Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-06-19

SaH go! e8CldlIleu IOur VOICES.
"Why not?"
Mother said should stay and take
care of Nettie.
eff that amt mean'' came from one
of the four.
"I'll tell you what" said Fred. cts
not fair that we should carry all these
traps, and you are in honor bound to 90
and help us whether you stay or not"
Willie hesitated, declared he couldn't,
listened to their arguments and finally
consented lust to help and make haste
back again.
On their way he made the explanation
called for by their questions.
"Where's your mother?" asked one.
"Gone to the city" was the reply.
"Why couldn't she go some other
day?"
"Aunt Mary's coming on the noon
train. She's sick, and mother thought
she could ride easier in the carriage"
The matter made clear, they pursued
their way, talking of this and that and
laughing merrily. All the while some
thing kept telling Willie that he ought
to have staid, and he determined to
hurry home as soon as his bundles were
disposed Of.
Arrived at the woods, however, the
boys renewed their coaxing, urging him
to stay and help them until nearly two
hours were gone, and finally, at about
IL, he started.
In the meantime where was Nettie?
She went about singing and happy for
long time and by and by ran down to
the gate and peeped through the pickets
She stood there until beautiful butter
fly lit OH the fence close beside her. She
tried to catch him, till when she almost
had him he flew over the fence and set
tied down in the middle of the street.
Nettie swung the gate open and step
ped out, her face flushed and eager. On
she went close to the prize, and just
then terrible thing happened. Round
the corner dashed a runaway horse
with broken buggy dangling at his
heels. Nobody could tell what did it,
but when they picked her up Nettie's
white dress had an ugly stain of blood
upon it from wound i'll the temple.
They carried her into the house and
Norah placed her Oh her own little he'd
Some one sent for the doctor, who, when
he came, said very tenderly:
"Iwill do what can, but fear Net
tie will die
So they bathed the wounded head,
brushed back her hair, put OH her night
dress, tearfully removed the crushed
butterfly from her clasped hs.d, dark
e. ~
land.
Before Willie had time to return the
mother had come and begun her sorrow-
full watching. just as the clock struck
12 the unconscious brother walked into
the yard. He went up stairs to go to his
room. When he passed his mothers
door, he found it open. He paused
moment, and she came forward.
Dear, tender mother, with all her
anxiety for her darling girl she did not
forget her boy. She took him in her
arms and kissed him, knowing what
was coming would be punishment
enough. Willie looked up bewildered.
"What's the matter, mother? Where
is Nettie?" he asked
For answer she led him to the bed
where Nettie lay, and he saw the pale
face and bandaged head. What wild
cry he gave! He would have given his
life, he thought, if he could see Nettie
as she stood at the door that morning,
and the childish words came back to
him, If anything happens to me, Will
lie Rowland, and 60 killed, I'll just
tell mother you re to blame"
"Oh, mother" he cried, sis she
dead? Have killed her?"
Very gently Mrs. Rowland answered
with her hand on his head.
"No, Willie, she is not dead, but hurt
very, very badly, and you must help
me nurse her well.
After many days of hope and fear
Nettie began to grow better. Willie
watched and tended her, and was so
thankful when she could talk and smile
again.
That was a good many years ago,
when he was - years old, and he is
man grown now, while Nettie is
young lady. But the experience of those
weeks taught him a lesson he has never
forgotten, and l have written the story
for you.