Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-07-07

one thing dear TO her-her only child.
Mother and daughter had toilcd to-
gether for fifteen years, and the only
bit OF sunshine falling into their dark
lives was that shed by their loving
companionship. But the girl had al
ways been weakly. Under the heart
broken mothers eyes she faded and
wasted away with consumption, and at
last the day came when the wan face
failed TO answer with a smile the
anxious, tear-blinded eyes OF the
mother. The poor young creature
was dead.
For many months the pair had been
supported by the elderly womans sew
ing, and IL was i'm the character OF en-
ployer | had become acquainted with
Mrs. G. and her story. by an occa-
sional visit to the awful heights of an
East Side tenement, where they lived,
by few books and some comforting
words | had won the love of the dying
girl. Her grateful thoughts turned in
her last hours to the small number of
friends she possessed, and she be-
sought her mother to notify me of the
day of the funeral and ask me to at
tend.
That summons reached me upon one
of the widest days preceding Christ
mas a sleet that was not rain. and IA
rain that was not snow, came pelting
from all parts OF the compass. | piled
the glowing CRATES; drew closer the
curtains and shut out the gloom of the
December afternoons; / turned on the
gas and sat down, devoutly thankful
that | had cut all connection with the
wicked weather. when an instalment
OF it burst in upon me in the shape of
Parepa Rosa. She was Euphrosyne
Parepa of that time, and the operate
idol of the city.
And even as we congratulated our
selves on the prospect of a delightful
day together, here came the summons
for me to 90 to the humble funeral of
the poor sewing-woman' daughter. |
turned the little tear-b lotted note over
and groaned.
This is terrible, said /. Its just
the one errand that could take me out
TO-DAY, but must 60
And then | told Parepa the circum-
stances, and specuated on the length
of time | should be gone, and suggest
ed means of amusement in my absence.
But / shall 90 ,cith you," said the
great-hearted creature.
SO she re-wound her throat with the
long white comforter, pulled on her
worsted gloves, and off in the storm we
went together. We climbed flight
after Sight of narrow, dark stairs to
the top floor, where the widow dwelt
in miserable little room not more
than "A dozen feet square. The canvas
back hearse, peculiar to the twenty
five dollar funeral, stood in the street
below, and the awful cherry-stained
box, with its ruffle of glazed white
muslin, stood on uncovered trestles in
the centre of the room above.
There was the mother, speechless in
her grief, beside that box, group Of
hard working, kindly hearted neigh
bors sitting about. 1t was useless TO
say the poor woman was prepared for
the inevitable end; it was cold comfort
TO speak TO her of the daughters re-
lease from pain and suffering. The
bereft creature, IN her utter lonliness,
was thinking of herself ana the awful
future, Of the approaching moment
when that box and It's precious burden
would be taken away and leave her
wholly alone. So, therefore, with a
sympathizing grasp OF the poor, worn,
bony hand, we sat silently down to
ATTEND the funeral"
Then the minister came ina dry
man, with nothing of the tenderness of
his holy calling. Iceier than the day,
colder than the storm, he ratified
through some selected sentences from
the Bible, and offered set form of
coincidence TO the broken-hearted
mother. Then he hurriedly departed,
while hush fell on everybody gath
cred in the little room. Not one word
had been uttered of consolation, Of
solemn import, or beftting the occa-
sion 1t was the emptiest, hollowest,
most unsatisfactory moment ever re-
member. Then Parepa arose, her
cloak falling about her noble figure
like mourning drapery. She stood be-
side that miserable cherry-stained box.
She looked a moment on the wasted,
ashy face, upturned toward her from
within it. She laid her soft, white
hand on the forehead of the dead girl,
aud lifted up her matchless voice in
the beautiful melody
Angels ever bright and fair,
Take, oh take her TO thy care"
The noble voice swelled toward
heaven, and il ever the choirs of para
disc paused TO listen TO earth's music.
1T was when Parepa sang so gloriously
I Ia. Hal - IL