, 1889-01-10

thing that pushed self aside; it was
one avenue by whicb she could hope 10 es-
cape from her own narrow life. And now
that this chief Joy was fading and going
from her, her hard life approached =
wretchedness she had never known.
When the arrangement OF the Rifts was
ompieted. JaDey said: Now, mother. ]
| will close my eyes until you light the can
dies. Tell me when you are ready"
Nov. said the mother, when all the
candles we're lighted.
Janey opened her eyes and clasped her
little thin hands, in cbildlike ecstacy, and
exclaimed:
20, mother. IL is pretty. isn't it2 How
good you are to fix it for me"
The child looked ut the tree with its
simple adornmeDts, and was satisfied The
mot her gazed on her child.
The hard features did not relax. The
eyes told Of bitter anguish, but no word OF
complaint passed the lips.
That will do, motner." said Janey.
blow out the lights and come and sit BY
me-"
The mother did 30, and said:
Now. Janey, you must sleep, 40 you
WIN be strong enoushe, to enjoy seeing the
Mother. dear, did not give you any
thing" said Janey.
There is nothing but my crutch to
give; IL W II be a feeble help TO you ~ it
has been to me. IL is poor present,
mother. but it is what | have used most
and last and ! wanteou to have IL. You
will never give it away and it ~ill never
wear out. Do not put 10 on the tree,
mother. II may make the others feel sad.
And my love, dear mother, you have thai,
my hearts best love. Now YOU put your
arms around me, mother feel 40 cold. SO
cold. Kiss me mother. and do not let me
get 80 cold, o, mother, | wieh you could
70 with mei you will be so lonely here
without me.
"But o. remember that want you to
love father and Fanny and Johnny more.
Not Just as you love me; you cant, for |
have always been weak and sick, while
they are strong and well. but love them.
mother. Let them feel that you love
them Let your voice be sweet and loving
as 1t is when you talk to me. Don't let
any more hard lines come TO your face. 1
know you will have TO work hard, az you
always have done, but do not be cold to
everybody. You have never been no to me
never, dear mother. When close my
eyes and hear your sweet voice, and feel
your gentle touch. can think that your
face is shining with n wonderful light
light that takes away the hard, deep
lines.
1.-The flowers, mother; put them In my
hand when-when 1t Is all over. Keep a
fern leaf and few of the violets. Poor,
dear little towers; my hand will be cold
for them, but they won't mind. No one
but you, mother, conld have found their
pretty warm bed of leaves under tire cliff.
Dear mother. that is all, only kiss me
often; your lips feel warm. Let me put
my hand in yours; your hand is rough.
mother. but IT can be gentle and dainty in
its touch
"And go with me, mother, as far as you
can-just as far as you can. Don't leave
your Janey, Remember the tree. The
happens; and tell them all love them
and want them to be kind to you.
Hold me. mother! am slipping
away! o motherl how dark and cold!
Come with me, mother! DO not leave
mel"
The child lay quietly in the mothers
arms. Then Suddenly she opened her
eyes and exclaimed:
"Oh, mother! look! How beautiful, oh,
how beautiful! The tree; oh. mother, do
you see itY So pretty, SO green, with such
wide spreading branches. that reach
great way. And o, the light. mother, the
bright, beautiful light! lt IL every where.
Drops of water, clear and sparkling, hang
on slender threads Of gold, that reach
from branch TO branch. And there are
beautiful golden crowns--they must be
crowns, motber; they are shining and
sparkling. The tree is on green bank
of ariver. The water is like the drops on
the tree, clear. so clear. There flowers,
mother, beautiful. beautiful. flowers. .,
mother, | must 20; | want to go. IL is so
livht, SO light, you need not come any
further now, dear mother, bnt come after a
while.
And now good.by, 0ood-by, the very
last kiss for you, my mother, good-by-
don't forget TO come"
The mother held the dear. dead child
while there was any warmth in the lifeless
body.
Then she laid the dear head back gently
on the pillow and gazed long and earnest
ly on the peaceful face
Then she turned as ii to go away, but
turned again to her lifeless treasure, and
with cry that was terrible in it's great
agony, she threw herself by the side of her
child and lost consciousness in "a merciful
sw0on.
Toward morning the husband came in
and stumbled mp stairs without noticing
the strange aud solemn guest that had
come TO his home.
The awakening will be be bitter, very
bitter.
One OF Women's ways.
Three women tTipped more or less
lightly iutn a Tenth street car going up
town Yesterday