The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-08-05

in the three-corned coops with Stats
nailed across the front, and some in
barrels with stick driven into the
ground at the open end. There were
lots of little downy chicks, like round
yellow balls, and they ran about cry
ing peep! peepr
Then you had dinner. You ate in
the kitchen because grandma said that
she and father ate there when thev
were alone. and they didn't want to
make company of you. You had
ham and eggs, and asparagus, and
baked potatoes, and for desert there
was the Indian-meal pudding tina: you
liked so well. You wiped the dishes
after dinner, and when you had set
them away you ran to hunt eggs. The
first nest you found held twelve beau
tiful white eggs, and you brought them
to grandmother in your apron. How
foolish you felt when she told you that
she had just set the hen on them, and
she hurried to put them back before
they were cold.
Your spirits fell little then, and
you went away by yourself behind the
currant bushes. There were some
sheets bleaching on the bushes, weren't
thereP Yes, and there were some cot
ton rags which grandmother had dyed
hanging on a clothesline near by.
They were copperas-yellow, but
ternut-brown, and indigo-blue. As
you saw these your spirits fell still
lower, for you thought that you might
be asked to help to sew them after they
were torn into carpet-rags. In fact,
you weren't really happy again until
grandfather called to you that he
shouldn't wonder if the old cat had
kittens hid somewhere about;' then
you fairly fell over yourself in trying
to beat grandpa to the barn.
You found the kittens in an empty
manger; there were three, two white
and one Maltese. Then there were
some baby pigs behind the barn, and
you visited them and the doves in the
cote, and when grandfather wanted a
drink you held the dipper for him to
pump into. Pretty soon it was milk
ing-time, and then supper-time, and
then, oh, so soon! bedtime. Grand
mother heard your prayers. and helped
you up into the big, creaking bed and
tucked you in and kissed you good
night.
You lay there, drowsy and happy,
with the scent of the lilacs and flower
ing currants coming in at the window.
There was white quilt on the bed
with blue calico stars, not soft. silk
thing like this" and the doctor
touched the eider-down quilt which
had slipped to the floor as the lady
nestled comfortably back among the
pillows. After a time" continued
the doctor" ''you turned little and
the bed creaked, and the noise startled
you. You heard the soft, mournful
cooling of the doves. and it made you
feel lonesome.
You wished your mother were
there. then you remembered that you
hadn't said the prayer about bless
mamma and papa so you slid down
from the bed and whispered your lit
tie prayer. and then you climbed back
and in a few moments you were-''
But the doctors soft, droning
voice stopped here. He had no need
to finish the sentence, for the lady's
drowsy eyes had closed and her regu-
lar breathing showed that she was
sleeping naturally and peacefully.
There was smile on her lips although
her cheek was wet with tears. Softly
the old man laid the bunch of lilacs on
her pillow and tiptoed from the room,
followed by the husband.
There was a moments whispered
conversation in the vestibule and a
chink of gold coin; then the door
opened noiselessly and the doctor
shambled down the street, Chicago
Times.