The Van Buren press., 1896-06-06

and especially the calf.
! grumbled good, deal, and Went
and told grandma that Jack was too lazy
TO get up. She went to see about him
and she said he had fever. l went out
and attended to the COW, expecting to
find him up when | returned, but he
was still tossing about in bed, and he
began to talk foolish.
| scolded him about il and told grand
ma. She looked very grave when she
went in and felt of his face, and she
went and told one of the boys to 20
after the doctor.
Then | began to get uneasy. The
place seemed SO lonely and | never
missed anyone SO much in my life.
The cat dozcd on the hearth in peace
and the house was so quiet and still.
The old doctor drove up to the gate in
his sulky and took out his little leather
saddle-bags and walked into the room
where Jack was.
| watched him anxiously and when
he took grandma aside and talked low
to her l just caught the word "pneu-
monia." 1t was unfamiliar to me, and
| felt premonition of coming sorrow.
All day long I hung about the door.
and late in the evening they told me
that l would have to sleep in another
room. went in to see Jack, and he was
tossing about, muttering something
about his COW.
II fed her, Jack, and threw down
some straw for her to sleep on" l said
lie looked at me, but he did not seem
to understand. His eyes were so bright
and his cheeks were so red that didn't
know what to make of it. That night
| could not go to sleep and kept staring
at the ceiling, thinking, thinking,
thinking
At last / got up softly and stole into
his room. The candle was burning
low and grandma and grandpa were
sitting by the fire. jack was lying still
with his eyes half open and he was
breathing hard.
rs he any better?" l asked, with n
great lump in my throat
mo, my son, he is mighty sick. Go
DdCk 10 Dcu NOW.
I went back to my room and | got
down on my knees. I never will for
get that night. I prayed; prayed as |
never prayed before, as | have never
prayed since. The words were broken
with sobs.
Oh, the anguish of those dark hours
would pray awhile and then | would
stop and wonder if the good Lord
heard me. Perhaps He was too busy al
the time, and | would ask Him again in
my childish simplicity, hoping that !
might attract His attention,
A way long towards day fell asleep
and the sun was shining when l awoke,
shining in the cloudless heavens, and
the day was real mild.
went into the room where the sick
boy lay, and | saw that there was i
change. His face was pale and his eyes
sunken, and his breath came in gasps,
| gulped down n sob as l looked at that
shaggy head, and thought how often ]
had seen it bobbing about the house
Such day as this we would be out
about the lot. and you could hear his
whistle as merry as a hooking bird in
May.
And now
The candlestick with the half-burncd
candle, three medicine bottles Oh the
mantel; the cup and the spoon and all
| the sad reminders of sickness and sui
fering. Aunt Ailsie walking softly
about the room, keeping watch while
the old folks got a little sleep.
rs he any better?'
mo chile, he amt no better, honey.
De doctah say eff dey ain some change
po' little Jack won't be heah long"
I couldn't bear it. The good old
nanny came and put her withercd
arms around me and kissed me and told
me not to cry. l went out to the lot
and Pepper Joe was giving the COW
some nubbins, and the calf was skip
| ping clumsily around. The sight OF
them set me TO crying again, and ]
| turned away. All, the dismal day!
Better the clouds and the dreary rain
with Jack well, than floods of sun
! shine and he so sick. Late in the aft
ernoon grandma called me.
"Come in here, son, Jack wants 10
see you"
went into the room. The lingering
rays of the wintry sun struggled in
through the windows and fell on tire
snowy counterpart.
His face was ashen pale, and his eyes
| were no longer restless. He looked at
me and faint smile played about the
pinchcd features. 1t was like the dy'
ing light of the wintry&y.
lie motioned me to come closer, and
found that his voice was so weak that
he could but speak in whispers. The
old doctor sat with his hand on the
little wrist, and the family were gath
cred around the bed.
Then the fountains of my heart were
broken up ard gave way to my grief
II want you to have all my things
Good-by," he whispered, and then they
took me away.
As lay sobbing and moaning in my
room, heard cry from Aunt Ailsie:
"0h, God bless my po' chile. Dey's
one mo- angel done gone to glory!"
Now, l have told you the story.
cannot, even unto this day, dwell
further on the sad theme. But it is c
mystery to me why people should keel
on harping about good boys and bat
boys when know just as well as l an
sitting here that my boy comrade ha:
/ gone to better world than this!
/ And look at nc. | was a model boy
] I'LL ,ao1ra r,ovo Tod