The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-03-13

some dear friend. '.'They don't know,
of course she thought. excusing them
in her own gentle way. Though to
other eyes it may seem poor and old
fashioned, to me it can never he so,
for it is the first and only home that /
ever had" And, after the sad, tender
manner Of the old, who only have q
happy past and an empty present,
without a Turing future before her, she
fell a-dreamiag of by-gone days, when
her faithful John had brought her, a
bride, to this dear old home, which
seemed so grand and beautiful then
How could it ever seem lonely and
humble to her, when it was so rich in
a thousand happy, blessed recollec-
tions? Had not that been Johns ia
yorite rose bush? Had not she and
John planted that very mountain ash
together? And could the rooms ever
seem empty and cramped to her when
every nook and corner spoke to her
sometimes of the living or Of the dead
as eloquently as tongues could do?
Here iso Where she used to sit and
watch the fire on winter evenings,
rocking the cradle as she knit. This
dark spot on the worn floor was where
Baby Mary had spilled the ink while
she sat there writing to the soldier
father far away where the battle
ragged, or on the long, dreary march
And here, beside the old-fashioned ta-
Bile, on which still lay the we'll thumbed
family Bible, she had knelt and prayed
for twenty years with John-prayed
for the little ones in fearful grief when
ne was. gone-prayed for them when
they, one by one, slipped away from
her arms out into the cold world, and
Where she still nightly bent her stiff
old knees to pray for them and theirs.
Mother only loved the old house bet
ter as the years rolled on, but when
grim old age had slowly crept upon
her, it was decided in family council
that she must make up her mind to
come and live with one or the other of
them, for it was altogether out of the
question for her to remain in that
gloomy old house alone So, one sad
day, oVerpoWered by the sons and
daughters who meant to be kind, moth
er went softly to and fro over the old
house, taking leave of it all, and the
last farewell was the visit to the two
= mounds, under the dropping elms,
where John slept and the first-born
little son lay. Then, with a feeling
that the world can never quite under
stand, she was driven away to the fine
city residence they don't call them.
homes nowhere Alfred and his
Wife, who, for all her kindness, rather
:overpoWered mother with her fine
ways. had given her a. stately room,
and, what was the most dreadful, she
was supposed to keep it there alone
BY hrself Yes; they meant to be kind
to her, but tha 8 city ways: and style
gave the old lady the feeling that she
was in an asylum, and in spite Of all
the the grand eur, other,ss wrinkled cheeks
lost their soft pink, like that of a half
4W5ilted rose, and she began to grow
feeble and worn. though every one was.
so busy that it was passed unnoticed.s
She was pining for the old home. al
though she felt that it would seem un-5
grateful to sa = SO; and then, somehow,
to pray in the magnifcent church,
here she sat in a velvet stoned pew,
did not seem to give her the help she
prayed for, for td1od, as il seemed to