Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-09-18

Williamx" she answered simpl,
'.Have you any little girls, and d
'Ou love them very much, like In
,apa d0es?"
mo. have no little girls or boy
,ithef." HOward's voice had . rim
II sadness IN it which the chill
quickly noticed. He was. thinking Q
The dead man again.
Then ] am sorry for you. and IL
;iss and love you until my own pap
comes
She climbed over into the miner
ap and put her thin, white hand
around his neck. Putting up he
Iweet lips she kissed the miner agai
aud again, until he turned his hea'
lway to brush the fast falling tear
from his cheeka
"What makes you cry?" she asked
turning bis face around aud hOldin
t between her hands. Don't yo
want me to love you?"
"Yes. yes, do Twas sorry 'caus
,Our father amt c0Ining-tO-niGhi
| am going home nOw."
So he lifted her from his knees an
vent out.
Dan Howard spent the night at tn
Ihanty, and In the morning the bod
If III X Williams was taken out ant
buried in the shadow Of . big roc)
not far from camp.
Mira Williams seemed quite dil
Iaeartened. but after q few days shl
Ia Oks quite cheerfully Of her hns
bands return. Her time was partl!
taken up by the little daughter. snt
IN odd moments she devoted hersel
to bits OF sewing. which Dan How
ard brought for her to do for th'
miners. He came often. until . nru
friendship grew between him and tn,
frail child. Eta was very fond o
him and watched for his coming, 70
as she grew stronger be took her II
his arms and carried her on short ex
cursions round the camp.
One day she sat silent for q loI,
time, and then turned to the mine
and said: "Uncle Dan, what woull
you do II you was to die?"
II don't know. little one. lneve
thought much Of dyin'."
well, I'd keam. and kesm, snr
and k-e-a-m" (lnesning scream.)
Then she stopped . minute ans
added: "No. I wouldn't, cause you''
be In such Q nice place"
Her mother had never told her ths
there was . place called hell, and o
she thought Of death a. Q surety O
going to q beautiful heaven.
On one OF these rambles he carried
Eta with him out to that lone Rrav,
where her father lay. and told her ,
man was buried there.
"No,"she cried, correcting him
''it's hts ted. and the people didn'l
make it nice for him. Mamma used
to take me to see baby TOmmy's littl,
bed, and it had pretty white flower
on it, and we carried more and GOV
cred 1t all over and made 1t all nice
Then We amt afraid to die and wax,
up In heaven when We know thai
sleep in SO pretty and white. VIII.
didn't the people make this man,
bed nice for him? Was he q bad
man and they didn't love him?"
Not SO very bad" answered How
ard, pulling a dead branch from
across the mound.
Then I'll put some flowers on 1t, ;
Ihe said, gathering what flowers vert
lear and laying them gently on thu
neglected grave. She was too weau
to walk much, and so the biR-hearted
miner brought her the buncbes while
she kDelt down and arranged them
1t was beautiful picture-tha
:hild by the neglected sleeping place
II the dead, with her sweet face soft
ened by sympathy as earnest as &
wOman's as she bent over her work.
10 Howard she seemed an angel,
comforting others and not knowing
her own loss When he had broug hi
the last handful Of mountain flowers
ne lifted her on his lap and sat dowr
,y the grave, now covered with gree,
caves and flowers.
"Do you know that the man who /:
sleep here had Q little girl just
about as big as you? Sometimes
feel so sorry for her." said Howard
,troking her soft hair and drawing
Ter close In his arms.
so do l." she replied. After Z
pause she raised he eyes slowly frOu
:he grave aud looked up in the fac<
above hers "Ain't nice that caml
here and put the flowers on his bed'
Maybe he will think 1t Is his owl
little girl"
The simple manner In which It was
.aid touched Howard's heart, and
utting both hands to bis face be
roke down completely.
What is the matter. Uncle Dan?
Are you crying cause you are afraid
o die and be asleep in the Rround?"
he asked, and having no answer she
ried to comfort him. Pulling down
ais hands she looksd up earnestly.
md said. III you was to 20 asleep ]
wouldn't let your bed De bad looking.
I'd come and make 1t nice With
I pretty flowers, because love you
Now, don't cry any more"
Howard took her up tenderly and
carried her back to her mother. 1t
was the last excursion they made to
yetheE
The cough became more pro.
Iaounced. and Eta grew weak very
rapidly as the cold weather ap,
preached. At last her mother sat BY
the bedside and saw the breath nut
ter feebly from her sweet baby lips
| Tell Uncle Dan I'm going te
sleep. and-wake-up-"
The little hand grew very still ana
the mother wept-alone.
Eta lad awakened in Heaven.
When Dan Howard came to the
hotel to ask about his baby friend, he
was led into the room where she lay.
As they drew back the folds Of lace
that Mrs Williams had laid about the
sleeping child, he placed one trem.
bling hand on the dampened curls,
and sSnk heavily to the floor. He
oad come to look at her dear little
face just once, and then 20 away.
They left him by the dead baby he
loved as his own, and in the morn.