River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-05-23

like his.
The old man turned abruptly and
went away. "Phebe Ann is sinking .
be said, indistinctly, as he went.
Lucy's mother and her aunt
rushed to the door to meet her. is
Phebe Ann dead?" Sarah Cook called
out.
No, she amt dead"
What did he want to see you for?"
asked Mrs. Kemp.
Lucy hesitated a shamefaced look
came over her face. What did he
want?" her mother asked, impera-
lively.
He wanted to know who put some
flowers on-Sylvester's grave"
Did you?"
"Yes'm."
What did you put on?"
Some Hlacs and-roses."
You didn't pick those roses?"
"Oh, mother, the lilacs didn't seem
quite enough! Aunt Phebe Ann has
always done so mpcht' Lucy said.
She was almost crying.
Her mother and her aunt looked at
each other. II shouldn't Have thought
you'd have picked those roses with
out saying anything about it," said
her mother, but her voice was embar-
raised rather than harsh. She went
back to the kitchen and proceeded
with her work of making biscuits
for supper. The sewing was all fin
ished. Lucy set the table. After
supper they went out in the Gene
terry, and strolled about looking at
the flowers, in the soft, low light.
Who brought all that mess of but
tercups and grass, | wonder?" said
Sarah Cook, as they stood over Syl-
vester's grave.
Il guess it must have been Phebe
AIMS husband-it looks like a man."
Mrs. Kemp replied Lucy got down
on her knees and Strengthened the
buttercups into bouquet.
II wonder if she'll live the night
out" said Sarah Cook, soberly.
I've listened to hear the bell toll
every morning this week." said Mrs.
Kemp. II don't believe she can live
much longer. I'd go up there to-
night, if 1 thought she wanted me
to-"
The next morning Mrs. Kemp, lis
tening with her head thrust out of
the window in the early sunlight,
heard indeed the bell tolling for
Phebe Ann. "She's gone" she told
Sarah Cook and Lucy; and Lucy
cried.
They all went to Phebe AIMS fu-
neral and followed her to the grave.
Mrs. Kemp's and Sarah Cooks eyes
were red when they came home.
There were a great many good
things about Phebe Ann, after ALL"
Mrs. Kemp said.
II always said there was" Sarah
returned, defantly.
The morning after the funeral John
Kemp came to the door. Lucy an
swered his knock. He looked old
and detected but he tried to smile.
i want to see you a minute" said
he. mo, / can't come in-not this
morning. I'm coming before long. l
hope things will be different from
what they have been. 1T was her
wish. | went home that day and told
Phebe Ann how you'd put the flow
ers there. and she beckoned to me
to come and lean over her. Then she
made out to tell me. She wanted YOU
to have Sylvester's money that we
put in the bank for him when he was
born. It's been growing. We
haven't spent any, excepting for flow
ers, and it's near $500. She wanted
me to give it to you right away, and
you're going to have it just as soon
as | can get it out of the bank. Phebe
Ann said you could have some more
schooling, and not have to work so
hard. And l guess you'll have more
than that, too, some day, if you
outlive me. Phebe Ann, she thought
mebbe I could make some arrange
ments with your mother and aunt to
come to our house and live, and take
care of it. She said she didn't want
any other women in there. She
knew they were good housekeepers,
and would keep things the way she
did. You tell your mother Tn COM
ing in to see her some time before
long"
John Kemp went fecbly down the
walk, and Lucy returned to the kitch-
en-. The door had been ajar, and her
mother and Sarah Cook had heard
every word. They were both crying.
Coming Just now when we didn't
know which way to turn!" sobbed
Sarah Cook. poor Phebe Ami"
'NveT. there's one thing about it,"
said Mrs. Kemp, brokenly, there
sha'n't one Decoration day go by as
long as l live, without Sylvester's
grave being trimmed as handsome as
if his mother was alive,"-Mary f.
wilkins, in Youths Companion.
Reminder of New Life.