The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-16

couldn't take the child-it might hurt her
throat seriously 10 nave to shout to them
Then she caught Mamie up and kissed her
again and again; she wondered how she
could live If she couldn't hear that baby
voice. She was troubled. too, for the child
had delicate throat and she dared not
take her often to see the old folks-and they
would miss her so,
But it was not so hard: her mother spoke
Oh 1t herself and said that she and father
had talked it over and they knew it
would be best not to have the child there
often. And Mamie mustn't Worry-they
could get along all right long they
! could hear each other. Indeed. it seemed
as II the bond of suffering drew them
closer together 1t was beautiful to see
the old mans care for his wife and his
tenderness in speaking to her. The neigh
bors who had pitied at first talked often Of
1t; they said they never saw two deaf
people take such comfort in each other
Often on summer days the two highpitched
voices would be heard, and the people
passing would smile at each other and
sometimes finger a little.
lis kind o social to hear them" they
said.
So the winter passed and the summer
and then quite suddenly, one night when
| the earth was lying hushed and silent
under a soft fall of snow the old man
passed from the silence of his life into the
greater silence that is beyond the reach Of
human voice.
! The neighbors for miles around came to
! the funeral. and the house was full of
grave, decOrous whispers. broken strangely
when any one spoke to the wife. She was
pale and silent; only once did she speak
! OF anything that she wanted DONE and
then she caller Mamie hesitatingly
Tell him | don't want him to speak SOS
L can hear. lit wouldn't seem proper,
somehow. 1t won't make any difference
to Ezra now. and I'-she faitered a
ma ,isyl,t
faded blue eyes-"I guess he can't say
anything about my husband that l don't
know hundred times better than him"
IN tell him, mother" said Mamie,
gently.
Her mother spoke slowly, choosing her
words. And tell him. she said that
we've lived together thirty years, and it
don't seem more than thirty weeks as [
look back. And tell him that in it all was
never angry word, never anything but
love l can't speak Of; and tell him. she
was crying a little now, but her face was
still touched with the wonderful light,
tell him that the only thing I'm sorry
for is that there wasn't more l could
90 to show my love for my husband"
II will tell him ALL said Mamie
That was strange funeral-the neigh
bors spoke Of it afterwards. The still figure
that sat dead to the words of tender heal
ing spoken by the minister seemed to lend
the element Of mystery to the scene, and
and the brilliant, sparkling world outside
flashed upon their eyes like a miracle.
They spoke of it on the way home, and
said that Ezra had been good husband
to her and no would fill his place.
"Nannie means all right" Mrs. Tarbox
said smoothing her black dress. but she
hasn't tim. to set down and make work
Of entertaining her mother"
It's So" answered Mrs. Slocum, "and
Hesterll miss entertaining Ezra, too
faint as though she wasn't afflicted.
either way. She's young and spry enough
yet but it seems most as if it's no use
Il shall sort O miss hearing them sum-
mer evenings" said her friend. 1--WE were
50 near, you know-it seemed almost like
company.
Il guess We'll all feel bad to see the
house shut up" responded Mrs. Slocum
her voice full of the solemnity Of the oc-
casion.
And Mrs. Banks. all unconscious Of the
talk, was being driven over to Nannies.
She was so quiet that her daughter did
not disturb her.
Il don't feel as if knew what to say to
her, though she is my mother" she whis-
pered to her husband.
They helped her tenderly into the house
and Mamie put her into the easiest chair.
From the next room baby voice broke in
upon them.
Mamma, can I see dran'ma? Mamie
wants to dranma!'
voice stopped her.
LET me have Mamie, please-it's so long
since l have''
Mamie stopped at the door. great Won
der in her eyes.
why mother" she exclaimed.
Her mother looked up at her with a
tremuous smile.
Yes, 1 know. l meant to tell you before.
but l couldn't, sOmeways. I've heard all
the time: l was only deaf a day two
from cold. 1 thought 1 really at first.
and then 1 kept it up, because it comforted
-him-somehow. He'd felt he old and
breaking down. you know, but when 1 did,
too he felt better and cheered right up
There was only one thing-I did want the
baby so. And it seemed as if twOuld break
my heart when she did come not to answer
her. and to have her strain her little voice
to make me hear.'
And you kept it up all these months?"
said Mamie, in hushed tone.
Her mother looked up; she was holding
little Mamie with eager. trembling hands,
and it almost seemed as if the golden baby
head reflected wonderful light upon her
tired face.
Il guess wher you've love man more
than thirty years. that isn't much to do"
she sad.-Ex