The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-04-13
THREE IN A ROW.

She looks awful white to-day-an'
thin" said Hiram, dejectedly, at the
same time dexteriously tying knot
In broken suspender. 81 don't know
what were going to do with her.
She'll die, maybe" and the boy stop
ped with a sudden gulp.
Nettie's blue eyes grew large and
pathetic under her pink sunbonnet
She's hungry, guess" she remark
ed eagerly. Sick folks can't eat
bacon nor beans. She told me one
day'-here her voice dropped to a
whisper and she glanced half-guiltily
toward the door of the little cabin
that she wanted piece of beefsteak
dreadful. Said she dreamt about it.
But she wouldn't ask pa to get her
any. 'Twould only make him feel
bad, cause he couldn't, she said. He
can't hardly get us enough to eat any
way, and beefsteak costs lot. But
seems as if mother'd ought to have
It,"
Little Tony said nothing, only wrig-
gled his droll little body about on the
fiat stone seat, and dug his toes into
the gray dust. He was only six, and
small of his age.
The three children were sitting
near a small hut or cabin which chung
to the side of one of the great noun
tains looking down upon the mining
town of Silver Plume. Half mile
from them on one side was the mine,
where their father toiled from morn
ing till night, and grew discouraged
and hard in the struggle of life. In
the other direction lay the town and
church Sunday school, which had
been the happiest factor thus far in
the lives of these forlorn little ones.
Abovl@ and around them were the
rocky towering mountains, among
which they had been brought up, and
which they loved, though, perhaps,
without knowing it. Beyond these
boundaries their knowledge of life
was very small, hardly extending even
into the wonderful Clear Creek Can
yon, which lay below them.
"Hiram!" called a tremulous voice
from somewhere within the cabin
"Childreni"
The three rose simultaneously, and
looked at each other.
"She wants u.s." said the older
brother, briefly. Come on"
They filed in with a kind of reluc-
tant eagerness, passing through the
single living-room to tiny bedroom,
the only one in the house. At the
door they halted, peeping bashfully
in. A thin, pale face turned toward
them on the pillow. 1t was lighted
by bright dark eyes, and the hair
streaming over the pillow was black
and gray. Only the boys were like
their mother. Nettie had her ia
TIERS eyes, big and blue.
The sick woman looked at the chill
dren YEARLY halfdesperately.
20, sing children" she said; "out in
the other room-some of the Sunday
songs"
The children moved back a little
out of the doorway, whispered min
ute, and then began on some gospel
hymns. They had good natural voices
-Nettie high, clear soprano, Hiram
a rich alto, and even little Tony's was
true and sweet.
"Once increasing that once more"
she called, family, and they sang
again:
There'll be no dark valley
When Jesus comes,
while the tears rolled down over the
white face to the thick hair on the
pillow.
We'll, good-by, mother" said Hiram,
cheerfully, putting his head in at the
bedroom door again. IT'S most train
time. Well try to get some pennies,
and we won't stay long. Don't you
be lonesome till we get back. Per-
haps," hesitatingly, you can go to
Sleep"
Oustside the trio halted, holding
their wooden cigar boxes filled with
minerals, specimens" they called
them, doubtfully in their hands.
"'Tain't a bit of use," said Hiram,
mournfully; there's too many sellin'
and folks have got enough of 'em
anyway. But just to satisfy mother
Say, Ill.," broke in Nettie, speaking
slowly, as if in surprise at her own
thought, you don't suppose we could
sing for the train folks? She likes
to hear us"
The boy turned sharply about and
6LdTSQ DIT ulo olottI Will q hlAu VI
startled admiration.
you're the GREATEST" he exclaimed.
How'd you think of it? They have
to sit in that car and wait two hours,
some of 'em. Can't get out and walk,
it makes 'em puff so. Well try it this
very morning, just as we do for
mother, you know We'd better stand
in a row"-musingly-"Net in the
middle, and we'll sing about three
songs. Tony, will you sing up good
and loud to the car folks? Maybe
they'll give you a penny"
Tony looked contrary for minute,
then nodded obligingly, to the great
relief of the inexperienced concert
manager, and the three started brisk
" down toward the railway station.
I'm through Clear Creek Canyon
--buffed the Gulf" train, with two OBJ
servation cars full Of passengers.
There was a mixed company, COM
posed mostly of sight-seers for the
day, who would return with the train
after a two-hours' halt in Silver
Plume. There was gentleman from
Boston, and two lively girls from
Texas, and number of young couples,
evidently belonging to Colorado, who
were out for little excursion. But
different from the others, and most
noticeable of them all, were two, a
gent eman and lady, who sat near
each other and looked alike-he pale
and sick. and she pale and sad. They