The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-26

laughter OF happy homes, sounds or sor-
row or grief-how they thrilled into being
under girls white fingers that touched
as well the heartchords of child.
In the mystery of night. the mystery Of
the thoughts Of dead men written in
music. Tie and moon and quiveFlng
stars, the rustic Of leaves, the passing of
the south wind In the tall grass. we're all
a part of it-One glorious anthem. So the
soul of an artist was born IN her. ard she
drew near the dream world Of genius.
where one must work so nard to dwell
and suffer eternally 10 excel.
Once, in her ramblas with three tod
ding Gateses. Bina May invaded the
graveyard on the hill. and. with solemn
injunctons to her flock, mot to tech a
single flower nor briar rose by a grave
cause they was dead folkses." walked
ahead by the mounds, reading each epi-
taph with neighborly interest rather than
idle curiosity.
she had listened to her mothers talks
with visitors. and so knew The history
of many of the sleepers; she recalled and
placed each member Of a family until
finally she came to A square lot Enclosed
| in neat ircn fence with a padocked gate.
| She pressed her face against the bars 20
read that Captain Nathan Batenan and
Maria. his wife, were 1t rest; that Charles
| er ected in remembrance. then with sud-
den throb OF sympathy two heads ones to
Anna and Clara Bateman, who were nine
! teen and seventeen when they died in
one year. the very one In which Bina
| May was born.
They WAS her sisters, cause I heard
mother say they hadn't no constitutions
an outgrowed their strength; but Hetty
is most twenty now"
a
they were not rugged folk, and Hetty the
beautiful might be threatened. Her eyes
| filled with tears as with the cruel imagl-
nation of child she pictured another
mound and the desolation of the big
house. Some one had. eyid Mrs. Bate
man will live TO bury them ALL" and this
came hauntngly into her mind "She
Won't die" she muttered, miserably,
cause she's way older than them and
her cheeks is jest as red"
She went hastily away. relieving her
oVercharged heart by shaking the
Youngest fodder. Nno had gone to sleep
by mound with his chubby hand full
of stolen roses.
mat night Hetty's music was in a
minor Key and Bina May wept as she lis
tened She never could hear solemn mil-
Sic In the night but she thought OF the
TWO sisters side by side. and the beautiful
NH. Little Hetty Bateman dreamed OF
her child worshiper as she rode on q fine
| white horse or walked with her mother
] TO the village church.
The tiny window Danes of the river
mouse framed a wistful childs face with
| eager violet eyes, and Hetty never knew
| her until one fall day she met in her
Ia'her woods a party Of picnickers. or
trespassers, rather, gathering beechnuts
| II guess" said Bina May, for IL was
she and four smaller Gateses. were
| stealth your fathers propty; but I've got
| to take the children somewhere out of
mas way, cause it's wash-day, and eat
III Inc nuts In winter is most all the fun
| We have"
"Nou re very welcome 10 the nuts"
! laughed Ietrie, but won't one of those
| horse-chestnuts hurt the baby"
Hes cuttin his teeth on EN-" an
| swered Bina May. with professional air
| removing the nut from the baby's gums
/ proceeding not resented at all. for the
/ young Gateses knew early If they We're
| TO be INDUCED they must also be ready
to give up to their small tyrant.
The picnic was pail of water and
| doughnuts but Hetty accepted their in
| Vitation. and after that they used TO no
tice the children as they passed. There
! ~as one night she saw in the moonlight
! something moving by one Of the big Gins.
|
on me veranda, found gina May trem-
bihS with fright at discovery. about to
| take flight.
! II want dom nothin' but listening 10
! Your music" sobbed the child, "cause
the chores is ell done. an the children
sleep. an do love them t'ues.''
why did you not come in?" Hetty
asked.
Cause ma says ia jest run over folks"
| said Bina May trutifuiy. An I've st
| here evenin's ever So long listenin' TO
| you play. | like the meetin' house tunes
though some of them solemn ones makes
me think OF your sisters up in the grave
yard, and then l cry: but the incest enc
! is that tinky-ninky little one that sets
enc 70 dancin an seems nkc the crickets
an grasshoppers an the tree loads was
! ell singing to IL, too. I'm sorry IT'S get
ting cold, so your winders will have to
| be shet up"
II will fix it. Bina May, so you may
| come indoors and hear the music" said
| Hetty, kindly; and that was the opening
| Of fairyland to the child. Hetty mar
yelled at her ear for music-how she could
! carry tune and sing il in shrill little
voice OF sweetness and power: from
| desire TO do q kindness her interest deep
| ened into admiration. She never tired
| those winter evenings. of playing to the
| appreciatiye listener. who came timidly
/ In and sat In dark corner from the
hearth, her tired face and stopping shout
ders showing the chores were hard and
her days toll long. The parlor, with its
sea gatherings. and bric-a-brac from for
| eign shores brought home in the Bateman
ships, was never ceasing source OF
| pleasure 10 her. and you may be sure
the smaller Gateses. from that faithful
narrator knew all its wonders.
Did them In the ground play tooY'
Bina May asked one Sunday night. when
she and Hetty were aione-the captain
and his wife having gone to church-and
Hetty had played hymn tunes until the
sensitive soul OF the child quivered In
sadness and sympathy.
only little." sighed Hetty. the fire.
light siistening on her golden hair as
the notes rippled under her fingers "they
were so young when they died. and there
was only the old melodeon, you know"
| But you are older than themr hope
! fully.