The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-07
ABOVE THE DAM.

A broad waving field of corn on an Ohio
farm. At the top of little hih. beneath
group OF buckeyes, sits woman with two
children playing in the grass at her feet.
From the village, behind the hill. comes
family the sound of bell. Its tones are
lost entirely when the breeze falls, The
figure of a countryman carrying a scythe
appears at the foot of the hill. He looks up
at the woman and smiles He waves his
hand to the children, and the elder of the
two says to her brother:
Father is going TO cut the long grass;
let US run and see him"
Hand in hand they pass down the slope.
leaving the woman alone.
With her chin resting upon her breast
she gazes long at a particular spot on the
messy carpet at her feet. Her face ex-
presses placid contentment; in it there is
not a line of care or sorrow. She is think
ing of nothing. The faint breeze quickeus
and bears with it the notes of the bell,
which now rings out clear aud sweet. A
warm, delicious odor rises from below,
where the scythe swishes through the long
grass. Is it this perfume or the laughter
of the unseen children which stirs the
woman's memory
Her thoughts idly wander back through
the days of her marriage-her motherhood
and she smiles as the peaceful days pass
in review through her mind. They are like
hundreds of modest pearls strung upon a
fine wire, so uniform in their sweet dull.
ness, their mouotony of form and color.
She goes back to the days before her mar.
riage The wind is rushing through the
topmost branches of the trees making
sound as of water pouring over dam
and suddenly among the white pearls in
the dark recesses of her memory there
CLEANS a ruby, red as blood
There is a beautiful little stream which
winds through the country lying to the
northeast of New York called the Bronx
river. In places it is so mar row one could
almost jump from one bank to the other.
Shut in by high wooded hills. the foliage of
the trees meeting and interminghng across
the clear water, it is like an imprisoned
part of the Scottish highlands, this lovely
great metropolis
A family from New York were spending
some days in one of the pretty villages near
Ju6 SuOTSS VI IuS DIOlA- IISI6 NSIc GhO
young girls, several children and visitor
"a girl cousin from the west-Cora Mar
tin.
The delightful week was drawing to a
close on this summer morning, when the
young people were all out together in a
boat on the river.
Tomorrow evening we must say good
by to all this beauty" said Maria Alex
ander, who was rowing, and she lifted her
eyes sentimentally to an overhanging rock,
from which a great festoon of tangled
vines depended.
Eyes, we have only two more days" said
Cora.
1.-TWO more days-two more days" sang
Tommy from the stern, to the tune CT
Home Again" rocking the boat mean
while
BE quiet, Tommy, or you'll upset the
boat" said Maria.
I'VE wouldn't drown If did, sis; went
in bathing right here yesterday-it isn't
up TO my neck"
Il think we must be nearly to the dam.
said Adelaide. Don't you hear it2"
Il say, Cousin Cora, are you going home
as soon as we go back to New York;" said
Tommy.
Eyes, on Wednesday"
Have you had good timer"
"Oh, yes"
ISIS says you have. She says it's been a
great experience for you-beiug in New
York with us for two months"
Maria flashed an angry look at the boy
She says it'll be something for you to
look back to all your life-something you
can tell Vour children about -
Maria stopped rowing. Tommy, if YOU
don't stop that abominsble nonsense
shall put you out of the boat at once"
Her face was painfully red
Cora, who was sitting beside Tommy in
the stern, said nothing, but turned and
looked up the river.
ter" cried little Alice.
Tommy leaned over the sids of the boat
and stretched ont his hand toward the
turtle 1t slid into the water and disap-
peared.
VIII you sit upi" said Maria, angrily.
Cora, are yen going TO live on a farm
when you get married. What does Mr.,
Doyle look hkes Is he very different from
/ New York mem Is living on a farm set
ting down TO rural bliss" Maria says
rather than do that she'd"-
/ A long, slender hand gripped Tommy
shoulder. Take the oars and row, and see
+ If that will keep your tongue quiet"
/ Tommy sprang TO the oars, and Maria,
/ flushed and warm. sat beside Cora in the
stern.
why didn't you let me row in the first
place." grinned Tommy.
/ Adelaide bent down her head that she
/ might conceal her laughter behind tue
( brim of her straw hat.
Are We most TO the bend. Coral" asked
( Tommy,
Yes, and be careful you don't run rs
( into the bank, said Maria The boat glide
! through the narrow channel. around the
! bend, and the stream widened. At the
same moment the roar OF the water pour
ing over the dam was audible
There's boat in the middle OF the
river with nobody in ii, said Alice.