The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-30
UNITED.
Don't tell father; just Say I'm sleep.

The tenderly anxious expression OF the
eyes gave place At that moment to ono OF
wondrous Joy, q smile settled about the
lips, she breathed . deep sigh OF satisfac-
ton. that told more eloquentiy than words
of the contentment that had fallen upon
her, and reaching forth the brown and
wrinkled hand. that had 80 often lain in
tenderest blessing on his baby head. she
clasped the chubby fingers Of little Fritz.
There came no change over the dear face,
save that as We looked her smile grew
sweeter, just as 1t used to do when the
little ones had climbed upon her knee
for comfort after some childish hurt had
befallen them, or she had been looking
upon 'father" DOING, in his huge old
rocker, by the open fire. 1 bent above her
for one moment, then bidding little Fritz
be very quiet while grandma slept, 1
passed from the room to care for the wor-
rying baby that was fretting for me. The
little old shop where father still spent his
time with his blocks and carving tools was
in the rear of the house. and as rocked
the baby to sleep heard his dear quaver-
ing voice singing, when You and Were
Young. Maggie"
The first touch of the frost king had
n.
window had lost their CHEEKY look their
leaves were not the same vivid green that
j so admired during their summers bloom
ing; even the bright yellow plumage of
my gay canary seemed not to be as brill
liant as when summer suns shone; and that
song of fathers, that had always loved
to hear him sing, brought before me only
the desolate picture Of cold and clammy
vaults with stretches of marble pavements,
and above them murky water oozing
through the stone walls.
Unable to longer endure my doleful
musings, / laid the sleeping babe in its
cradle. and taking a bowl of beef tea from
the stove, / went again to grandmas room.
She was still sleeping. and Fritzie. with
his curly head leaning against the wall,
his hand still clasped in grandma's, had
travelled, too. into dreamland. l went
closer, meaning to tuck the clothes about
them; my hand touched hers; there came
no terror upon me; only mild torrent of
tears would have its way as the truth
reached mc-she was dead
knew then, that as the beautiful smile
had come to her lips. the gates of Paradise
had opened and the angels Of love and
mercy had walked through with her.
They had been her lifelong comrades
When the gates Of darkness closed behind
her they would not desert her. Rudolph,
her son and my husband, coming in, / re-
gained my composure in . measure, and
bidding two Of my neighbors come to my
assistance. We prepared the dear form for
its narrow bed. Tho plain black Iuster,
that for years had been her 'best dress, 4"
We put on now; the white 'kerchief of ii ne
al FOL >A 10 -
stead Of the little cluster of mignonette
sprays which she always wore when
dressed" Ne fastened . bunch Of pure
white violets at tho 'kerchiefs knot; the
black lace cap We put upon the silver hair,
leaving on 1t the bow of garnet ribbons
which grandma had laughingly declared
was not too young for her, because father
liked it." We wanted no boards draped
in black, but there upon the bed we placed
her, folded her tired hands peacefully to-
gether. and bidding father cease his sing
ing. brought him to look upon her az she
etept.
Quietly he tip-toed in. and leaning over
kissed her. in his old. fond way, then smil-
ingly seated himself beside the bed to
await her waking. Often he had done
thus during the summer months that had
just gone by, and SO We left him, thinking
that nature or his own heart would warn
him that she had gone from u.s. But no;
"a We looked IN from time to time he was
etill there. Once he stroked with tender
trembling her hand, and told US she was
cold. then srnilingly looked at her face and
forgot what he had said. As night came
down we led him away to bed. He came.
still smiling. We could not persuade him
to eat. He refused all food, saying he
would wait till mother took her coffee
too" During the night We heard his tot
tering steps cropping the hall, and again he
nnk ht hoStd o hxs. tsar
would he leave it oil that day. He spoke
10 no one, nor seemed To know that it was
Death we harbored. We. who watched
with him, could only weep and tell
one another DER and again of the
kindly deeds her loving hands had
wrought. prompted by her tender
heart; recalling the cold winter morn
ings when she had risen at 8 o'clock to
answer the milkmans knock for her sickly
neighbor, who had forgotten 10 leave her
pail outside; the Impoverished family
moving IN next door without food. cloth
ing or furniture; her own warm petticoats
had gone 10 cover the mother: before
tramping through the cold and snow she
had asked for such contributions of her
neighbors rs their means would allow of
their making; the sick woman who had
fallen q; her door. been taken ia and cared
for. as we'll as the babe tha, came to her
with the mornings light; the little news
ooy nursed through his severe attack of
lung fever; these and many other recoi-
lec;ions OF her charity came TO Us Is We
SAT IN the room adjoining where she lay
sometimes one OF US would draw back the
curtain. Letting the silver moonlight hood
the room. while We let our thought. wan
der out into the great beyond-trying to
follow whittier her spirit led Though she
owned ~ no religion. would lie. whose
example abe emuiated. deny her nowY
Surely the love which she had feit for all
humanity, the good deeds wrought. would
plead now for her. Would doginas and
creeds count against her charity Would
the bscssedness OF giving, which she had
felt the full measure Of. be forgotten there
No, no: even the cup of cold water, though
not given IN His name given TO those He
loved. surely even that would lie remem-
her.
The following day brought the three
other sons, with their wives and families.
lie comforts their sorrow by telling them
that mother will soon waken: even hen
the grand daughters festoon the chair With
flowers he does not understand, but tells
shem how pleased she will be; she, who
always loved flowers. We had coaxed him
out Of the room for little while TO talk to
frisxie. who will not be comforted. out
cries the long day through. The coffin Is
coming and he must not zee. Ienderly
ve lay hes IN 1T; then bring him In to
look. fcT the first time q CLEAN OF the
truth reaches him. he breaks into the
mlldest Of cobs as he tries TO iift her out
IL Is only Rudolph. her baby, VINO can re-
stFain tie poor old man: even As Ru-
dolph's arms sre about him he cries, "She
con ike that, my boy; my kathie don't
axe thatl" lie sinks into \ chair and
soon has forgotten. for he tells US THAT
has t.,s,a-