Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-05-25
Gretel's Letter and
Its Unlocked For
Consequences . D

day. Enadige Frau smiled the
little lady's maid as she held out 10
her mistress a tray piled high with
New Years greetings.
Six weeks before the Grain Won
Wartenburs had brought 10 the city
the daughter OF one OF her farmers in
| order to train her. as maid but
Gretel was not yet very proficient
How many times must tell you.
child. when you hand me anything.
10 do IL quietly and not talk said
her mistress as she glanced hastily
over the letters. -wcit a moment:
here is one for you. Now you can
tell me how your parents are"
II was a very wonderful letter and
smeiled like n whole peTfumery shop.
Within a brilliant garland Of exceed
ingly red roses with equally vivid
green leaves. among which sported
tender white doves. was the address.
a masterpiece Of elegant peumanship.
For Frau-sin
tiretsi Sefrttt
aides m1itt0 TIE gracious Cram Won War
'eaburg and residing ~ LirdenStrasse
Berlin.
fsruary-
For lack of room the middle line
disappeared over onto the back OF the
envelope. but the general effect was
very impressive. and Justified the eaS-
erness with which Gretel seized her
treasure and carried IL Of to enjoy at
her leisure. her plrmp. rosy face
shining with smiles
But presently. the smiles gone and
her blue eyes shining with tears.
Gretel reappeared at the door Of the
morning room
-Oh. OH Mein HimmeI. what a ter
rible affection. gracious LADY,
What has happened. Gretels~ asked
the grain. looking up kindly
My mother. my dearly beloved
mother. Is dead sobbed the little
Iady's maid
~Ach. can il be possible, I received
letter from your father a week ago.
ana he said that all we're we'll
But she is dead: my poor. dear
mother is dead. II the gracious lady
will only read Oh. oh. shall never
see her again."
The Grain. much concerned. took
the letter.
The fatal epistle left no room to
doubt the sad event. although. strange
ly enough. il gave no details. GreteI's
brother had been SD ill-iudged as 10
choose. on which to write the IN
happy news. a sheet Of paper as bright
and gauty as the envelope. and his
| fiiial sorrow was divulged at length
between he'd and white roses. turtle
doves and linked hearts
My Dear Sister: My letter is about
to I'll with sorrow your tender heart
Pitiless death has Just torn from US
her who. after giving US our being.
held II a sacred duty to watch and
guard Us and furnish Us. not only with
sustenance for the material body, but
also for the imperishabIe soul.
~Oh. cruel Death, why did thy cold
scythe touch in fury the heart % our
beloved. venerafed mother Could not
the respec- and love with which we
surrounded her have been safeguard
against that blow;
But our tears are OF no avail. and
<fon OF the blessed where she will
receive the reward Of her many viz
tues. She drew her last breath a,
midnight. and her parting words were
a blessing upon her children
BE brave in this hour Of trial. The
burial viii take place day after to-
morrow. and we hope thar nothing
will prevent you from mingIing your
tears with ours
In the deepest sorrow. your brother
for life.
MAX scHMITr
Poor Dame Schmitt," thought the
Grain She deserves n different fu-
neral Grafton than this I did not
suppose that our schoolmaster was 50
idiotic as to dictate such rigauaroIe
to his pupils"
Well. GreteI. am very sorry for
what has happened she said aloud.
-and now we must see about getting
you started as soon as possible
Accordingly. it was not long before
the little lady's maid. swathed from
head to foot in a long black veil. took
her seat in the railway carriage. where
her grief was somewhat assuaged by
the deep respect paid By her fellow
travellers to her elegant mourning
Early in the morning she left the
train for the stage coach Two peasant
women with their big market baskets
already filed nearly the whole place
Can be mistaken. said one. Are
ysa net GreteI Schmitt7-
Yes. indeed. il IS |. Frau Lopie-"
But what are you doing here I
thought you had gone to the city"
Have you not heard9 Ny poor dear
mother is dead"
~Ach HinmeI, Is that true, saw
her at the fair on Thursday. we talked
together. and she was perfectly well
49,