The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-04-15

selT on being woman of resource. She
sat down on chair opposite the bed and
studied the little figure perplexedly.
suddenly there was movement of the
small nose, wrinkling of the smooth
eyebrows, and the next moment the still
form was shaken by convulsive sneeze.
Mrs Whitaker sprang to her feet.
"Ihere's one thing sure" she declared.
impressively, 81 let you lie there that
way L might as we'll be q murderer and
done with iG. Wanting to die, indeed
Don't you know the Lords got work for
you in the world, and it isn't right for
| you to dep
Her voice arose in her Indignation loud
er than she knew, from the clothespress
where she was extracting her biggest and
warmest gray shawl. When she turned
again toward the bed, two great tears
were stealing from beneath Ruth's dark
lashes and making slow way down her
hollow cheeks. Mrs Whitaker groaned
and choked and sat down with the shawl
in her arms. Then what seemed like
brilliant inspiration came to her.
I've got some apple-tarts downstairs;
they're brown an crisp, and there's one
that's just about big enough for little
girl. 1 should think she'd like to have
something to eat before she dies"
The ckild's mouth moved convulsive.
y at the corners, but this time it was
not with grief.
"And I've got cooky that's round,
with sugar on the top and hole in the
middle" Mrs Whitaker smiled broadly
as Ruth sat up.
"And could I take one to mamma,
too ?'' she asked.
"Oh," answered the triumphant LADY,
''your mamma has everything she wants
in Heaven
The child smiled. "Then l guess I'll
wait till get there, too," she said, and
lay down again.
The shawl twitched In Anne Whitta.
ker's hands; she longed to gather the
forlorn little figure into her arms but she
did not feel that she could use force
toward the child; she must manage her,
she had always been so good manager.
"Do you know what day it isl" she
asked, presently. feeling her way care
fully.
Eyes, that's why died to-day" was
the answer, still with tight-shut eyes.
To-day is the day that Christ rose
| from the dead, to teach us that as he
rose, so shall we all rise," began Mrs
Whitaker, gently.
Ruth was looking at her now. "But
can't rise," she said, plaintlvely, "'cause
you keep 'sturbingsme.
"You might''-Anne Whitaker drew a
long breath, was it sacreligious ?-"you
might play you had been dead and''-
she paused.
A CLEAN of interest shone in Ruth's
face. "But this isn't Heaven" she pro-
tested.''
1.-The Kingdom Of Heaven is within
you." Mrs Whitaker quoted, with both
freedom and truth, as she approached the
bed with outspread shawl. SIT isn't
Heaven, but we might be good and make
it seem like Heaveu."s
The child put up her hand as if to ward
off the shawl;
"But God isn't here and Mamma isn't
here"
''God is everywhere" answered Mrs
Whitaker; and Ruth looked about half
startled. "But he is q spirit, and you
can't see him." She dropped the shawl
over the child now, and as she wrapped
1t about her she finished more softly
"Your mamma isn't here, but your other
mother"
'sNot my real mother2'' Ruth asked,
wistfully.
tOh no." Mrs Whitaker said, hastily
ssonly q play MOTHER
The child said no more, but let herself |
be wound up in the shawl and sat quietly |
on the edge of the bed while Mrs Whit
aker brought out pair Of her long wool.
en- stockings and drew them over the lit.
tie, unresisting feet There was still
slight disappointment in Ruth's face
when the great, gray shawl was fastened
with safety pin firmly beneath her chin.
Now be careful when you go down
stairs and keep tight hold OF the banis-
ters;;' and Mrs Whitaker came step be-
hind with firm clutch on the small,
gray-shawled shoulder.
She placed the child in the great .IocI-
Ing chair IN front OF the stove and laid /,
out all her goodies on the table; appIe-
sarts and cookies and preserves and cold
meat and bread and butter and rich, warm |