West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-02-17

ing, head down. about half way IN
the steps, and Nellie. the six-year-
old, holding to- his skirts TO keep
him from falling. He bad started
To fall, and but for her would have
landed at the foot OF the steps. Az
IT Was he escaped with slight
bruise, but il gave him 90 III op-
portnnity To try his voc,l powers.
She 6atbed his bruised. forIIeaa.
and soothing him gently, he soon
grew quiet. She picked up her
paper and thoughtto read as she
rocked him to and fro. but looking
up through his tears he said "S,n'
wocky bye." Sic sang, and as his
sobs died away thinking he was
asleep, SHE paused u moment.
"Sin'," and the blue eyes opened
again. But at last he was asleep,
and meantime the other two had
taken little buckets aud gone efter
water. Presently Glady, came in
crying.
IL slipped of the board and dot.
ted my foot wet--will you pull my
shoe off ?'' f.ii. a.,. i
With a weary sigh she put her
paper away. What use is there
for mo to try to read ? can never
have minute to my self now. Ii
is do this, that aud the other, all
the time. never get TO see a new
book, let alone read one, Hand do
love to read so dearly. Oh, how
different from my girlhood DAYS
Then was free to 60 and come ms
l willed.
But they have passed. my dream Is DER;
| The olo, old scenes can come no more,
developed In times mystic haze
Must they remain. those happy days.
"And o, what happy days they
were But / have no time to she d
tears over the past now, for Fred
will soon be home, and | must try
to look little more cheerful when
he comes"
She went about her work, but
try as she would she could not
quite dispel the gloom that had
settled around her. The sad, Bit
ter thoughts would come. Fred
soon came home, and IN giving the
news of the day, SAID "You have
not heard about Evel's, have you %
mo. What about them ?"
"Their baby died hast night, and
| thought If YOU would like to. We
would go over awhile this evening.
We can take the children ms FL
as Uncle Willis, and leave them
till we come back. 1t is rot very
cold. and they will like the sleigh
ride"
I Eyes, would like to GO, and
will get supper right away"
"When they were nearly read,
to start Fred sai1, | have notion
to take them a bushel of apples
for they have hone. They said
down at the store to day that they
had nothing hardly to eat, for Eve
was sick all last summer aud could
make nothing"
"And l will get a loaf of bread
for them" She went into III,
pantry and soon came ont with a
basket in which was large loaf o.
bread, some butter and three
mince pies. The family were soor
picked IN the large old fashioned
sleigh, and when they reached
Uncle Willis, he and the boys came
out and carried the children to tn,
door, where Aunt Margaret was
waiting for them. Ere long MIR
and Mrs. Holly had reached the
house which few days before haC
echoed to the laugh and prattle o.
the little one that now lay cold in
death. When they entered, FREQ
gave the things they had brought
to neighbor, who came to admi
them.
"These will come very good" HI
said, "for they are pretty hard rur
just now. The HolIys did not stay
more than an hour, but 1t was lonl
enough to see the dimly lighted
desolate looking room, the father
sitting with bowed head by the fir,
place, the grief stricken children
clad in garments only fit for
bright summer day, the pretty lit
tie baby, on whose face still lin.
gered the sweetest Of smiles, ant
last Of all, the poor mother, who's
heart seemed breaking under tn,
great sorrow that had fallen upol
it.
ooh, my baby my sweet it'll
baby how can give you upi'
walled poor Mrs Egel, 81 did no
know how precious you we're to me
till had to let you go !"
When Fred's wife tried, througI
Der tears, to speak some word o
comfort. she said, "No, no, Their
is no comfort for me. Many
time when | was busy, would &c
worried with him. and think if
was only free again, and now / an
free from all the trouble that hi
little fingers made, but o, my God