The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-10-27

and their pink feet take their fIst step, hop
and scratch; their eyes must watch out Tor BITS
of food and see 10 it that the wee, small heads
were kept out of the reach of the big, had cat,
and the worse small boy. In my minds eye 1
could see its nerves thrill as each young bird,
with short, sharp cry of fear, was made TO
take the dread plunge through air TO earth
The nest on the safe linb of the shade tree near
my room was to them no more home.
All this | heard aud thought though my
eyes were vet shut. And / lay there, IN that
best bliss of good nights sleep-the last
sweet half nap aud half dream of real thought
and the wish TO own a good pair OF Wings,
which / could put of, at my own sweet
will. gave place to the thought that 4 must get
up, for the clock told me just then how late 1t
was.
As yet did not try TO move, In. let my
mind run ON. But this state of bliss was too
good to last. heard the milk man, the store
boy who brought the thugs, the swish and
swash of mop and broom on the front steps,
the boys calls the cars, the cabs, the carts, and
all that help TO make up the noise and sum OF
life in the street at the dawn of day.
In the house the bell rang for the late
ones to come now and break their fast or lose
the chance, aud knew that all the house had
been down but me. And yet i did not move.
At last came a call and a scratch at my room
door by my big dog Rex, whose quick bark
told what he thought OF it ALL My mind was
in such state did not care to stir. did not
think of it then, but so il was. could feel
the suns rays as they stole on my face and
could smell the food, and all that, but while
knew that each sense was in its prime, and
could think all right did not care TO act.
A tramp fy lit on the end of my nose. This
was too much--more than could stand. And
so, with a try at a twist OF the nose, and a
shake of the head, and swing of the arm,
found out that could not move nose, head, or
i'm Iad ipclln draw m N IN
legs. / could move no part of me up or down
/ could see that Rex knew all was not right,
and he made such fuss at the door that my
friend. John White, spoke to him from the foot
of the stairs. But the dog grew worse the more
he said TO him. This was so strange that Jack
ran right up. As he got to my room, Rex gave
quick whine and scratch at the door that
led Jack to think that all was not as il sh uld
be. At first his hand shook SO that lie could
not get the key in place, and his words, though
full of force, were not the best.
When Jack had thrown wide the door Rex
ran in, and at once pat his cold, wet nose in
my face. and gave a sharp bark, as much as to
say, Get up." But, with a sniff or two, he
knew that would not do and took my left hand
in his mouth and gave a long pull, as was his
wont at times, when we were at play and
made him think / had not woke up But he
soon knew this would not do. He let go of The
hand. and with lick, sniff, and whine
laid his huge paw full on my chest, and gave
long, low bowl
felt that Jack was at his wits end. !
thought how he must look, as he stood there
From the long sigh he drew knew, then. that
/ was dead, and that Jack was sure Rex knew
il.
Jack came up to me ard put his left hand on
my brow, and took my right hand in his. He
felt for my pulse, laid his cheek to my mouth,
his hand OF my heart aud put glass close TO
my lips. While he held it there, his hand
shook so / could feel the cold glass at times
touch MY face; and as he held it thus, he said
with tears in his voice:
"WeIl. Rex, my poor dog, guess We are too
late 1t is all up, and you will starve TO death
on his grave no Doubt.
"But," and heard him pat Rex as he went
on, while there's life there's hope; aud, if
there's ghost of chance, must not play the
fool herei"
Then he said: 81 must write his folks, and
learn what they would have me do"
Soon all in the house had been in and out !;
and each spoke # me as dead man; but not
much did J. a dead man, care what they said,
though il was all meant for the best. did not
know what host of friends had, or how good
aud kind ] had been to them all. i could not
pat them the pack, or thank them, for the
kind things they said OF me; but thought if
Christ is half as good as these folks, If they do
not lie shall stand fair show in the life 10
had done since was child.
Jack was gone long time but, rs he went
he had said to Rex:
You stay here" and then, when all were
gone he had shut the door, and heard him
say to some one in the hall: " Please let no
one in. ! shall wire his friends, and shall
bring his old chum. M. ID. Smith, il can find
him; but If not. then it's M. Sig,' though can
put no trust in him. But the law must have
its way, aud so We must have some one 20
make ali right and clear the way for me to
take the corpse home, for ] shall trust the
task to no Que else. shall stick to the dead
man as long as he needs me. He would have
done as much for me- and more, too"
And of be went In search of some one, not SC
much. as ] could now see, with view to try to
bring me back TO life, il that could he done, as
20 get man whom the law has seen fit TO point
out as one TO do and say what it wants done and
said; that is, who by strict search can find, and
will then state that WAS dead, and that my
death was in all things as the law would have
il.
While Jack was gone it was SO still, and th,
strain on my nerves had been SO great, that
dead as ] was, / went to sleep. And while IL
this state had strange dream, which CAV,
me, knew not low. for was dead, great hope
and peace When ] first found / was dead,
knew j did not care TO live. and yet the dream
did my mind and heart much good.
] thought in my dream that j, a boy once
mere, was 10 9 barn on the hay, with girl
had thought, oh, SO much of. We were on tn,
hunt for hens eggs, aud had found two or tire,
new nests, and had with US lot of eggs.
thought she said:
"Whcn ] put this egg down SO, ii does no
move, it cannot move, and yet it is not dead
II there be chick in this shell. do you thinl
in can hear, or fee, or think Did you see IA
when they said was 10 trance?"
And said did not, and she went on:
AZ could hear, and feel. and think-and som
Of them said i was dead, while some one els
said was in faint, and by and by woult
get well. And did"
And ! said: If j should some day be in
trance. will you come aud tell them that yo
know that j am not dead, and that one da,
will get wellf For, if you will, the next da
you and will be made man and wife"
She did not say word TO this, but j saw he
blush.
And, as we went TO the house, j thought SD
was girl no more but was tall. and full {
flesh and good looks and sweet as the NOW
grass on which we trod. She had gay, sh
flush on her face, and as j held her hand sh
said-for j WAS just then to leave her
4" ] shall be with you as you wish,-for Low
you--should that day come. and we shall
man and wife, as you have said"
Out of this dream and that sleep woke u
in most strange mood, with thoughts full
the young girl of my boy days, and of m
dream. i had 10 leave her when / was yet
boy, and all but burst my heart at the though