River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-12

She was gone from her home? She
wondered if the roses over the back
porch had been disturbed. ana said she
would rest :. moment and then 90 and
see. Sitting close TO the wall the wind
did not reach her. but it was cold. and
she was 50 tired.
eve shall be late home tonight, :"
said Mr. Hunt. as they reached the top
If the Hill where, an hour before,
Hannah Gardner had looked down on
the same home they now spoke of.
..Ihe days are so short and the night is
here before we know it, his daughter
said in reply.
4 hope everything IS all right at
home. ] shall bc glad To get in out Of
this wind. said her mother: and then
all were still, trying to mUflle them
selves more closely from the piercing
wind.
A. they turned the corner and drove
10 the side door the horses SHE'D and
would not go by the well, and Annie,
looking closely, saw something's hud-
died heap that did not move. Fright
encd, She whispered: What is it?''
In the south room they laid her and
tried in every way possible to bring
warmth TO the chilled form.
what do you suppose she was doing
there. mother?"
u thini, it must be the poor woman
they carried away from here when the
place was sold. She has probably wan
dered away from the poorhousc, and no
doubt some one Will come for her be-
fore long
Some one did come for her late that
night. but She was too III to 20. Jessie
had told Mr. Paine how she had cried
because she had not said good-by to her
home. and he thought she might have
gone TO see the old place. 1t was late,
but he started out To find her. fearing
the bitter cold night for one Of her age.
'-Is-it Roses room?" came in a
whisper from the bed.
Annie Hunt nodded. for her eyes were
fun of tears and she dared not trust
her voice To answer the pitiful appeal.
u forgot-to say good-by-I was 81
upset She waited moment. Il come
to see the old home. Its gone-all
changed used to see Heaven-the
waier-so fresh"
50 She wandered on about the house,
the lane. the well. the roses; never
word of the lonesome days beyond the
hills She begged for water, but pushed
away the glass they offered; and it was
Annie who brought the tin dipper and
told her 1t was fresh water from the
well. She only knew that She lonped
for home, but that in some way her
home was changed, but could not un-
derstand how
The neighbors used to come and. with
hushed voices. ask how she was, and
then turn away To say how much She
must have worried after her old home
to come so far 10 see 1t. and what a dis
appointment 1t must have been to find
Il So changed
.-You are getting better very fast, we
think. Mrs. Gardner" said Annie one
morning.
You've been good to me. Annie
vou'n Your mother, but l Ii If you're
willin'-want 10 die right here in Roses
room. don't feels If I ever'd git well.
I don't want tO-I'm 50 glad God let me
come home. I'm - glad you let me
stay. An. II you'll let me, want to
70 from here. tn only be little while,
] know"
They did not realize how weak She
was. bat. rs she said. il was only little
while. and at last She dropped asleep.
taking her last look at earthly things
from the window of Roses room.
The Heighbors came through the soft
Ii falling snow 70 look at the peaceful
face II Hannah Gardner, and many shed
tears - the pastor told Of a good neigh
Dor. a helping hand. an honest. loving
soul that had lived 81 many years
among them He thanked God that she
had gone from her earthly home TO the
house NOT made with hands, and, while
ne spoke Of the wen that she knew and
lsyed told ihem of the water which
quenches al thirst, and OF the land