The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-01-28

coma eeoree 10 John Davis was asked
10 walt q second time s,t.
.Just ono yssr yet, John, = Aunt Tes.
sie beesed. "Let me feel that have u
least paid my debt In part" But at the
end OF the year she said: There Il 80 much
TO do, John. Let US give the children ono
year more. We can spare SO much to them.
Just one. promise not to ask another,
john" .-.- .. ............4-
With heavy heart he answered for the
third time, ut shall be as you wish, Tes-
sis." .,s
think Aunt Tessie began TO feel that
an unseen power was shaping her life In o
G.range, uncomprehended mold.
Strange, indeed. Before the year ended
q scourge passed over the city. The angel
Of death hung his black banner on almost
every door. Uncle George was among the
arst to be stricken.
"God bless you, Tessie, he said. "Don't
forget the children. God bless youP' With
the blessing still on his lips he left us.
Then she was glad that she had staid with
him. The sacrifice was fully repaid In
that last blessing.
But the next day little Annie laid her
bot cheek against Aunt Tessie's and cried
out that the fever was burning her throat.
For eight days the little life swung In the
balance, but on the ninth she crept into
Aunt Tessie's arms and whispered, GOOD
Auntie!" just once before death set a seal
upon the childish lips.
Death played upon many heartetringa,
but none, think, were so entirely swept
as were Aunt Tessie's. She had scarcely
seen the clay heaped upon the grave Of lit
tie Annie before messenger oaine for her.
John, John, honest, patient John, was dy-
Ing. Poor Aunt Tessiel The blows fell
30 fast This was the last. When the
Hight left John Davis eyes, hope left Aunt
Teseie's heart to follow into and fix Itself
upon that unknown land into which his
soul had drifted. "Don't reproach your
SELF" he had said at the last "You did
have borne my burden tolerably with Aunt
Tessie's help. She has borne hers grandly
without help.
Without help, did I say9 Then spoke
too quickly, for one evening found her
sitting alone on the west piazza among the
honeysuckles and Jasmine vines Watching
the somber clouds pilipg across athe sunset
or forming into a purple bridge to span
the crimson colored lakes.
She did not hear my crutch upon the
soft sward, and her voice was scarcely
more than the hum Of the bees In the yell
low jasmine bells.
mo man having put his hand to the
plow and looking back ia fit for the king
dom of God.'
Every step of my life, the clouded and
the cloudless, has been blessed and bright
ened by her. She has paid her debt princi-
pal and interest, and is now herself the
lender, for when Uncle Dams wife died ten
ycara ago four others were admitted to her
household Dan himself, Frank,
May and Richard
Frank and May have both been in to say
good night since have been lying here
thinking about Aunt Tessie's mistake.
May Rugged her with both arms and said
softly, 1.-THE blessedest best Auptie,"
while Frank stood moment behind her
chair and softly stroked the silver braids
and recounted the days trials and it's
pleasures II shall DO man soon and
take care of you, Aunt Tessie," was his
good night
Aunt Tessie nodded and smiled and
went to open the door for Robert, pausing
as she passed my lounge to draw the COW
ers more closely about my shoulders while
I lay there as il asleep. Then for half an
hour she and Robert sat before the fire,
while Robert told her everything about his
plans
Then the clock struck 1890. Robert
rose and lighted Aunt Tessie's candle, and
again the halo seemed to form around the
silver brnids and showed me the smile up
OH her pale face as Robert bent to kiss her
faded cheek. 20"
Now she is gone and it Is Robert who
bends over my pillcw and whispers, Poor
Clarencel" as he draws my covers ever SO
lightly over my chest.
And now he, too, Is asleep, but his bed
is 40 near that can touch him IL choose
A little silver bell Is in reach on the other
side.
"You may want water, dear" Aunt
Tessie said when she put the bell there, as
II did not know what Aunt Tessie fears.
It is the black banner on the doorknob.
But am not thinking Of that tonight.
ing Of her life, SO full of promise and 80
barren of fulHllment, and of my life, so de-
void of promise and yet so full of peace.
am thinking too Of the lives Of the chill
dren asleep Id their beds; of the young
man about to enter the world pure Of heart
and strong of purpose; of the graves Of
the two men who blessed Aunt Tessie with
their last breath; of the dying pillows
made easy by her PROMISES of the little
child who only left the shelter Of her arms
to slip away to Gods.
When remember these, / bless Aunt
Tessies Mistake. Cincinnati Post.