Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-11-06
NEW SERIES, OIL xxx, NO. 40.

Just you get 'em all TO bed-there's too
much noise about the house.
The children, who were orphaned
grandehil ldren OF the dying woman, were
sent to bed, and then Jim himself was
packed OF 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 came 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. Noword broke
the awful stiffness.
The first thing in the morning
Mercy's 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 a
night without sight o. your ugly
facep'
.'I had.to look after the good man
and the little uns, - the daughter plead
ed.
.sThen what do you mean by desertin
them nowS" 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 detiantly at the yellow,
dried up creature in the bed. Mercv's
withered lips twitched, but no sound
came from them. Jim, strung up by tho
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
$3.50 she awoke, 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 htokered, tossing her shadow about
the walls as If she, too. were turning
feyertshly from side to side. A strange
ticking made itself heard in the vain
sooting, Mercy sat up with scream OF
terror. Jim, she shrteked. JtmW
Honor listened, her blood ourding.
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 q 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 pathet1oally
to have a grandohild with her in the
room' day and night. Don't leave me
leave me alone. with not soul to talk
to, Honor WINGED, but said nothing.
The youngest child, who did not have
to 60 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.
Apont noon mercy TOOK the chlld's hand
ana smootned hls curls-
NY sister Honor had golden curls
1lke .s 1hat, she Whispered
Ihey We're IN the family Bobby, "
l1 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
ware s.a,, now.
me mlgnonetGe VIII DO grown IN
sne q I4etioows, ooDpy, sne nnur =. 80.
les ana tne neartsease, sald
1onor so1tly. we hyeo IN tne coun-
ny, ., you .4onow, booDy:
mere rs mowers IN the copntFy'
body ao ueolaTeo graVely'
es' ana trees, salo Honor.
Wonoer II your granny feInein pers When
we .s wete i0I pst, sttAling ~ 9ppies
aye' tnes 90, booDy' He,y heI,,
~ Stos.ASo Sae uyAns Stea'ure, WIN puEsS
f'.su u n1slasl. ms 2 Were q pan OF toll-
ing, Vel YEP but we wouldn't take
no gar, He, ne, her
dOnOf went at the IanQhtpT The