New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-09-04

w
porting over books and machinery and
steam. Such an odd child as he was,
with thoughts far beyond his years!
Sometimes. sitting here by myself, 7
go over in my mind the very strange
things he used to say to me in those
days.
Il remember that one evening he
had been reading for long time in
some book that he had got out of the
public library; but by-and-by he stop
ped and leaned his head on his hand.
looking into the Goals. Then, all at
once: =
Mother he said, isn't it a won-
derful thing. how God could trust men
lswith itp'
.s~sWifh what, Jack2''
"With the steam-the power of it,
I mean. 1t was long time before he
!, did. But when the right time came,
and then he told.
$50. Motherr said he with his ewes
shining. what must it have been to be
James Watt, and to listen to such a
secret as thata''
I'm 81 minute he spoke again:
"..And it's never SAFE to forget to
listen, because we don't know when
He might speak, or what there might
be to heaEr'
81 could not answer him for .chok-
ing in nv throat, but [ had laid down
my knitting. and [ put my arm around
him; and he looked up into my face
with something in his eyes that i II
never forget.
1--WE are getting along well then.
The little house and garden were al
most paid for. and we thought that
nowhere in the world were happier
people than we. OR 4 brighter, cosier
home. NV husband and were always
talking of this and that to be done for
Jack when the last was made. But be-
fore the money was due nv husband
came home very sick one day.
''.Do not be frightened. Mary he
said. 4 think L shall be better to NOR
row.
But he only grew worse next day.
Tt was a lung fever that he had, and
for many days we thought he must die.
| Yet he rallied after time-though he
kept his hacking cough--and sat up
and moved about the house, and at
last thought himself strong enough to
take his place again,
but that was too much, for at the
end of the first week he came home
and fell fainting on the threshold.
s. It's no use, MARY he said, after
he came to himself I can't run the
engine anil if I could it isn't right for
peoples lives to be trusted to such
weak hands is Miner
He never did any regular work af-
ter that, although he survived for a
year.
consumption is Il terrible disease,
sirt To see one that you would give
your hearts blood to save, slipping.
Slipping away before your eyes, and
you helpless to hold him back by so
much as hairs breadth from the
black gulf of death! ALI. sir! trust
You have never learned how hard it
vast
Young as he was, Jack was NV stav
and comfort through that dark time.
My poor husband had matters in his
mind that he longed to speak to me
about, but [ always put him off, for /
could not listen to anything like his go
ing away from us.
but at last the very day before the
end came, as I sat by his bed, holding
his hand in mine, he said, very gently
but firmly:
"'Mary, wife, I think you must let
me speak to you to-day.
81 fell to crying as if my heart would
break, and he drew pitiful sigh that
went like a sword through my breast:
yet could not stop the sobs. Then
Jack rose up from the little stool where
he sat SO quietly that I had almost for.
gotten he was there, and came and
touched me.
'':Mother! dear motherr he said:
and as looked saw that his face was
perfectly white, but there were no
tears in his eyes.
'Mothers' he said again, please 90
away for little while. I can hear
what father wants to say
you will think me cowardlv. sir
but l did as the child babe. I left the
door ajar, and could hear NV nus
bands weak voice, though I could not
understand the words, and then nv
brave boys answers. clear and low,
not break nor tremble in the sweet
voice. And at last Jack sad:
g is that all, dear father?' and, Yes,
i will be sure to remember it, every
word
Then he came out and kissed me
with smile, and went out the outer
door.
But an hour afterward, when l
went out to the well, I heard little
choking sound. and found him lying on
his face in the long grass under the
apple tree. sobbing his very heart away.
So | turned about and went into the
house as softly as could. and I never
let him know.
after it was all over and we had
TIME TO look about Us. we found some
depts left and very little money. il
was bad thing for me, that had for
SO long strong, loving arm between
me and every care, to think and plan
how to make both ends meet. when I
could not start evenly at the beginning,
But Jack came to my help again.
Father said that you were never TO
work, dear mother, because you were
l