Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-16

| SWSeteu my udlS "uu OaiSneSo q" S'N
mans lifel On, come back to life
again, and bring your little one with
,ou. me-come-comel"
He entered the house weeping.
On the morning of the next day the
children were on their way to school.
They always passed Rose Glen, and old
Holloway would invariably be ct the
gate. But this morning the children
seemed more excited than usual; some
thing had evidently happened, or was
about to happen, which made their little
hearts beat faster than ever. They had
started earlier than was their wont, for
somehow they had got to know that it
was "grandfather's" birthday, and each
wanted to be there first. On, on they
went, laughing, shouting and clapping
their hands in delight. What was there
to stop the happy ripple of their little
tongues! 1t would seem-nothing.
They were children-little children
aud were as free as the birds which were
singing in the trees and on the hedge
rows about them. Bat, as they turned
the road at the top of the hill which led
down to the home Of the roses, their
laughter became silent, aud their lips
ceased to move. They gathered to-
gether in a bunch, not in alright, but
more in childish symp pathy at the sight
before them. A woman sat on a grassy
mound. Her face was pale, her cheeks
pinched, her eyes looked as though they
had shed many tears; but yet no v pretty
she was. She was dressed all ia black
there was Grape on her cloak and bon
net. She held something mufled up in
her arms. The children looked and
guessed it was a baby. The woman
smiled and seemed to invite the to
come near. Then one of the children
gave the woman some flowers, aud a
flush of happiness came into her poor,
wan face.
"Would youlike to see my little boyl"
she asked. And all the children gath
cred round while the mother drew aside
the scarf from round her baby's necl, so
that they might see it the better. 1t,
too, bad thy black bows On its little
hat.
ooh, how grandfather would love to
to see him" cried one of the children.
MAY we take him to grandfather It's
his birthday to-day. 1t would make
him so happy"
"Aud who is grandfatherl' she asked.
"You don't live here, do your ques-
toned one of the youngsters.
mo-" the woman answered. al am
quite stranger here. But why do you
ask?'
because you don't know grandfa-
ther," came the logical reply.
"Well tell me who he is"
Then one of the children took the wo-
man by the hand and led her to the cor
ner from whence the hill started towards
the spot where the roses grew. The
cottage was pointed out to her.
"That's Rose Glen," the child said.
"Yes, l can smell the roses here. Oh,
how sweet" the woman murmured,
looking at the cottage.
That's where he lives, the little one
went on.
"Yes," said a child older than the
others, "Mr. Holloway
The woman gave wild scream,
which almost made the children run
from her in dismay. She had nearly
fallen to the ground. But she was her.
self again in a moment.
ooh. my children, my children, l." she
cried, pitifully, "dont turl from me
don't be frightened-don't be afraid OF
me! ] love you, every one. Come
nearer to me. Ca! come nearer to me.
That's right. love you, every oae. l
KNOW know it is his birthday to day.
Aud would he-would he love to see my
little one, would it make him happyl
Do you think he would kiss it just as he
does you and give it smile the same as
be gives youl Would he take it in his
arms like the tiniest of youl"
She had won the sympathy of the
children about her and they all cried out
Eyes, yes; let US take it to him."
A wild gladness overspread her face.
Her lips quivered, her eyes sparkled.
Some sudden resolve had come to her.
She drew her hand nervously across her
eyes; then turning to the little ones
about her quickly, she asked;
"And if let you take my child to
him-what will you dol'
They were quiet for amoment. Then
the elder child, who had spoken before,
said:
~ will carry him ever so careful.
You can cone, too"
~ can come, too, she murmured; ~
can come, toow
Silently she placed her baby in the
little girls arms. The children trooped
down the hill toward the house, the
woman following them with hestating
steps. The children had reached the
cottage gate and the woman stayed out
side, locking through the hedgerow and
watching her little one with anxious