Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-07-22
1...,.rn nv simple language. but she

ccrxtand my simple language. out sns
did comprehend my sorrow ana "eAri'
mass and bitter disappointment. ana
ofYer 7 had taken glass or milk she
allowed me to go right up to my own
!, ~ chamber. where everything was
sacredly familiar. How dellciously soit
ana clean the bed seemed. ana crleu
myself to sleep like Il tired, homeslcK
baby.
"Tbe first thing heard in the morn
inc WAS. not the chirping of the robins.
az in the olden time, but the loud Dawl-
ING Of that steer calf under my WIN
dow | covered my head with the bed
clothes. and was the poor. weak BABY
| oyer again. When awOke later In the
dav good DR.. Miller was sitting by my
bedside. He helped me dress. ana TOOK
me home to breakfast. where the talk
ing. as we'll as the cooking, was all
| United States. but somehow l wasn't
hungry, and longed to ask what nao
become of Martha.
| ~ soon found out. Her father was
| going to Holyoke the very next day to
hear her valedictOry. and he TOOK me
| along with him. 1t was long drive.
but we took 1t slow and easy. and
had INV fill OF fresh air. and recovered
my appetite. We were little late TO
the exhibition. and found the chapel
already crowded, but the good doctor
finally succeeded in getting seat well
up in front. and there. right before US,
was Amherst Jim, just as slim and
white as ever. He fingered his watch
chain and petted his mustache and
made his diamond glisten and devour-
ed the platform with his eyes. just a.
he used to in the old red schoOlhOuse
when Martha was going to speak her
piece. Now he was full-6edged ply
stefan, and DR.. Millers partner. We
haI a long time to wait. The essays
were lengthy and learned, and Martha
was the very last. The other graduates
wore white, but she was all In black,
with Grape collar. l looked question
ingly into her fathers face. He put
his arm around me. and whispered;
She wears mourning for your mother
and for YOU
"For my mother and for mech! the
pain of It! oh. the JOY Of 1t! and wheth'
err it was the pain or the Joy. or the
crowded room. or the way Jim looked
at Martha, l cannot tell. but somehow
everything slipped away into nothing
ness.
when l came back to consciousness
the folks were all gone, all but DR.
, Miller and his daughter. and Martha
was holding me as handy as she is hold
ing that blessed baby now, and wal
just as quiet and submissive.
II don't know much Of anything bu
l submission for long time after that
, didn't Know l was helpless in bed II
= the Miller mansion, with Jim for nigh
4 watch, mixing the medicine to suit him
: self, and always telling Martha l wa
Y slowly improving. and l could not SCI
t the nolseless hand that was stretching
Y a pontoon bridge over the last river
but when my hand was wet with tn
e cold surf. l reached 1t feebly towar'
i Martha's, and she took it firmly. jus
q as she did when l was going away t
/. the war, and she said: Bernie, oh Ben
e ME! you are too young to die: II Onl
T. you will live. my mother shall be you
> MOTHER and then she laid her war;
| cheek down on that cold hand and
It thrilled me back to life again, and tn
/. good old doctor whispered. Will
h there's life, there's hope and afte
l. that he was the night watch. an
| Martha ho do toh I,
It dropped out, and Martha's mother wa
It ing mother.
e 1"Martha's children are my children
d her grandchildren are all mine, too, an
to poor Jim never had any. l have ou
II lived him by a quarter of a centur,
and I'm good for twenty-five veal
ID more, but want you youngsters dl
ID tinctly to understand this Is my Ia!
Id war story-positively the last"
T. Two chubby arms were wouu
r. around grandpa's neck. and a repro
e. ing little kiss was dropped upon IL
Id veterans forehead. Little Matte We
Id remembered that he had said tho
lr. very words, positively the last" {
a his very last birthday. and SO her graf
"a full caress must needs he q little T
e proving. for had he not often counselt
Is her. "Tell the truth, the whole trut
nd and nothing but the TRUTH" and did u
to grandma sometimes say. "Consisten'
.e- Is a jewelY
er Possibly the tender rebuke was qui
at lost upon grandpa, but the others ,
ir appreciated 1t. and truly. a little chi
list shall lead them.-New York Ledger