Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-04-18

spread on tho grass under a shelter
ing oak-!rep.
He was lying there with paper in
his hand when Joy caught sight of
him. She was in her tenth year then.
and scarcely less quiet than she had
been at six. She had changed very
little in the process of growing, and
was the same dark-eyed. pensive little
creature she had always been.
She crept to her fathers side that
sunny afternoon, so quietly that he
did not know she was there until he
felt her hand gently stroking his fore
head. Even that was an annoyance
in his nervous state, and he turned
away carelessly.
Run away, daughter! Papa's head
aches. and he wants to got to Sleep"
he said.
She went away quickly and as quiet
ly as she had come. There was tom
der: motherly air about the little girl
very sweet to see.
The oldest sister. Alice. who was
looking out of the window at that
moment. Remarked: Joy is going to
be pretty when she grows up, for all
of her oddness."
just then the unmeasured roll of a
drum-an old tin pan beaten by an
immense stick-and very shrill war;
whoop, announced Master Harry's ap-
proach some moments before he
actually appeared around the corner
of tho house. He was four years old,
at the very height of his baby charms,
and monarch supreme over the whole
place.
lily dare. papa!' he cried. Away
went the improvlsed drum. and the
little warrior was soon rolling over
rug and papa alike, and rocounting
his adventures during the day, in q
voice by no means gentle. unchecked,
unrebuked.
That evening the whole family had
gathered around the tea-table some
moments before Joy glided in and
took her seat in her usual silent man
neE
DR.. Nelson looked at her with in
creasing displeasure in his face and
voice.
What is the matter with you now,
Joy?'' he said. You look mournful
enough to throw damper over us all.
Wife. you must take to furnishing the
child when she sulks." he added:
sternly. 1T will never do to allow this
morbidness to grow.''
He had not recovered from his head
ache. and a hasty summons, which
would necessitate long ride. and,
perhaps, a night OF watching, was not
soothing.
The mother glanced at Joy, and
something in the chlld's face made
her answer quickly:
Never mind. dear. Joy is man.
mas quiet little woman. She helps
me almost as much as the big girls
do, and Harry loves her better than
he does any of the rest of us. I am
sure Idon't know what should ever
do but for her to amuse him.
Early the next morning, as d.. Mel
son was about to step into his buggy,
he called back to his wife, who was
watching him off from the piazza:
Tell the children to get their bon
nets, and l will take them with me as
far as Long Bridge. am only going
to see old Mrs. Williams over that
way, and will be back for them in
fifteen minutes. Call Rover to 90
along, too"
The children received the summons
with great glee. 1t was one of their
chief delights to be taken in papa
buggy to Long Bridge. and to be al
lowed to wait for him there while he
made visit or two on the hill be-
You'd. They would willingly wait
an hour for the pleasure of the ride
back home, even if there was nothing
else to be done except wait. But there
was a tiny thread of stream. many
feet down under the bridge. full of odd,
round pebbles, and great fiat rocks
large enough to build play-housos on.
besides the big bunch of ox-eyo daiscs
they could gather along the path.
Take care of little brother, Joy,"
Mrs. Nelson said as she kissed them.
The bridge was only half mile off.
almost in sight of the house, in fact,
and they we're soon there.
1t was an odd bridge to be built
across a country road. The declivity
it SPAWNED must have been a river 8
bed in some remote age. it was so wide
and steep. A tiny rill of water ran
fully twelve feet below the bridge,
which WAS carefully built, after the
pattern of some railroad bridges. with
ties very far apart and prof cling
perhaps half ayartl beyond the railin 2
that bordered it.
A few yards before the road reached
this bridge. the ground on either side
of it sloped gently down to the little
valley. and a footpath was worn up
and down.
1t was here that Dr. Nelson put the
children dawn and drown b,; clx1x