Omaha daily bee., 1890-04-06


tliumphal day in heaycn?'
~ would, Mr.. Casson." Agatha an
swcred earnestly, but it is impossible.
] have tried-yOu know ! have turning
to her uncle. But at the first note cv-
erything sweeps over me in a great wave
Of soiTow.'
well, goodbye" said the rector
You may feel different by Sunday"
And he hurried away.
While they had been talking, Agatha
was too much moved to notice the con-
vulsive pressure Of the little hand in her
own, on the pleading expression OF
pair Of anxious eyes uplifted to her
downcast face.
"You should have had your hat, on
dear. she said. laying her hand on her
brothers curly head. But the little fel-
low was too intent on his own thoughts
TO heed her words
you must sing Easter Agatha he
said. Say you will dear! He will
miss it so, if you don't! Just in the
morning, Agatha, for papa
Sweetheart, | do not think | can,
answered Agatha, gently.
The child buried his face in the black
folds OF her dress, and began to cry
softly.
Iii will all be spoiled, " he murmured.
"Tcll me about it. said the uncle,
drawing Harry into the house, and tak-
ing him on his knee.
II was 'companying Minna in the
kitchen" said the child between his
sobs, when she told me about it. And
now if Agatha won't sing l shall not
have nybody, and Minna said the Mo-
ravian people had II great band with
bright horns-and | meant to have only
Agatha"
Come, said his uncle, stop crying,
and tell me slowly what all this is
about. "
1T was about how they did at Easter
when Minna was little. They went
early in the morning, and marched up Il
high hill, the men first and the women
last, to the place where-they were bur-
led
Where who were buried, dear?"
Their people that they loved-like
papa, said Harry, whispering. Then
they played on their bright horns, and
all sang an Easter hymn, "a great, mighty
hymn Just as the sun rose. And when [
asked NIinna why they did it, she said it
was because on Easter the ones who had
died that year would rise, with a rush
ing sound n wings, and the people sang
on account of being glad.
Il asked her why we didn't bury papa
in that country, but Minna said it made
no difference; that papa would go to
heaven sooner than any one else she
ever knew. SO, all alone | knew |
| couldn't sing a great, mighty hymn
Minna says great mighty but Agatha
could: her voice is like a big angels
Never mind,n said his uncle, strolt-
ing his head, perhaps poor Agatha
would like to sing, but cannot. Sing
your hymn yourself: that will do"
A little comforted, the child let his
sister lead him upstairs. Her thoughts
were far away, as she slowly helped him
to undress.
Can really 90 and sing it myself,
Agatha?" he asked, as he wriggled into
his flannel night-gown.
YES. dear" she answered absently.
The little face. emerging from the
white folds. wore an astonished express
sion. He looked at her kecnly, but find
ing the permission not withdrawn, he
discreetly left the matter as it was.
The greater part of the following day
Harry spent ''companying' Minna, who
never tired of his company. Perched on
Il corner of the kitchen table, he super
intended the cooking all the morning,
exacting several repetitions of the
Easter story" rs he called the pictures
from Minna'S life as child among the
Moravians.
III IIt dlltfuODll llltSG lNO NtNOltu
friends went out into the warm April air
for walk. Minna was tiny woman,
somewhat past thirty, and devoted to
Harry. She treated him as an equal in
age and experience.
He's that sensible!i she would admir-
ingly affirm; you couldn't no more treat
him like baby than you could Mr. Cas-
son. He's more sense than ten of some
men,"
We've got to be home in time to get
tea" she said, when the sun warned
them that it wasnearing.5 o'clOck.
Did you see that big bunch of Easter
to Agatha from Littleton. Agatha
cried, DO you suppose it was anything
about papaI'
"COurse it was,n said Minna. THE
lilies were meant for your papa; and
Harry" she added, don't forget to say
The Lord is risen in the morning, and
if anybody says it to you,y must answer
He is risen indeed, like your papa
taught YOU"
Il couldn't forget that" said Hrrry.
II shall say it to Agatha. Do you sup
pose she'll go with me and sing the
great mighty hymny'he asked wistfully.
"O.you Just let her alone, said Minna.
"She's been bothered enough about sing
VERY we'll, he said, with tremble
in his voice, iii have to do it all alone.
Agatha, absorbed and preoccupied
with her own affairs, was wholly uncon-
scious of HaTy's little plan. Dull
despair and dreary lack OF faith pos
sessed her heart; they stood, like II wall,
| between her and all she loved best.
Was there anything beyond2 This
dreadful question, with its possibility of
irrevocable loss and separation, crushed
her spirit utterly. 1t was quite natural
that She should overlook Harrys eX
element; the passionate hope he cher
ishcd was wholly unknown to her.
When Harry's bedtime arrived,
Agatha undressed him mechanically,
and answered his chatter at random.
The tall spray of lilies stood in a large
vase near the window.
II know who they are for said the
boy, sinking his voice mysteriously.
May put them there, Agatha, dear, so
that he will know that we have remem-
bered? And won't you Gomez We can
not see him, you know, but he may see
US, and he would miss you so. You are
sure you cannot singI'
Aputhn shook her head, too heart g. elk