The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-07-20


yourself And Tom Wren says you
were crying when you thought / was
dead
They all did the same, the good
fellows! We didn't want to lose you
little one. My mates have been trying
TO make me out better than | am"
They are fond of YOU" said the
child, and SO am /. Win you let me
kiss you?"
/ Surely, my child"
She kissed ME, and the CONVERSE
ton was continued with her ans
round my neck.
You must kiss me-" she said.
had done SO already, you may be
sure, and | kissed her again.
Il was afraid" she said, casting
down her eyes, that you mightn't
like to-"
How did such a thought get into
your head. little one?" | asked, tend
erly
'On that dark night on the ship,
when you spoke to poor little Bob and
me"
A sob broke from me.
Il don't want to hurt you" she said,
in the sweetest tone of child-like COM
passion; Il want you to love me- and
I'll do all | CANAL | can. You re-
member that dreadful dark night
when you spoke to dear little Bob and
me?"
TOO WELL" | groaned; too Welt"
You cared only to kiss dear Bob
then, and | thought you mientn't like
to kiss me now"
Bob was my little boy, Pearl-my
child, that l had been hunting for all
over the world. You are not old
enough to understand the story, my
dear; and if you were, l haven't the
heart to tell YOU"
II understand a great DEAL" she
said, gravely. There, now, you are
crying! So have l cried. for poor
mother. Oh, she was so good-so
good! knew that poor little Bob was
your little boy-the men told me so.
Come with me"
Sc Embossed her arms from my neck,
Il
not yet had time to visit my child's
grave, and Pearl led me now toward il.
Had | visited it alone, l should have
thought that an angel had come down
from heaven in the night, and had
worked wonders to rejoice and con-
sole me. An angel, indeed, had smiled
upon it. 1t was a bed of flowers: a
rude fence formed of understanding
wood, with flowers entwined about it.
| knelt by the grave and shed tears of
joy
Can you guess who did it," asked
Pearl.
''Yes, my child; it was you. God
bless you."
NO, not me alone. Tom Wren
found the wood-doesnt it smell
sweet?-and built the fence, and put
the flowers there. He cut the cross,
too"
/ saw Tom Wren in the distance,
and l went toward him and wrung
his hand
Thank you, Tom," said, from my
heart"
He nodded, and replied, q did it for
her. She's not human, like us. She's
an angel"
Tom Wren's eyes were wonderfully
bright, and he spoke almost in a whis-
per. l thought his manner was some
what strange, but / saw that Pearl was
waiting for me to rejoin her, and |
left him.
I'VE will keep it always like this"
said Pearl. Bob. likes it, am sure,
and is glad, though we can't see him.
When we die, we don't die quite
mother told me so, often. We come
together by-and-by, don't WEI"
so we are taught to believe, dear
child
and you do believe it? I do"
Il do believe it, dear child"
"And so does Tom Wren now. He
never did SO before, he says. Then
| shall see my own dear mother again,
and | shall tell her how good you have
been to me-though she knows; and
dear little Bob, too; and We shall all
talk of that dreadful dark night when
L was thrown into the Sed-Dut 1t
won't be dark up there, among the
stars When mother was alive / used
to dream | heard the angels singing,
and If | woke up | was sure to see
mother leaning over the bed and sing
ing softly. That is what used to bring
the angels into my hes. Don't cry.
l want to beg something very, very
particular of you"
Say on, my dear. There's nothing
l can refuse you"
THAT is good of YOU" she said, with
little pauses between each sentence.
you won't be angry, | hope. Bob
is dead"
''Ay, my child"
And it may be long, long time
hafnra Won 600 hin, gain