Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-12-01

FROsTBURG, Md, SATURDAY, DECEMBER l. 1894

Send oHe o the kids to tell my boy
I'm stayin here, " she said. "And then
just you get 'em all to bed-there's too
much noise about the house. "
The children, who were orphaned
grandchildren of the dying woman, were
sent to bed, and then Jim himself was
packed off to refresh himself for the
next days labors, for the poor old fell
low still doddered about the workshop.
The silence of the sickroom spread
over the whole house About 10 o'clock
the doctor calea again and instructed
Honor how to alleviate the patients last
hours. All night long she sat watching
her dying sister, hand and eye alert to
anticipate every which. No word broke
the awful stiffness.
The first thing in the morning
Mercys married daughter, the only
child of hers living in London, arrived
to nurse her mother. But Honor indig.
nantly refused to be dispossessed.
"a nice daughter you are" she said,
"to leave your mother lay day and
night without sight O. your ugly
face!'
II had to look after the good man
and the little uns, the daughter plead
ed.
'"Then what do you mean by desertin
them now?" the irate old woman retort-
ed. First you deserts your mother and
then your husband and children You
just go back to them as needs your care
carried your mother in my arms be-
fore you was born, and if she wants any
body else now to look after her let her
just tell me so, and I'll be off in brace
O. shakes ~
She looked defantly at the yellow,
dried up creature in the bed. Mercy's
withered lips twitched. but no sound
came from them. Jim, strung up by the
situation, took the word. "You can't
do no good up here, the doctor says.
You might look after the kids down
stairs bit when you can spare an hour,
and I've got to go to the shop. I'll send
you telegraph if there's change" he
whispered to the daughter, and she, not
wholly discontented to return to her liv-
ing interests, kissed her mother, lin
gered little and then stole quietly
away
All that day the old women fingered
together in solemn silence, broken only
by the doctors visit. He reported that
Mercy might last couple of days more.
In the evening Jim replaced his sister
in-law, who slept perforce. At mid
night she awoke and sent him to bed
The sufferer tossed about restlessly. At
$50 she awolle, and Honor fed her with
some broth as she would have fed ba-
by. Mercy indeed looked scarcely big
ger than an infant, and Honor had the
advantage of her only by being puffed
out with clothes. A church clock in the
distance struck 3. Then the silence fell
deeper. The watcher drowsed. The
lamp fiickered, tossing her shadow about
feverishly from side to side. A strange
ticking made itself heard in the VAIN
scoting. Mercy sat up with scream of
terror. Jim" she shrieked. "Jimn'
Honor listened, her blood curdling.
Then she went toward the door and
opened it. Jim, she said in low tones,
speaking toward the landing, tell her
it's nothin; it's only mouse. She was
always a nervous little thing And
she closed the door softly, and press
ing her trembling sister tenderly back
on the pillow tucked her up snugly in
the blanket.
Next morning, when Jim was really
present. the patient begged pathetically
to have grandchild with her in the
room, day and night Don't leave me
alone again." she quavered; "don't
leave me alone, with not soul to talk
to-" Honor WINGED, but said nothing
The youngest child, who did not have
to go to school, was brought-a pretty
little boy with brown curls, which the
sun, streaming through the panes, turn
ed to gold. The morning passed slowly.
About noon Mercy took the child's hand
and smoothed his curls.
'My sister Honor had golden curls
like that, she whispered.
''They were in the family, Bobby"
Honor answered. Your granny had
them, too, when she was girl
There was long pause. Mercy's eyes
were half glazed, but her vision was in
ward now.
''The mignonette will be CROWN in
the meadows, Bobby" she murmured.
"Yes, and the heartsease," said
Honor softly. 1--WE lived in the coun-
try, you know, Bobby"
"There is flowers in the country"
Bobby declared gravely.
Eyes, and trees" said Honor. 81
wonder if your granny remembers when
we were larrupped for stealing apples?'
"Aye, that | do, Bobby. He, hev'
croaked the dying creature, with burst
of enthusiasm. I'VE We're pair of tom
boys The warmer he ran after us, cry
ing, 'Ye! YEP but we wouldn't take
no gar. He, he, he!'
Honor wept at the laughter The
native idiom, unheard for half a century
made her face shine under the tears.
Don't let your granny excite herself,
Bobby. Let me give her drink" She
moved the boy aside, and Mercy's lips
automatically opened to the draft.
tom was wi us, Bobby" she gur-
gled, still vibrating with amusement,
"and he tumbled over on the heather.
He, he!'
tom is dead this 40 year, Bobby"
whimpered Honor.
Mercy's head fell back, and an ex-
preston of supreme exhaustion came
over her face. Half an hour passed.
Bobby was called down to dinner. The
doctor had been sent for. Suddenly
Mercy sat up with jerk. Mercy bent
toward the side of the bed. "Ah, is