The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-18

Sor. g y.u f.rast a.
water and IL makes me feel unweu
too. Your father wants you 20 stay
and heln me. you know. Can't you d.
that much for your poor, sick mother
dcarg''
.Oh. YES: suppose I can You are
bound a fellow sha'n't have any fun.
though. and always contrive some way
TO stop it, Give us the old pail | burst
ont in rage as / caught il up and
started =. the door again.
NV motI.c- never said a word in reply
to nay disrespectful and brutal speech.
but she gave me such reproachful
look from her unnaturally large and
brilliant eyes that / felt strong inn
pulsc 70 turn back and ask her pardon
then and there il ] had 10 lose the ball
game in consequence. ] noticed, too
bov pale and slight she was growing.
and ] saw her tremble as she stood be-
side the table watching nae out.
Igut ! drove away my good angel and
went out with the water pail. banging
the door after me ] started slowly of
toward the sprir.r without a single look
behind me. though wen knew the ten
der glance Of those lovely, reproachful
e.-cs was following me as ! went
But the tempter is always near 10
yvavcring mind. The thought of what
! was losing came back with redoubled
force as nearcd the spring. and my
Indignation toward the poor moth-r
who had unl1nowingly kept me at home
increased in the same proportion
You can 90 and play ball and then
come back and get the water as soon n
the game is over he whiSpercd
That viii do just as well. She won
tell your father and he viii never fine
il ont.
Inam moment the pail was hidden in
the ferns beside the spring and we
of across the fields as hard as ! coul
run. Ten minutes later reached th"
bah ground hot and brea thless, TO find
was just in time TO prevent the gam
from beginning without me, and with
Billy Atwood for catcher.
The match was long and close, but II
ended at last. | caught a magnificent
game and was 50 excited that nevc~
once thought Of tho poor sick moth"
at home with nothing TO quench he
thirst but the nauseous well water dur
ing the long. hot afternoon.
Al four o'clock 1 b hastcned home,
flushed with triumph and entirely for
getful Of my disobediencc. and burs'
noisily into the house, crying out;
Mother. mother we beat en-. We
beat en-, The Nictors are victors nc
longer. and everybody says caught
splendid game"
But there was no answer Tho
kitchen was silent and forsalzcu. so wa
the sitting-roonl. Where could the littl.
mother h.?
soon ascertaiucd that she was not
about the house. and thought, with
sinking heart, that perhaps she had
fronc for the wat ----nlf Ahi ] re-
nclnber,d my dlsobedlence Jncn. and
bitterly Jill re@ret it..
fairly ne,v deNa the path b. the
sprinr. a3d rs uearcd IL saw a mo-
/ tioal.is -Ire lyiag beside the wall. T.
the FUN ri1re Of the blazing sun
was mother.
I In an Instant / wa llrerling az DO
side syil .lv imp}or:gr q .r 80 spgn-E
10 and rl ldiny for fur.-iv mess. a-
/ zoue lin she ra.aai2e uIconsci3d-
/ Of my tears aad prayer. then tho love
/ II, languid eyes slowly oDcncd, an
! he gazed mp into my face with tn
same loving. rcproachial look Huger
/ ing in their depths
Forgive me, mother; oaly this tim
( and viii never DO 50 again sobbed
Sh tried to an wCr me, a shuddcr
. shoot, her slight frame. and then the
{ blood burst through her drawn lips in
q brirht scarlet stream. Another shuQ-
/ der throbbcl through her emaciatcd
/ .orn, thea her head dropped and the
/ beautiful e ges half cloaed.
18th q Wild cry He'd from the spot
and rushed to the nearest neiEh5or',
Tor hclp. II was only a few mHu -es
( tail ! was back again with four a-r..- .
men. but 90 me II seemed an age.
Ny mothers fragile form was placed
on an inprovi>cj slrrtchcr. and tender
/ IL borne back 10 the house Of which
she had always been the light and tle
Guardian angel; while my father an q
physician were hastily summoned.
Both came Immediately, but they We're
/ too late. She was gone.
Yes; my mothers pure, loving,
nlameless life was over. That walk 10
the spring in the hot sun, together
with the effort she made in climbing
over the wall. had been too much for
her remaining strength. Ny cruel,
wicked disobcaicnce had killed her
wal ed for hours with frantic grici
and repentance when they told ME the
bitter truth, but il came too lat
s
cruel neglect, for those beautiful ey
were closed forever. had refused he
last request, and her last look has
been one of sad and tender reproach
No wonder felt ike a murderer.
Years have passed since that tcrrihl'
afternoon. yet the last look / saw j.
my mothers eyes haunts me to-day.
always viii. ] can never forget II.
my unfilial conduct embittered IL
last moments of an idolized parent. az
that when my own time shall come O.
last, and I enter the city not ma
with hands, l shall be confronted
the damning record Of my sinful wa
wardness. God grant that when
meet my mothers ransomed spirit, b,
yond the pearly gates Of TN, Ne
Jerusalem. l may not see the reproach
full look I remcmbcr so wSll 81
shining in the beauteous eyesl-O. Il
Xp1rncr IN (,pola1l-e Eun