The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-05
MARGARET'S PROMISE.

G. NJ ainnest in Illustrated Christian Weekly.
Hardy Margaret. as her father always
called her, was very contented IN her swiss
home.
Bya days travel she could see the great
st. Bernard in all its majesty.
The nearer mountains seemed like old
fr;ends TO the child as she saw them from
dav to day. or went climbing up their sides
after flowers. or to see the men who watched
over her fathers sheep and cattle in their
steep pastures.
MARGARET and her little sister liked moth
ing better than to visit old Louis. the
chief herdmar. and hear him tell about the
avaIancbes which he had known, and of
the travellers which he and his faithful dog
had rescued.
He was never quiet while he talked, for
there was much milk to skim, butter to be
made and food to be cooked for the two
Young men who watched over the cows
and sheep on the mountain side; and every
dish. spoon and ladie must be very clean
and bright before old Louis would put 1t
away in its place
This busy way OF his added a great deal
10 the interest of the stories which he told.
The sisters could glance at each other. or
nod their heads by way of comment. with
out any fear of disturbing him in his work
or talking.
children thought that they could remem-
her that better because he did not look at
them with a sigh when the young folks of
whom he spoke did MOTIVE as they should.
aI'm so glad that be didn't even glance
Mt me today" said Margaret's sister one
Afternoon. THAT tale he told me made me
think how inquisitive am sometimes.
Girl in the story did," said Margaret, cheer
..You always answer me So" was replied
with a smile, land when father Is so still or
cross you tell me not to ask why, and that
he viii soon be happy"
And then the sister looked mp into Mar
earet's face as though she thought she did
not puzzle much over their fathers strange
She could not see how Margaret was al
vays wishing that she could help him out
If those hours of gloom and fretting, for
she now said with sunny smile:
"And he always does cheer up"
And 1t was this happy nature OF hers
which made Switzerland seem so dear to
her, and which would have frightened up
any spot where her lot might have been
cast.
By helping her sister she was also trying
hard TO keep promise which she had made
10 her mother Just before her death.
She had not heard all which that dear
mother had said, for her voice was quite
feeble. But she saw her glance at the little
Girl who, not guessing how near death the
parent was, was playing in one corner OF
the room, and put that with the three
words which she whispered:
"Aiways--stay-with-
SO she said to herself as she bent down
20 kiss the mothers face:
she wants me never to leave little
Then she spoke so the dying one could
not fail to hear her:
az WHIP
Hardy Margaret never saw any CLEAN
of sunshine so bright, as the look which
came upon the face before her as she
answered in that way.
And so the two children were always
together when q trip was made TO the
great St Bernard or to the nearer noun
tain slopes or valleys.
Two merry voices could be heard ming
ling in song and talk when the melting
SHOWS began to show the pale grass which
had been growing as best 1t could beneath
II. and two pairs of blue eyes would
watch the blades gaining in strength and
color from day TO day.
The sisters gathered flowers side by side,
and. when they had put the finest ones
upon the mother grave, would stand hand
i'm hand talking OF how happy she must be
i'm her shining home beyond the mountain
tops.