Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-12-26

Poppy looks so queeri" and the vile with
fast beating heart climbed over the seat
to the rear Of the wagon, where her hus.
band lay.
The last great change for him was com.
Ing fast ami he whispered: pray, NELLY"
a. his beseeching eyes looked up into her
pale face and = cold sweat broke out on his
forehead. # s3 e# 81
The poor woman had prayed In her hi.
nols home, prayed for the husband leaving
her % utterly and unexpectedly alone, but
she could not pray now. Still, she tried
her best and her whole heart went out In
her despairtng invocation: ''Oh, Godl Oh,
God, draw nearp' and then words died on
her tongue and great sobs ohoked her.
Goodbye, Nell, toll the boys to be kind
to you an" and the Tutoring breath
children fatherless.
Mamma, I'll run to the shanty an tell
the man how sick poppy is," said the little
boy, and climbing down over the wheel of
the wagon he sped away as fast as his lit
tie legs would carry him.
He had never seen death. and the mother
was too absorbed In her grief to explain to
him that papa would never be sick any
moro.
He came hack soon with wide open
eyes and q quivering lip. 'There amt
any one there, mamma. I peeked in the
window an hollered all around"
Tim Conway had gone up to the camp,
and the WIDOWS heart sank lower still at
the thought Of the long, lonely ride with
that still, motionless form behind her. He
had seemed protection even in his weak
ness while the breath Of life lasted, but
now she was desolate indeed, and she took
up the reins with q sense Of horrible lone
Illness, which sue had never before ex-
perienced.
Wash jackson, the black cook at the
Collins house, was preparing to fry grid
die cakes, . favorite dish with the men,
when the rumble OF wheels was heard.
''That's Brad, I'll bet ye," cried Dick
Gowdy, throwing down the cards with
which he was playing, and rising hastily
'Hello, pard, ye're jest in time for flap
jacks" and Sam Collins threw open the
door and strobe out with q welcome.
A stided sob was the only reply, and he
stepped back. beg parding, who ever
it's" It was quite dark and the mules
alone visible. "We're expect NJ Brad
Newell, an I'll be drafted of this ere don't
match his team to dot"
'Poppy's sick, said the little boys small
voice; the widows sobs still choked her.
land who's pop1" asked the miner,
kindly.
I'm Willie Newell, and mammals
here"
"'Tls Brad's team arter all I thought
l couldn't be mistook. Hello, old TELLER!
Cheer up, man, We'll soon have you we'll
again." and the miner walked around to
the rear Of the wagon.
HE'LL never be we'll any more. He's
dead, friends" said the widow in choked
voice.
''Dead? Well, now, that's rough, ma'am
Blest ef faint" and one of the bystanders
went into the house to carry the news.
''Sho, now. yer don't say?" and Wash
Jackson turned q griddle cake over onto
the floor instead Of upon the griddle in his
surprise. 'an' his wilder an de little chill
len am at de do wild de corpse. Sho, sho,
now, dat am awful 'scouraging."
''Shet up, yer black yawp, an get 'em
something to eat," said one Of the men,
roughlys ''they must be clean tuckered
out"
the rough. toil-worn hands Of: the
miners helped the widow from the wagon
as reverentially as if she had been Q prin-
cess, and the children were taken to warm
hearts and tenderly cared for, while the
fathers cold form was prepared for burial
In another shauty-the one which Dan
Voorhees, has so recently scrubbed, little
thinking for whose reception he was max
ing it clean.
Three DAYS after the funeral the widow
was waited on by deputation from the
camp. I'VE wanted to ask ye, ma'am,
what ye was goin' ter do" said the
spOkesman touching his bearskin can re-.
spectfully. {" J.. l. e.
Indeed, sirs, do not know, replied
the widow. She had shed all her tears
and could speak Of her trouble with dry
eyes. Gall have is here, and winter is
coming on" y f @>, -
:"Thet's what we WIS thinkin',
ma'am," said Dan Voorhees, eagerly, ian
q hopin' you would consent 70 stay at the