Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-29

OF the very lands that our American far
ers will need to make homes for the
selves and their children"
CHAPTER "A SACRED TRUST.
One morning as the colonel and [ we .
leaving the breakfast room message W. )
handed me. opened it and read that / =
mother was very i'll. I found the duke a:
explained my message to him. During Q T
conversation he asked me to visit Ameri =
with him in the spring l promised to do
so if it was practicable.
Il have had a most delightful visit" [
said as we shook hands at parting.
81 shall look for you in May or near th,.t
time to go with me-" said the duke, az /
was leaving for the train. The colon 4
went with me to the city and saw me star
ed on my homeward journey.
L reached home without accident and
found Myrtle on the watch for me.
"HOw is mother?" | asked, as l took her
in my arms and started up stairs.
"She is very i'll and has been asking for
you all day"
AS | opened the door the physician WHO
was standing by my mothers bed placed
his fingers to his lips to indicate silence.
turned her head and saw me standing in
the door. A glad smile lit up her pale face
as [ went to her bedside. kissed her lips
saying:
Are you better, my dear mother?"
About the same," size said in whis-
per, "but am so glad you have come,
my son, my darling boy"
Now, you will get well again, and |
will take you with me to see new scenes
that will cheer your life"
my son." said my mother 81 shall
never get well again, and it is best so. I
want you, my son, to forgive ne the pain l
caused you when Stella left u.s.
80, don't say that" l said, while tears
rolled down my cheeks, for with the words
had come the thought OF the utter loneH-
ness that must follow "What can we do
without you?"
but say you forgive me, my son."
again pleaded the whispering voice.
Yes, darling mother. L forgive you
freely, and [ beg you to forgive my cruel
neglect in seeking my own pleasure and
forgetting YOU" | said, bending low be-
side her bed with keen regret in my heart.
eff you ever find her tell her how [
missed her, and remember you have a
mothers blessing in seeking her love.
was in the wrong. Rank and position are
Of little value when seen from bed of
death, You VII be kind to Myrtle? Poor
little one, she has been my greatest COM
fort" said my mother, placing her hand
upon the head of the weeping child.
The physician administered to my moth
er her potion and felt her pulse. l knew
by the look On the kind old face that the
dear one who had filled my life with a
halo of light from the heavenly world,
would soon be beyond the reach of pain or
sorrow. How frail she looked as she lay
with closed eyes, breathing so quietly her
life away.
''OD, mamma, mamma" moaned Myr-
tle
NV mother opened her ewes in answer to
her baby's call. The mothers heart was
loath to leave her darling. She reached
her hand out to find us, and asked:
"My son, are you here? Myrtle, darling.
God bless you," came i'll a whisper so faint
that | could hardly catch the words Then
silence fell upon the lips that had only ut
tered words of love and tender counsel.
The physician said:
''Rest in peace" And, as I looked at the
sweet face now beautiied with hope of
eternal glory, 1 could only say, Eyes, rest
in peace"
1t was only the swinging open Of the
golden gates. 1 could not weep. / could
only stand and lood at the dear, dead
body. 1t was only the empty casket. the
precious jewel was not there. Taking
Myrtle by the hand, I led her to my room
where | soon had a comfortable fire.
Poor weeping Myrtle. She was such a
wee frail child, though ten years old, So
young to miss mothers love. But l had
promised my mother to guard her from
harm.
What a sad home coming this had been
to me. | did not anticipate much pleasure,
but l had always found my mother ready
t. welcome me home with loving words
and tender care. Now life was desolate
indeed! ''No one to love, none to caressr'
l thought of the words, "No one is ever
quite miserable who has the love of one
small child" l had that at least. Myrtle
chung to me with tender, trusting love.
How my heart yearned for the intelligent
sympathy Stella would have given! She
could have been sister to Myrtle and a
comforter to me! Where was she now?
LOU oilC lOl SOGGSl IiS, VI was ISi ASc1I
ever turning toward the past with fond re
membrance of US all? Even my mother
had longed for her in the solitude of sick
ness. l was glad to know my mother
wish; for in my heart 1 was resolved to
win Stella's love if we should ever meet
again, and had strong hopes that some
time we should meet.
How dull were the days that followed.
We were lonely and full of sorrow, my
little sister and l. Thoughts of other DAYS
would come to mock me With vanished
joys. Days when my mother was my
friend Then, days when sunshine was
shed throughout the dull old house at Wa
verland by our sweet friend Would hap
piness ever again take up its abode at Wa
verland?
Days pass; the beautiful dead was laid TO
rest, and Myrtle and 1 took up the bur
den of life again. She was a quiet child
and accustomed to amusing herself. ]
soon learned to love her very dearly; her