The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-07-20
EBENSBURG, a. JULY

Il hope so, but I'm afraid you won't.
VIII you be very lonely when I'm not
here?''
But you will be here, darling. You
will soon get we'll"
For little while the child lay per
fectly still, and the anxious parents
began to think that she had fallen
asleep. But soon she reused again,
and in voice weaker and thinner
than ever before asked:
rs the claim pretty, papa?"
Yes, it's beautiful, darling"
AS pretty as the old home?'
Almost, expect. and we shall soon
make il much nicer than il is
And nobody can take it from you,
can thev?"
No: they can't take this home from
us, dearest"
Il am so glad of that. papa. Nobody
can take il from you"
There was slight movement on the
part of the three men outside. and a
hurried glance was exchanged among
them.
I'm going to leave you. papa" the
child went on. and I'm going away
right soon. You and mamma will miss
me, but You will have new home. and
YOU must not think of me too much.
You must make my grave, papa, in
some sunny spot close to where the
house will be, 50 that you and mamma
can see IT often; and You must plant
flowers by it and a tree"
Yes, yes. Allie: I'll not forget" the
father replied in a husky voice; but
you must not think of such things
You must sleep tonight, and to-mor-
row you will feel better
No. | cannot sleep. papa. and I'll
never see tomorrow. | am going away
soon; but I'm glad that You have
new home and -never-have-to
-give-it-up."
Old Jake hurriedly drew his sleeve
across his eyes and whispered a few
words to his companions. Then they
all fell back as nOiselessly as they
came. When they were out of hear
ing of the occupants of the wagon
Jake said in his most solemn and i'm
prrssive tone:
Boys. she's going to die, amt she?''
That's the way put it up" replied
Sam in all seriousness.
Yes, she's going to die" repeated
Jake, and it's blamed bad thing to
see that child a-dying away out here
on this lonely prairie. without a friend
or anything, and just know that pa
and ma must feel awful"
Il know they do" said Sam.
Wonder if we could do ANYTHING for
them?''
Il don't know. Reckon there would
mt be any harm in going to see"
Then you go down to the wagon,
Jake, and we'll wait here"
Jake started off at once. and two
hours passed before he cane back.
How is she, Jake?'' Sam whispered.
''She's gone" Jake replied. shes
better off, though, | expect, for she's
been sick long time, they say, and
the doctors said she couldn't ever get
well. Shes pretty little thing,
though, Sam, and went OFF smiling like
an angel. She was glad her pa had
got new home, and she wanted to be
buried on the claim"
For little while the men were si-
lent, then Sam said:
Has he got new home, Jake?"
.'Who?' Jake asked.
The man over there-the child's
pap
What do you say about that, Sam?'
I'D rather you'd say. Jake"
Then | say that he has"
Jake, here's my hand on that, "
said old Sam, as he extended his rough,
sun-browned fist.
And here's mine said Ike, extend
ing his at the same time.
Then we understand, do We" Jake
said after a moment. that this claim
and that we give up all right to it?''
That's my notion replied Sam.
And mine" agreed Ike.
Then that's settled. bows Jake
continued, "and I'm glad you fix it
that way. I'd never have the heart to
take the land from him after hearing
her talking and rejoicing about his
new home Never, | said to myseli
right then and there that this claim
was his, and that I'd stand by. him in
holding it against creation. And II
do it. too"
You bet cried the others.
The next morning the father selected
a resting place for the child and the
three men made a grave and placed
the remains in it. Then, bringing d
small tree from t4Ie woods, they planted
it at the head and scattered some
flower seeds about. They did every
thing they could to cheer the sad
hearted parents, and We're sorry tina
they could do no more.
Boys" said old Jake when they
were again alone, I've done som,
mighty low-down things in my time
but | never done anything that mad,
me feel SO mean as l did last nigh
when | stood there by that old xagor
and listened to the words of that littl,
dyin' child. KNOWN that I'd come ther,
to help run her pa off the claim that i
rightly his. | tell you, | felt like
low down sneak"
1T was mean trick, " said Sam, IAN,
I'm ashamed of it. But it's his claim.
You bet it is. We can pat up will
five claims or get another, for we'r
not going to take that one. That littl,
grave up there makes that squatter'
dispute it.
Jake and his companions were a
rood as their word, and for the sake q
he little girl who had passed on to
Detter home stood by the squatte
oyally in the defense of his claim
Thomas Z. Montfort, in Leslie
| Weekly.
Right Up with Him
| There are certain Scotch lairds VIII
| take the name of their estate. an
usually use that appellation in place c
a surname One Of these is ''Cluny
!