The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-06-23

CHE USED TO say that she had not
y known a well day since the Christ
mas Eve our old house burned down. l
was little thing, but l remember
quite well the suddenness of the fire
bursting out against the snowy night.
Jimmy was two weeks old that day. L
can see mother now as she lay raised on
one elbow, telling father how to ar
range our stockings. She insisted that
one of Jimmy's tiny socks be hung up,
too. Father had just fastened 1t, when
a sheet of fame swept up in front of
the window. Mother had to be taken
three miles through the snowstorm, in
an open spring wagon, to my grand
mothers home, which was also the
nearest place of refuge.
There she lay(ill many weeks, and
when she became better was so near an
invalid that with one exception she had
never well day.
My childish eyes had seen her tall and
strong and beautiful; but that image
gradually faded from my mind as be-
came accustomed to pale and languid
mother, performing what seemed to
her the most essential duties with visi-
BILE effort.
She never rode on horseback, or went
Deriving or nutting with us again.
She was always glad to lie on the
lounge as long as possible. and as we
girls grew older, gladly allowed us to
attend to the housekeeping and sew
ing. At last she did not get up until
very late. and then only to lie on the
couch by the window, where she would
mend little, or read, or knit. We were
only too happy to find her so willing to
be nursed and petted. / tempted her
appetite with dainties, and Elizabeth
made her the softest and loveliest OF
dressing-gowns.
We refused to see that her brown
hair became grayer, and her eyes more
sunken. We agreed that all she had
needed was to be taken care of, and
have no worry. AS for father, when
ever he came in from the farmwork
and found mother dressed in certain
soft, pinkish, ribbon-tied wrapper, you
could see from his face that he thought
she was getting well. And one April
day, years ago, she did get well. ~
1 was in the kitchen that morning
preparing her breakfast. had broken
one new-laid egg over the pretty, gold
en- round of toast, and had the other
poised above. when the door opened.
The egg slipped from my fingers.
Mother stood smiling at me. She had
put on one of the print dresses of her
buster days, and big linen apron. She
came up and kissed me out of my be-
wilderment.
ST feel well, Narcissa!" she ex-
claimed. think of it! Well! am
going to help get breakfast. Don't
you all want some of mothers bis
cuits?'
In a moment was no more than any
other little girl of II. Mother was
there. I put the toast and egg out of
sight and waited on her. She was as
excited as child at first, but presently
quoted down to serene enjoyment of
her we'll day. / kept hugging her. 1t
seemed too wonderful to be true. We
were in a great glee together over the
surprise we would give the rest of the
family.
1 carried breakfast in, and mother
sat at the head of the table for the first
time in years. A look Of sweet salts
faction stole over her face as she
glanced down the snowy board. The
cream biscuits were faky balls, deli
-ciously brown. No one ever made bis
cults like mother. With smile, she
souched the bell. Jimmy was the first
to rush in. Mammal" he almost
screamed, and then such hugging and
kissing!
The next moment all the rest were
joining in. Father was too happy TO
eat. He took my place and sat by
mother, holding her hand as II he ex-
pected her to melt away.