, 1890-07-03
HIGHWAY AND BYHAY.

] II m sorry Sne's dead, cause snt
was good to us"
1t was a forlorn. poorly clad child
Of possibly twelve summers, stand
ing with a crowd at the door of a
church into which a coffin had just
been carried.
IL wanted TO give her these" she
added, holding up n bunch of wild
/ syringus. 1--WE havn't any flower
garden, but these are so pretty, and
they are white. DO you think
/ they'll lot mu?'
II was such wan, troubled little
face turned up to mine, / could onl y
answer.
~ think they will"
She made a hositating move to-
ward the door, paused moment,
then turned, and again the great
pathetic, questioning eyes were
raised to mine.
"if they won't let me, do you
think she'll know I wanted to?n
81 IN sure she will" IHnswercd so
confidently the little cl0uded face
frightened, a glad light came into
the eyes, and she almost smiled as
she moved away and disappeared
within the church.
surely some attending angel will
whisper into the ear of the departed
the hearts desire of this little one,
"l I'm sorry she's dead, cause she
was good To us.h
Simple words, but better than
iln;tcrinv obituary or "storied urn"
M. "A L..
10y the recording angel; not for time,
but for eternity.
know not who "usn are; know
not who "she" was; but | know
there was love and charity; | know
there IL regret and sweet romem-
brancc, and the world is the better
for II.
"Ain't she pitty?" They were
two such mites to be standing alone
by the way side. looked down
into the sweet little faces, all aglow
with happy smiles, sparkling eyes
and fash Of pretty teeth, Aud how
sweet and dainty they looked in
their neat ginyharn pinaiOrcs and
snowy sunbonuets.
"She'- Tudie and I'm Oracle"
continued the little talker, papa
says we're his Sinmcse twins And
both laughed such u tinkllug, glcc-
full laugh, as though they under
stood aud appreciated the Joke.
'Gou may tiss her IL you want
to, said Miss Grncic, gently pre-
senting the wee toddler.
accepted the gracious pernis-
sion, and bent down to The dear lit
tie face raised with such innocent
expectancy. As pressed the
velyety lips and felt the touch of
the soft dinpled fingers, ,sumcwh here,
down down deep in my heart,
stirred II regret and n sigh
"St,ll to us at twilight
Comes loves old song"
Such an exquisite woman's voice,
| turned to listen.
"Ihat's my mama singing" said
Oracle. DON'T she sing pitty? My
papa says she's his song bird. | tan
sing too. You want To hear mo?n
| replied in the Affirmative.
'Littlc drops oil water, little grains Of
sand,
Make a mighty ocean and pleasant
land,
pipcd the childish voice.
"itty dop awter," echoed Tudie.
"Aint that tunuin'?" said Oracle,
IN perfect ecstasy of delight, while
poor little abashcd Iudie hid her
embarrassment in her sisters neck
after II sly peep at me.
"papa says she's hischikadee bird
'tause she sings 80 pity; and Pm
his little woman 'tause l help ma
niu.n
sand what can such wee WON
AN do to help mama?'
81 tan nut chairs tn tho table, and
put the bib on Iudic, and | titled
her net md she laughed so she fall
ded down, and | inllded down; then
papa laughed TIL he fallded down
right on me and Tudie, and mama
tried TO help papa up and she iallded
down OF papa, and We WAS all fall
dcd DOWN
Wha, delicious pesls Of laughter
followed this recital, and how tho
eyes sparkled and the tiny pearls
I flashed.
Love wiz be found the sweetest song o
sang the sweet mother voice again.
1--WE turn up here to wait for pa,
/ pa, said Oracle, after her merri
ment had subsidized. MAMA says
we mustn't 20 far, cause wen get
lost. There's papa, now"
With u joyful shout and burst oi
laughter they were oil, Oracle guild.
ing the little toddler with meth crly
care. saw n man coming over the
brow of the hill; only common
worklngnan, but ali! the love ligh,
in his face MS he stopped to the eager
little arms.
Then chick-a-dee bird was lifted
TO his shoulder, her little fat arms
about his neck, her cheek to his
while the little woman danced be
side him, his discngaged hand
tightly clasped In both ot hers, and
the sw eet singer met them at tht
cottage door with smile of wei
/ come.
Low to our hearts love sang an
old sweet song" II seemed TO iloal
On the air with the paling gold o
the sunset, and the perfume o
spring flowers.
And In the dust where fell the fire
light g,eum,
Softly 1t wovo itself into our dream"
| Don McGILvRAy.