The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-09-29
MICHIGAN.

fng oRP"
The words-he had rend them some
where 49, marched round and round.
over and over, till every corner OF his
being, mental and physical, was beat
en- To numbness by their weary, sense.
less tramp.
Ellis mercy2" Yes, for the child
there might be mercy; but for him
when had there been any2 How
many years was il since he had ceased
20 expect IL? No-that was not in
Gods plan for him.
And now the child-the little hui
man child. at whose first quiyering
wall responsibility fully weighted
took possession OF her fathers breast,
not lightly throned there. easily 20 be
dismissed when early charm departs
and parenthood yields neither credit
nor delight, but 10 endure through
time, and change. and death this lit
tie child was dying
Outside the mountain wind tore the
young leaves and scattered the weep
ing petals of the child's flowers; the
roses among which her white sunbon-
net was wont TO flash so busily, the
helpless pinks tied TO broken-backed
sticks by eager, inexperienced little
fingers. The May rain came bounding
ia wild leaps out Of the east, and dug
unsightly holes in the neatly raked
border. beside which the small rake
had been flung down that last day
when the sun was SO hot, and her
father had come in at the gate. and
she had run into his arms TO nestle her
golden head against his cheek and tell
him how IL ached.
Yet there were some who said: IF
the child dies, il will be a Judgment"
SO we mete out judgments and bless
iDgs by the accidents OF failure or sue
cess; in one breath bringing in an
abasement which goes perilously near
TO FORGETTING the dignity conferred on
us when we were made children OF the
Father. in the next presuming 20 i'm
terpret the thoughts and intentions Of
our inscrutable God-the God OF ST.
lence.
The child was only seven years old
when the doctor was finally beaten.
Knowing not fear, lie had been q
soldier than whom few were more
gallant; he had held death, for him
self aud others, calmly in the hollow
ofhis single hand; but against subtle
ty. and passive obstinacy, and a re-
ligion which is that OF the devil rather
than OF God being devoid of the love
without which silver tongued piety Is
but sounding brass-he had no sufiic-
ing weapons, So he sat down and en-
durcd all things; there was no other
way
The child was only seven years old,
as | have said; but some divine in
stinct led her 10 cross the room timid-
ly and slip her tiny hand into his big,
lonely one.
"My fatherl" she cried, softly for
that was how she had called upon him,
from the hour that she could speak.
Once she looked back over her
shoulder, with quivering lip and eyes
like blue flowers drowned In dew.
But her father was 70 her the
embodiment OF all that was noble,
Just and tender; and her little heart
momentarily deficd anyone who, in
the name OF any God. could thu,
wound and humiliate such a father.
After that he would not let her go,
even had She desired il, which she did
not Appeals and approaches from
other quarters touched him no more
lie was poor; the unseliish toll OF
half q lifetime is not apt TO result well
financially But the child must not
lack Tor the best IL is doubtful II she
guessed az single one of the sacri
fees he made for her; bnt her life was
sunshine, and ia il he drew the breath
OF life.
al tell you. the doctor will see me
he never has refused To help yet, ano
he amt goin 10 do IL now.
MAN. replied the old nanny
who had nursed the doctor as a child
aud loved him better than she loved
any OF her own dark-slSinned brood
MAN, faint no use fur ter ask
Little miss mighty low this night, anc
he amt gwine leave her side tel d'
Lor' takes her 10 Iiisself."
But my child will die ! tell you
Aunt Mandy" was the agonized re
Spouse. "Ie's all hev, and the doc
tor can save him. lie can't save al
child by not savin mine"
The mountain woman in passion
OF maternal selnshness, bent forwar,
on her streaming horse, straining he
hollow eyes through the damp dark
ness Of the pack porch into the dimll
lighted room beyond.
THAR he isl" she suddenly ex
claimed. exultantly, and at sigI
from him the old colorcd woman Ia
bored gently away toward the uppc
chamber where the child lay
"nc's all hev', doctor. and you cal
save him II you will.
Yes. IL was true, he could
The woman rode spiashing ava,
through the night The doctor stol
20 the chamber door, and beclSoned L
the nurse Within. and spoke few Low
words L. her.