The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-30
FOR THE


| that was her one thought Then her
| half -bewiidered mind went back TO the
! preceding evening, and she remembered
/ the merry prattle Of her little ones
! Mother, shall wear my new suit
with the bright buttons. tomorrow
! shan't 70"
| And
Mother. you'll curl my hair an over
| my head, and put on my pink sash
! when I go to Sunday-sc -school-Won'
/ you?"
| But they would never laugh and pratt
! tie, never tease and trouble her again
| Why had they been taken from herr
\ Did she deserve such sharp and sud
| den trial? She had tried to serve God
| from her youth up, and love her neigh
/ Dor as herself She was endeavortng
/ to bring up her children in the way
! they should gO-why. then. had she
| been dealt with so harshlyf was
there any God at albany Providencs
| any guiding Hand of LOve2 Or was
! the universe ruled by blind. fortui-
/ tous chance?
| Meanwhile, The Sabbath light deep
| ened and broadened: and the sweet
| sound of tolling bells came floating
= from the village. The dragging OF the
= pond went on, but the children could
2 not be found.
Z Il can't understand it." said the old
est man of the party. They cant Be-
Fin there; if they were, We shoule hsh
: EN- up, certain
Z A swift tumultuous hope shot through
1Deborah's heart After all, it might
Anot be so. Obeying a resistfesz but
&seemingly foolish impulse, she rose 70
fher feet and called, first on one name
*and then on the other Clear and sweet
through the thin, morning air. -er voice
arose, penetrating the remOtest corner
! of the WOOd-lOt; and, after a momenrs 3
fsilence, a faint, childish shout came
2 fquivering back in answer. The father
Csprang to his feet with a cry OF joy
1and the men rushed to and fro in happy
confusion. But Deborah kept on CALI
king, and following the little voice that
replied with flying feet Over fallen
? trees, and through tangled copsess
| through reeking pools. cutting her feet
and tearing her clothing, until she caus
at last to a huge tree, whose trunk was
! hollow; and there shaking himself ike
a young water-dog, and not more than
half aroused. stood Mark, just emerged
from the capacious cavern. while. On
the wet leaves within, Ruthie still lay
her golden curls hanging in disorder
over her rosy cheeks. and her dimpled
hands clasping her pinafore, which was
crammed with the flowers and bits OF
moss she had gathered the preceding
evening.
"Ohl Mark, Markl" sobbed the poor
mother, catching him to her bosom. I
thought you were drowned OH thank
God! have found you once more1'
Mark looked Up at his father. and
then at the soaring sun, and began 70
comprehend the scene around him
"Oh, yes!" he said. we've stayed al
night! meant to come home. father.
but while we was at the pond. and
was making boat fer Ruth1e out O
my cap, the storm came on. and We
run, and run, and left the basket. and
my cap, too. But we couldn't find the
way home; and Ruthie cried 50. I put
her in there. But, my buttonsi didn't
it hail, father? Ruthie was scared
but wasn't"
Nathan took the little fellow By the
hand in silence, while one Of the men
lifted Ruthie, still sleeping, from her
leafy bed; and with glad hearts they
turned their faces hOmeWard- De-
borah followed after, with a sharp re-
gret at her heart for having doubted
Gods mercy, looking up at her living
children, and at the smiling, Sabbath
sky with grateful. streaming eyes
At home she began to hustle about.
making things comfortable. while Ma
than received the rejoicing neighbors
who crowded in to speak their JOY at
the recovery of the children