, again.
Grandmother gave q low moan, sank
back in her chair, and said, solemnly
Il knew it would be so. You laughed
at my signs, Susan. You wouldn'
hear to them, feel in my bones tina
Danny Bertram will never be seer