The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1892-01-21

With frown on my face / caught
the pail angrily up and went hastily
out into the yard. 1t was only min
ute's work to fill the bucket at the
pump and | was soon back again.
why didn't you get me some nice,
cool spring water, dear?" said nv
mother, as l came in with my pail.
'The well water is so hard cannot
drink it. Please get some; it won't
take you very long
Now the spring where we got most
of our drinking water was nearly
quarter of a mile across the fields and
it was already quarter past one. In
my minds eye | saw the game already
begun, myself absent, and Billy behind
the bat Such thoughts were unendur-
able
"Oh, that water is good enough and
I'm in hurry. Don't be so fussy,' |
sancily answered.
But, Henry, l don't like the well
water and it makes me feel unwell,
too. Your father wants you to stay
and help me, you know. Can't you do
that much for your poor, sick mother,
dear?"
"Oh, yes; | suppose l can. You are
bound a fellow sha'n't have any fun,
though, and always contrive some way
to stop it. Give us the old pail burst
out in rage as l caught it up and
started for the door again.
My mother never said word in reply
to my disrespectful and brutal speech,
but she gave me such reproachful
look from her unnaturally large and
brilliant eyes that felt strong i'm
pulse to turn back and ask her pardon
then and there if l had to lose the ball
game in consequence. | noticed, too,
| how pale and slight she was growing,
and l saw her tremble as she stood be-
| side the table watching me out.
But | drove away my good angel and
went out with the water pail, banging
| the door after me. | started slowly off
toward the spring without a single look
behind me, though we'll knew the ten
der glance of those lovely, reproachful
eyes was following me as l went.
But the tempter is always near to a
wavering mind. The thought of what
| was losing came back with redoubled
force as l neared the spring. and my
indignation toward the poor mother
who had unknowingiy kept me at home
increased in the same proportion.
You can go and play ball and then
come back and get the water as soon as
the game is over" he whispered.
THAT will do just as well. She won't
tell your father and he will never find
it out
In a moment the pail was hidden in
the ferns beside the spring and was
off across the fields as hard as / could
run. Ten minutes later reached the
ball ground, hot and brea thless, to find
| was just in time to prev the game
from beginning without me, and with
Billy Atwood for catcher.
The match was long and close, but it
ended at last. caught magnificent
game and was So excited that | never
once thought of the poor sick mother
at home with nothing to quench her
thirst but the nauseous well water dur
ing the long, hot afternoon.
At four o'clock / FASTENED home,
flushed with triumph and entirely for
getful of my disobedience, and burst
noisily into the house, crying out:
Mother, mother, we beat 'em! we
beat em. The Victors are victors nc
longer, and every body says caught {
splendid game.
But there was no answer. The
kitchen was silent and forsaken, so was
the sitting-room. Where could the little
mother be?
l soon ascertained that she was no'
about the house, and thought, with
sinking heart, that perhaps she hao
gone for the water herself All! | re
membered my disobedience then, ant
bitterly did l regret it.
I fairly flew down the path to the
spring, and as l neared it l saw mo
tionless figure lying beside the wall, il
the full glare of the blazing sun. /
, was mother.
In an instant l was kneeling at he
side. wildly imploring her to speak t.
me and pleading for forgiveness. Fo
some time she remained unconsciou:
of my tears and prayers, then the love
ly, languid eyes slowly opened, ant
, she gazed up into my face with tn
same loving, reproachful look linger
ing in their depths.
| Forgive me, mother; only this tim
and will never do SO again.! | sobbed
: She tried to answer me, shudde
+ shook her slight frame, and then tn
blood burst through her drawn lips II
bright scarlet stream. Another shud
5 der thrabbed through her emaciate'
r form, then her head dropped and tn
beautiful eyes half closed.
, With wild cry l fed from the spo
and rushed to the nearest neighbor'
= for help. 1t was only few minute
, till was back again with four stroni
men, but to me it seemed an age.
| My mothers fragile form was place
E on an improvised stretcher, and tender
5 lv borne back to the house of whic
she had always been the light and tn
/ guardian angel; while my father and
: physician were hastily summoned
Both came Immediately, but they wer
| too late. She was gone.
: Yes: my mothers pure, loving
l blameless life was over. That walk t