Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-11-03
ANGEL.
~
BY MRS. NJ. L. RAYNE.

us
The mothers call rang out clear
and good-naturedly shfill over the
long garden where convolvulous bells
were closing, and the nasturtiums
nodded their yellow heads, and
reached the ears of little boy who
was playing ''all by bis lonesome" in
the old-fashioned summer, house at
the foot of the garden.
Tummin', mamma" came back
the quick answer, and Mrs. Pond,
Davy's mother, went back to her
pleasant sitting room and the com.
pany o. a neighbor who had called.
He's strange child, Dayy u.s."
said the mother.
This was no gossip she was talk
ing to, and it was relief to speak
of David's peculiarities to one who
would listen to her, and aid her by
advice or sympathy.
The child's father looked upon her
fears as the expression of rank here
sy. His Davy-his little man
There never was such a boy in the
world, none so bright and compan-
ionable. At the same time the faith
er knew that his boy was not quite
like other children, or why would he
prefer to play alone rather than with
the little ones of the neighbour
hood?
Yes" Mrs. Pond was saying,
he talks to himself nearly all the
time. l can hear him in the arbor,
and have stolen down there often,
but he was always alone, playing
with tie leaves, or talking in a low
voice, And be has hallucinations. l
know it, because he talks in his
dreams of playfellow he calls
CANCEL"
Perhaps" suggested the neigh.
Dor, cautiously, che really does see
the angels. l read in book once
story ofel old lady who had died
but couldn't rest in her grave be-
cause she had hidden her will, and
her niece, to whom her money was
left, could not find it. So she came
back to earth to try and show her
where the will, and her neice, to
whom her money was left, could not
find it. So she came back to earth
to try and show her where the will
was. The girl could not see her, but
walked through and through her,
but the dog could see her and the
child in the cradle, and it reached
out its hands to her."
"That," said Davy's mother, sis
only book story. couldn't be-
lieve it if I tried.n
81 believe there are influences we
do not know how to receive" said
the other woman "some are born of
flame, some of flesh and some of the
spirit. Perhaps Davy is under con-
troll he may have Visions"
At that moment the little fellow
came running in. He was pretty
boy, but not healthy-looking. His
soft, curling hair lay in rings on a
pale, high forehead. A blue mark,
said to predict early death, lay be-
tween his delicate brows. The same
blue appearance settled about his
mouth. He painted with the exertion
of running.
Ms. Pond looked meaningly at
her friend and began to question the
child in the lingo of mothers.
"Where has Davy been?"
"Playin' wifi Angel
"Why doesn't Davy bring Angel
home?n
CANCEL won't come"
"Where does Angel go when Davy
comes in the house ?"
"Davy doesn't know"
The child spoke with sad regret,
even as the little boy in the story of
the Pied Piper, who all his life
lamented that because he was lame
he did not get to the cave in time to
be swallowed up with the other chill
dren, but only caught one glimse. of
the wonderful country into which
they were gone.
Another year has passed over
Davy's yellow head. He is in new
country, but he knows little of it.
From the garden of Iowa to the
garden of Michigan is not great
change to child who is SO ill he
must be carried on a pillow all the
way. He had fallen sick and faded
from tho dav almnSt from Tho hons
when the family left their old home,
and he was torn, sobbing and I'M
happy, from the old arbor and his
adear Angel"
His mother had been very patient
with him and the kind neighbor who
came to see him of told him that
angels went everywhere they were
not subject to rules like other people,
and did NIT neod ta ho oonvnrnd hu