Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-03-21


Baby Dan sat in his high chair by
grandma's side, and in the midst or the
morning meal she suddenly dropped
her knife and fork. threw her arms
around the baby, and burst into tears
why, grandma, what IS ltIr cried
mother, in real alarm
"POOr, little dear," she cried, she
amt long for this worldl I've dreamed
three nights of white colts. I told
you, Susan, what'd happen II You cut
his toe-naIls of a Sunday, or let the
other children raise your parasol In the
house. l told you'll"
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"
milne DON'T" said grandma, IN a
tone Of deep conviction, And as
was laying in bel this morning. a little
bird flew In al the window. and lighted
on my bedpost. l know what that
means, Susan. Danny amt going to
be here very long; you'll see that he'll
be took off sudden, and IN some uncom-
mon way
No reasoning could shake grand
mothers conviction in the least, and
her continued depression and gloomy
predictions made US all feel very IN
comfortable. Indeed, 50 strong Is a
superstition that not one of us children
could help looking upon dear little Dan
as a doomed child, in spite of mothers
argument to the contrary.
Grandmother had other unfailing
signs indicating Danny's early demise.
| y white kitten came to the door one
day, and grandma shook her head
| glOomily.
But | have always heard that it
was sign of good luck to have kitten
come TO the house." said father.
mot a white kitten, 4" replied grand
/ ma. "A black or gray kitten is good
sign, but a white one is 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 execution
as the only means OF averting his share
of the disaster threatening Danny.
GTaEdma'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 convection that
the end would come that very day.
Danny's condition did not warrant an
OL uc%Lu lIOLl ul5tdSc, dl
all events. He semeed To be swapping
his little pink fingers at all kinds of
signs as he lay in his cradle, kicking up
his heels and Growing gleefully- He
was almost year old at this time, and
grandma had said he would never live
To see his first birthday.
During the forenoon we were visited
by some of our relatives who had driven
a distance of ten miles to spend the
day at our house. We were delighted
to see them and gave ourselves up to a
day of enjoyment. Even grandma
Joined in our pleasure, seeming to for
get her dolefuI prophecies of what the
day would bring forth
After dinner, which was the great
event or the day, the entire family,
with the exception of grandma and
baby Dan, strolled out into the orchard
with our visitors. From the orchard
We went on over a bit of meadow land
in search of wild Strawberries, which
were abundant. Then We went up a
grassy hillside and into little grove
of oaks and elms. Then we all sat
down on the grass and enjoyed what
We called "a real sociable time" until
father bethought himself TO look at his
watch and said:
why, it's nearly four O'Clock. We
have been away three hours. Danny
Will have quite woIn 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, 4 lock of her
gray hair blown over her face by the
June wind and her wrinkled hands
crossed peacefully i'll the sunshine that
fell across her lap. She heard our
footsteps and was awake IN an instant
Where is Danny?n asked mother.
ut isn't possible that he has slept all
this time"
II guess he has," said grandma; Il
haint heard sound from hin +"
Mother stepped hurriedly into the
room in which Danny always took his
MONDAY nap. She came out instantly,
quite pale, and saying in trembling
voice: "He isn't there; he's gOleT"
at-did-you-say, Susanf
asked grandmother, rising to her feet
and speaking with painful delioeration.
He's gone" said mother, again
Grandmother gave low moan, sank
back in her chair, and said, solemnly:
II knew it would be so. You laughed
at my signs, Susan. You wouldn't
hear to them. / feel in my bones that
Danny Bertram will never be seen
ayaln on this earth. The signs don't
fail me"
remember that 1 set up a dreadful
howl I'm which Twas joined by my
brothers and sisters. Father aud our
friends began an immediate and thor
ough search for Danny, but no trace oil
him could be found. Grandmother
encouraged US by saying, from time 10
time. between her broken soos: 1T
no use to hunt for him. He's gone
He'll never be seen again on thlS
earth"
Mother broke down entirely after a
short time, and lay crying on lounge,
with one of my aunts bathing her tenn
/ pies and talking soothingly to her.
We looked eyeTywhere-ln places
that the little feet could never nave
strayed into.
sIn the highest and the lowest and the
| loneliest spot -, IT.,
! They eagerly sought, but they iounu --'-
not"
"It looks to me like a case OF kldnap-
| ing,r said one of my visiting uncies 10
| father"
$50 1t does,r said father; land yet
II don't seem possible that"
..It amt possible, David" inter
rupted grandmother. Pm satisfied
| that haden't been asleep ten minutes
wher you folks came home; and l
know that no one was near the mouse
before you came. No. no. David, hu-
man hands never touched our Danny
I didn't dream of white colts with four
wings apiece for nothing:
..What on earth would colts OF any
kind want with Danny;" asked one Oh
An hour and more passed, and Danny
was not found. We hurried 10 tne
nearest neighbors. They had not seen
any suspicious characters In the neisu
borhood, and knew nothing aoo.s -
Danny's disappearance iney came - -