Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-05


| actually appeared around the corner
of the house. He was four years old.
at the very heigh of his baby charms.
and monarch supreme over the whole
place.
.Hy dare. papar' he cried Away
went the improvlsed drum. and the
| little warrior was soon rolling over
rug and papa alike. and reeounting
his adventures during the day. in
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.
DIR. 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. at 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. night OF watching, was not
soothing.
The mother glanced at JOY, and
something in the chllds 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. 1 am
sure don't know what 1 should ever
| do but for her to amuse him."
Early the next morning, as Dr.. Nell
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 will take them with me as
far as Long Bridge. I am only going
to see old Mrs. Williams over that
way, and l will be back for them in
fifteen minutes. Call Rover to go
| along, too"
The children received the summons
with great glee. 1t was one of their
chief delights to be taken in papa's
buggy to Long Bridge. and to be al
| lowed 10 wait for him there while he
yond. 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 tiny thread of stream. many
feet down under the bridge, full of odd,
round pebbles, and great fiat rocks
large enough to build play-houses on.
besides the big bunch of ox-eye daises
they could gather along the path.
Take care of little brother, JOY"
Mrs. Nelson said as she kissed them.
The bridge was only half q mile off
| almost in sight of the house, in fact,
and they were soon there.
1t was an odd bridge to be built
across country road. The declivity
| it spanned must have been rivers
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 projecting
perhaps half ayard beyond the railing
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 footpath was worn up
and down.
1t was here that DR.. Nelson put the
I'll, h,,.- III
across the bridge and out of sight
around the bend beyond. The road
was private one. and quite safe and
quiet. and big Rover was guard enough
| in case casual stranger should vent
| ure too near
There was never more perfect
June morning, flooded with brighter
sunshine or more deliciously- balmy
| air.
DR.. Nelson found another patient
| waiting for him, and it was an no ur,
instead of fifteen minutes. before he
| turned his horse head towards home.
AS he reached the bend just above
Long Bridge. JOY s voice fell strangely
| on his ear. She seemed to be telling
Harry story, full of alternate threats
and entreaty. with the words BE
still !" repeated over and over again,
| but in a voice so shrill, and high. and
rapid, that he scarcely recognized it.
He refined in his horse, and leaned
forward TO listen.
20 God. make Harry keep still. just
till papa comes! Please don't let him
move again!' rang out on the morn
ing air. in an agony of entreaty.
1t was joys voice, made sharp and
quick by fright.
In Il moment her father had leaped
from his buggy and stood on the
bridge.
1t was strange thing he saw near
the center of the Long Bridge.
From one of the ties outside of its
rough railing. joys little body was
swinging out over the rocky chasm
beneath. with only her slender
strength between it and her. She
was balancing herself against her
chest with one arm. and with the
other was holding fast her little
brother. who was half lying, half
i sitting across the narrow beam.
| Dr.. Nelson could see. as he bounded
forward, that joys lips were purple
with the strain of her clinging. and
Harry was hushed to absolute quiet
ness by some thing in her tone he had
never heard before.
| When she saw her father coming to