Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-08-26

AAS4 NH<6ittt fSA tAS0SAg ASphAhS
first at one and then another, and at
last brought 10 decision by the mer-
chant, Hugo, hung the wreath on his
arm. Every instant he took it off in
o der to see it better, and bounded
around his grandfather like kid IN
April. 1t was Joy enough for whole
day.
Hugo cared little for playing with
other boys and as his grandmother
loved him. he loy ed his grandmother ex-
clusively.
So they went on. Sometimes the
grandma her walking behind with q
motion of bearing arms. In front was
the child at military distance, sword on
shoulder, head erect, eyes fixed. Proud
glances flashed from the old negress'
eyes. For the first time in her life she
assumed proud attitude.
One day the little deniZens OF the
street attempted some jokes at the e1-
pense of the old grandmother, but they
never tried 1t again. Hugo, singing
out the most insolent, aimed a stone at
the middle of his back SO effectually
that the whole troop considered il q
sufficient hint
Hugo's learning was not extensive.
but on the other hand it mounted very
high
''Grandmother, who made the trees?"
'The good God"
"Who made the Sheep"
''The good God"
who made the sum-"
"Ihe good God."
So 1t would go on for bours. The
ideas were not extensive, and contained
nothing complicated, but then the
foundation grew in the child's heart.
Those words, "the good God, fell into
it like stones; on them one could build.
To understand the creation is the be-
ginning of everything.
When Hugo and his grandmother
had passed In review all that they knew
of the physical world, beasts ETC., Ma
dine spoke to the child of God. Her
theology was short; her stories inter
minabe. God loves little children,
| God pities sinners. Of doctrine she
knew little more. But the love of God,
his devotion, his goodness-O, she
could Ia forever of that
Then she told him of the wise Kings
of the East, and the child would i'm
! agine them with their golden Golfers.
censers IN their hands, tiaras on their
heads, and trailing brocade mantles,- -
was black.
"One ike you grandmother"
The negress shuddered. To compare
her to wise king-herl But one of
the wise men tCas of the color of ebony
| that was certain; and often during
her meditations the negress' heart
leaped within her at the thought. The
child looked thoughtfully at his grand
mother. A holy respect filled his soul;
| little was needed to make him Q on
| the old woman's head an eastern crown
| studded with Jewels.
One morning Nadine came to my
house. Contrary to her usual custom
she knocked loudly, and as soon as she
was admitted insisted, upon seeing me.
Her face was agitsted; hlr troubled
eyes saw nothing. In an impatient
! voice she cried:
Ny boy, my boy P'
| "Sick?'
She made a gesture of assent, and
rushed from the house.
When i reached her little room, an
hour later l felt that a tragedy was
taking place there.
The little bed WAS sdrawn into the
middle Q: the room. The child very
pale, with eyes immensely dilated, was
stretched upon It. Above his head a
rose tree extended two crimson roses,
The coveriet was strewn with crowns
of immortelles among which his little
| fingers play ed feverishly.
1t was strange sight, terribly sad
and of touching beauty. l can not tell
what 1t was that the old pictures of
Luini and Francia, with their indis-
tinct outlines, their faded tints, and
their angels bearing lilies came into
my mind
Nadine had heard me, but she did not
move.
She remained seated and rigid, with
folded arms and impassive face. Not
a word, not a sign, not a tear,
approached. The old negress re-
tained the same attit ide. In this gen.
tie, genial nature 1t was frightful.
| The cuild was dying. His grand
mother had pra ed but she prayed no
| longer. She had implored but she i'm
plored no more. God would do as He
wished, what had poor negress to do
with 1t? She did not question, she did
not submit she awaited the blow, The
blowl The torn heart held its treasure
i'll passionate embrace. God had for
her Withdrawn into the cold depths of
an accessible heaven. Everything was
falling to ruin.
The child turned mis- dark eyes on
his grandmother. His body was con-
vulsed with anguish, the incoherent
WOrus of delirium gushed from his lips.
Through ali one thought, vague but
tenacious, possessed his mind, q doubt,
an uneasiness, and ne looked st adfast-
~ ut the old face. The expression ter
rIfed him. He could not analyze the
anguish OF tn heart, but he felt in II
something new and harsh. The diving
have these intuitions; they read the
thoughts. Words have passed away
the noise OF life has disappeared; soul
meets soul The looks Of the child
we're fastened on those drv, stern ewes.
and between his brows fold was traced
/ do not know what l said or how /
said it. The name of death 1 dared not
pronounce. Itwould have been equiv
alent to numbering the old negress.
/ spoke of God, of our Friend, of Him
whose arms enable us in the hour OF
agony, and who bears US, pressed to
His bosom, to His abode above.
The child listened. The negress re.
manned like marble. She submitted.
he did not consent. On the contrary.
her arms became more rigid, her lips
growing more compressed, her CLASSY
eyes gave token of that despair which
no ray of faith enligttens.
Alas words froze on my lips Ihi:
desolstIon bordering so closely on re,
volt l knew only too well. BY one oi
those vagsries of the memory whict
sometimes cause sound or a refrain t
ring III the ears during the deepest
emotion, as if some old choir responded
with melodious hymns to our cries o
grief, two verses sung by our village
children came continually into my
mind
I'VE speak OF its freedom from sin,
| OF tlat city so bright and 80 fair
| OF its wonderful glOries untold
But what must it be to be theres'
From my mind they rose to my lips