Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-17

| you. and you nearly proKe your neck
climbin on the fence so that you
could peek in and find out what made
the pail of water which grandfather
poured in at the top of the barrel
change to the dark brown liquid which
fell drip-drip into the stone jar below.
Then you ran out under the cherry
trees to see the chickens. Some were
in the three-corned coops with Stats
nailed across the front. and some in
ground at the open end. There were
lots of little downy chicks, like round
yellow balls. and they ran about cry
ing peep! peep!
Then you had dinner. You ate in
the kitchen because grandma said that
she and father ate there when they
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 that YOU
liked so well. You wiped the dishes
after dinner, and when you had set
hem away you ran to hunt eggs. The
irst nest you found held twelve beau
iful white eggs, and you brought them
20 grandmother in your apron. How
ioolish 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 a little then, and
you went away by yourself behind the
:urrant bushes. There were some
sheets bleaching on the bushes. weren't
.hereP Yes, and there were some cot
ton rags which grandmother had dyed
hanging on clothesline near by.
They were copperas-yellow, but
.ernut-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.
''YoE found the kittens in an empty
Manager; 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
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 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 aud
chink of gold coin; then the door
opened noiselessly and the doctor
shambed down the street. Chicago
Times.