The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-04

night, as she knelt beside her little tfun,
dlebed, she never forgot to ask Jesus to
bless dear papa, who was SO far away
and bring him safe home; and to ask, too
that he would help her remember her
fault, and overcome it.
And at last, one happy after noon, came
letter, brought by an obliging neigh
Dor from Besrdstown. Her father was
coming homel BY this time he was al
ready on the way, and on certain day,
or very soon after, they were to meet him
at Besrdstown.
But now, when the victory was go near
ly won. came the time of greatest danger
to Susie. Like many older people, she
grew too confident, and began to be talk
alive and careless. On the very day be-
fore the long-looked-for holiday she for
got little Kathie, who at once took adj
vantage of her liberty to fall from the
front door -step and be brought in scream
ing. She was so inattentive at her les
son that sister Mary lost patience, and be-
fore the day was over would have asked
her twenty-first question, if Leonard, who
VISA near, had not warned her just in
time.
The next morn after she had been lift
ed into the big wagon and they were fair
ly started, her mother said:
"Now, Susie, we won't limit you in
questions to-day, but do be careful and
don't tire us out"
But now that the embargo was re-
moved from Susie's lips, she seemed to
have nothing to say. In happy silence
she watched the wagon wheels cutting
their way through the yellow sand, and
looked back at the road lying like huge
snake across the prairie. Surely no
horses ever travelled as Ball and Selim
did that morning!
They arrived at Bsardstown before
sunset, and staid that night at the home
of friend. Although Susie, when she
went to bed, was sure she could not sleep
a wink for fear the boat might come in
the night and she not be there to see it,
yet in ten minutes she was off in dream
land. In the morning, while they were
at breakfast, she heard new and start
ling noise.
"That's the whistle of the River Belle :"
said some one, and in few moments the
children were all scsmpering toward the
wharf.
Susie, who had never seen steam
boat, watched its approach with glisten-
ing eyes and quick breath; as it drew
nearer, she saw some one on the bow
waving his hand to them, and even
through tears of Joy she knew her father.
The boat drew near the shore and slowly
swung it's huge bulk around, With much
heaving and painting, as if it had been
running hard race, and plank was flung
out to the little wharf. And who was the
first one to run down the plank, spring
upon the shore, and seize Susie and her
mother in one huge embrace of his long,
strong arms? Who finally.lifted her to his
shoulder and called her his honey, his
good little girl, with kisses from the
midst of his thick beard?
And when Susies mother told how she
had struggled to keep back those misera-
BILE questions, and had been very gentle
and kind with little Kathie, had studied
in the spelling book almost to Baker
and how Ben and Len had been SO help
full and manly, and Mary-but she need
not speak of Mary, she was always their
good, true, girl-then Susie tasted all the
sweetness of well-earned victory.
And after all that, her father invited
them and their friends to grand dinner
that day on board the steamboat; and the
steamboat captain was very polite to her
mamma, and had her sit by him at one
end of the table, and the lady with whom
they were visiting sat by Mr.. North at
the other end. Her father placed Susie at
his left hand. Just before her stood a
covered dish which soon reused her Gu
riosity. She longed to take peep in
side, but did not dare, before so many.
After awhile, she asked her father in a
whisper what was in it, but he laughed,
and instead of replying, said,
Nov, Susie, shut your eyes and open
your mouth, (which Susie did.
The next moment her mouth closed
over something hard and sweet. AS soon
as she could get it open again to speak
she exclaimed
80 papa! believe it's lump of su-
garr'
And then they all laughed, and her
papa said that in future he should keep
supply on hand, for he did not know OF
anything better to stop troublesome ques.
tions.-The Advance.