The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-11-26

hillside, where men have been al
work on long and marrow strip
of earth, and now the soil shows
dark where late the green sod grew.
The men have done their task and are
waiting. Soon long, dark line shows
against the woods below as a procession
wends ts way across broad field and up
the slope of the hill. They carry a burden
in front Of the line, and the bearers toll in
the ascent, while wierd but melodous
chant floats upon the air as they draw near
the spot where the men still wait with I'M
covered heads.
Though strong young arms carry the
burden, there are aged men there whose
dusky faces are furrowed and whose forms
are bent with aye. There are women, too,
no less venerable, with kerchiefs the in
sigma of their order, pinned in snowy folds
across their bosoms. They knew his mother
in the dear old days that they love to re-
member when they were children and
played on the hillside together,
He, whom they are carrying home, p"
had played there, too, and when far away
ne knew that his sickness was unto
death There came to him in fevered
dreams visions of the soft greensward the
starry flowers, the clear brook at the foot of
the hill, the ripe berries he used to gather
there, aud lie pinned to rest his fail
ing eyes on the dear spot once more. He
longed for the sunny land and for the little
cabin there, where on the threshold he had
sat in the twilight at his mother y knee.
"Can 90? Could get tbere?' lie asked
with eager eyes fixed on the face OF the
kind physician who had been his employer
and his friend, and who did not fail him
now,
The ongings of the homesick soul had
been filled, for the wanderer died by his
mothers cabin door with the few simple
flowers that her hand had planted bloom
ing near by Aunt Dnah nursed him
carefully, and she had a theory of her own
about the flowers.
at do SEEM" she said, 'like dey done
open sooner dis spring fer purpose sos he
could see en-. He did crave for IN so"
He died at sunset, with the soft, fading
light on the cabin door, and Aunt Dnah
believed that the last rays fingered there
that the dying eyes might behold their
glory little longer ere they should open
upon the brighter glories of the new Jtru
salem.
Now the bearers pause and set their
burden down on the cool green grass
among the flowers that he loved. The
solemn silence is broken by the careless
Whispering Of several boys and girls, and
laborers, who from an adjoining field, had
followed the procession.
"Hush, child'n.' said aunt Dinah re-
proyingly. "Br'er Danl's gwine ter side
IN pray
An aged man, whose hair was white and
whose face was furrowed, raised his trem.
bling hands, and every voice was hushed.
ave is called on, my frens, and likewise
my bred'ren, and my sisters in de I.awd,
ter form desc last off'sGs fer dis, our
'seased bI er befo us as he done pant OBJ
his sins All done fessed Lawd. We say he
done gone home, but eff der be ar y brer er
likewise airy sister in dis congregation dat
knows Br'er Tom Anderson amt gone ter
glory let him-er likewise her--apeak now
at dis prcsn time er hol his tongue after
ward an fereber mo-
''Der amt none?' Cries of 'No, MOP
"Den we ac' on de deluson dat he done
gone dar; darfo' let us pray