Mexico weekly ledger., 1894-02-08
1asa



other river soon, dye see? But there
was somethin' wrong; compasses, or
map, or somethin', and it didn't turn
up. Water ran out. just except lit
tie drop for the likes of you and
and"
"And you couldn't wash yourself" in
terrupted his companion gravely, star
ing mp at his grimy visage.
mo, nor drink. And Mr.. Bender, he
was the first to go, and then Indian
Pete, and then Mrs. MeGregor, and
then Johnny Homes, and then, dearie,
your mother"
"Then mothers deader, too" cried
the little girl, dropping her face in her
pinafore and sobbing bitterly.
"Yes, they all went except you and
me. Then thought there was some
chance of water in this direction, SO l
heaved you over my shoulder and we
tramped it together. 1t don't seem
as though we've improved matters.
There's an almighty small chance for
! us now!''
"Do you mean that we are going to
die, too?" asked the child, checking
her sobs, and raising her tear-stained
+, face.
81 guess that's about the size of it."
"Why didn't you say so before?" she
said, laughing gleefully. "You gave
me such a fright. Why, of course, now
as long as we die we'll be with mother
again.
eyes, you will, dearie."
"And you, too. I'll tell her how aw.
full good you've been. I'll bet she
| meets us at the door of Heaven with a
big pitcher of water, and a lot of buck
| wheat cakes, hot, and toasted on both
sides, like Bob and me was fond of.
How long will it be first
81 don't know-not very long" The
mans eyes We're fixed upon the north
ern horizon. In the blue vault OF the
! heaven there appeared three little
| specks which increased in size every
moment, Sc rapidly did they approach,
| They speedily resolved themselves into
three large brown birds, which circled
over the heads of the two wanderers
and then settled upon some rocks
which overlooked them. They were
| buzzards, the vultures of the west
whose coming is the forerunner OF
| death.
Cocks and hensr' cried the little
| girl, gleefully, pointing at their ill
omened forms, and clapping her hands
to make them rise. Say, did God
| make this country?"
| "In course He did," said her com
panion, rather startled by this unex
| pected question.
HE made the country down in I'LL
nois, and He made the Missouri" the
little girl continued. Il guess some
| body else made the country in these
parts. It's not nearly so well done
They forgot the water and the trees
"What would We think of offering III
prayer" the man asked, difidently.
''It amt night yet" she answered.
SIT don't matter. 1t amt quite reg
ular, but He won't mind that, you bet
You say over them ones that you uset
to say every night in the wagon whel
we was on the plains"
'Why don't you say some yourself?
the child asked, with wondering eyes
81 disremember them,'' he answered
Il hain't said none since / was hal
the height O. that gun. l guess it
never too late. You say them out, an
I'll stand by and come in on tn
TsThen you'll need to kneel down
and me, too" she said. laying tn
shawl out for that purpose. ''You'v
got to put your hands up like this. l
makes you feel kind of good"
1t was a strange sight, had ther
been anything but the buzzards to Sc
it. Side by side on the narrow shaw
knelt the two wanderers, the little
prattling child and the reckless, hard
ened adventurer. Her chubby fac
and his haggard, angular visage wer
both turned up to the cloudles
heaven in heartfelt entreaty to tha
dread being with whom they were fac
to face, while the two notes.-the on
thin and clear, the other deep an
harsh-united in the entreaty for mere
asld forgiveness. The prayer finished
they resumed their seat in the shadoy
| of the bowlder until the child fe1
asleep, nesting upon the broad breas
| of her protector. He watched owe
her slumber for some time, but natur
proved to be too strong for him. Fo
three days and three nights he ha
allowed himself neither rest nor re
pose. Slowly the eyelids dropped owe
the tired eyes, and the head sun
lower upon the breast, until the man
grizzled beard was mixed with th
golden tresses of his companion, ant
both slept the same deep and dream
less slumber.
Had the wanderer remained awak
for another half-hour a strange sigh
would have met his eyes. Far ava