Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-08-19

white frock with bassomy roses upon
it, an byme'bye, when the dew fell,
the frcck grew oil heavy with damp
ness, an I-all laughing-chid you
sharply for bein' careless wife. An
then--how we'll ! can mind it-you
turned your dear face round to me-all
sober an solemn-an' you said, just as
If twas prayer you was sayin': Illus
band, was fearful Of the new life be-
fore me, being but young and over
thoughtless; but l want it to be better
for you-havin' me with you. Iwant to
make you happier, an I want never to
do nor to say one thing to hurt or to
vex youth de- Poor little Patty
how well I can mind thigh upon 20
years-an'-"
His voice broke. and the next words
would not come. She stirred slightly
and shivered. then leaned closer to him.
And then at last she lifted her eyes
from the valley to the sky where the
stars were appearing: and then her
lids quivered and narrowed; and he saw
there were tears on her cheek.
PATTY. wife," ne murmured. mind
the old days for my sake. Mind him.
too, as tits best. Mind him lynn all saucy
and strong in his cradle, as we stood by
him, you an me, and laughed at his
baby ways. How he waved up his Drag
garty arms to reach us, an grabbed at
our fingers to raise him, an cuddled
his face on our shoulders when he got
his OWE way in the end"
"An' when he fell i'll that first spring
time, how we watched, an we hoped
an we prayed for him; an he battled
way back, just shadow; an laughed
hisself into all hearts. An can mind
that when night came, for many Rn
many q year after. you would start from
your sleep with cry an wonder if all
was well. An then would creep to
his bedside, an shadin' the light would
look down pom his face, all lynn so
quiet an so rosy; an would bring back
the word, just to soothe you: Ills
right, he's sleepin' WELL"
Against his own heart he could now
feel her sobs; on his hand he could feel
hot tears falling; but this weight at the
heart was easier to bear, and the tears
made the handclasp frmer.
And the stars shone out, and the
moon rose high, and no more words
were spoken. The scent of the clover.
all heavy with dew, was sweet On the
cool night breezes. From the farm be-
low CHEEKY lights shot forth and then
cleaned bright and steady; and the
slow rub of a chain from the cow
house now and again broke the still
ness. Time was UNDECIDED by the
mourners now; it was good to rest
Just rest and be silent.
BY and by her sobs were spent, but
she did not raise her head from his
shoulder; for week she had held il
high ard stern, and now it was raising
to bend it. So he drew her shawl closer
about her; he stroked her heavy.
loosened hair and gently fingered the
soft curls which strayed about her ear.
And q great tiredness that was even
peace fell upon her heart; and after
awhile she slept.
Peter Penruddock's mouth had been
shaped by cheerful words, and now he
must abide by it; there must be no
further Strengthening of the upward
curves, for his cheerful words were still
needed. The world did not die witkthe
death of son, and live worlds seldom
love innovation.
So Peter sat with his face to the stars.
and schooled his tongue to the shape
of comfort. And the great moon was
SO placid, the stars were so radiant, the
gray sky stretched SO vast. and life
shrpnk SO belittled that it did not seem
hard to smile over earth's pains, and
think of the childless years as but mo-
ments. But when at length he turned
his eyes downwards, and faced the still
spot lying stepped in the valley below,
for awhile his heart tainted with the
force of his anguish which fought with
the power OF his peace.
Then up through the still air came the
chime OF the tall clock striking its hour
in the stone hall below, and it entered
the dreams of the sleeping mother and
warned her back to the world; and
suddenly she uttered warning cry,
and raised her head and opened her
eyes.
It was the cry he knew SO well. and
his heart went out to meet it.
And then she looked with those wide,
hungry eyes, before her through tho
moonlight, and remembered. and real
lied, and made q little moan so young
and childish that the tears pricked in
his eyes. But fallen tear is ever a
confession, and he pressed these back
with his eyelids; and gently he an
swered her cry with the old, oft-used.
soothing words;
"'Tis all right. wife, he's sleepin'
we'll"
And then he turned his face from the
narrow bed at the foot of the quiet val
ley and led her tenderly down through
the feld-path and into the old gray
home.-The Speaker
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