Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-08-11
CHAPTER VIIl-contInued.

lima, Cynthia and Alan.
CHAPTER VIlI.-contlnued
"All you've got to say, Mr. Dobbs, is
how glad you are that my baby is
Citing well, and then give your coat
to Mary Ellen and go on to your work,
rejoicing fer me-" said Miss Selma
Lue, coming quickly to the rescue Of
the laundering condoler. How did
you all ever git the notion that things
went against Blossom last night?"
she asked.
1--WE seen the doctor-and then you
closed the front blinds-that's always
a sign-and-"an answered Mrs. Dobbs,
swallowing sob.
We'll, amt that too bad fer you
all to be so upset about a mistake!
And If here amt all the Tyneses!
Mercy, Mis- Tyne, Blossom amt dead
nor likely to be, and, please. ma'am,
take them black bombazine strips
often the children's necks. It's SO
rough it'll rub 'em raw
Now, Mrs. Tyne was a person of
one idea at a time. and her mind
was set on speech to 60 with the
bias-looking star she rendered Miss
Selma Lue, so out 1t came, regardless
Of the fact that 1t was not at all
needed.
Miss Seliny Lue," she said with
real and practised emotion, though
she have gone from our sight and we
must bury in the cold. cold ground,
yet let US look up!" At the word
cold" Mrs. Tyne. gave a realistic
SILVER, and at the word ''up" she cast
her eyes skyward, though the express
sion was in some degree married by
squint caused by the rays Of the morn
ing sun striking her full in the face
That's real comforting thought,
. Mis- Tyne, and am thankful fer the
speech and the star, too. Bonnie,
honey, run all up and down the street
and tell everybody Blossom is heap
better and they needn't git ready fer
no funeral"
Nov, you know there amt been a
death on the Bluff fer four years,
since Mr.. 81 Bradford's ma died, and
We was preparing to have as nice q
funeral as ever was fer you, Miss
seliny Lue." said Mrs. Kinney in
tone that might have been construed
as reproachful.
We'll, ! wanter say one thing; and
IT'S that am glad me and Blossom
have found out how many friends we
have while we are still alive and can
preciate them all. It never did seem
Jest right to hold back all the flowers
and tears and white robes until peo-
pie are gone where they can't enjoy
EN- none. And specially about fu-
neral sermons-lo like If the
corpses coulder heard all the praise
spoke over them they mighter got the
ambition to go on living a spell longer.
Lands alive. did you all know it's
seven o'clock, and not breakfast
dish washed on the Bluf?"
Miss Selma Lue's call to duty sent
them all hurrying In different direc-
tons.
Mrs. Dobbs was slow in. getting
started. and az she descended the
steps she said: II do declare / am
uneasy about Ethel Maud. couldn't
md her nowheres this morning. L
was Jest SO sorrowful about your trou-
Die clean forgot to worry"
oh. Mis- Dobbs, honey, when
opened the door this morning at day
oreak there was Ethel Maud scrouch-
60 down on the steps with nothing
on but her nfghtgown, and a-moaning
like something hurt. She shot past
me into the room, and when she seen
Blossom 80 much better she Jest laid
down on the floor and cried herself to
sleep plumb pitiful. Mr.. Alan lifted
her on the foot Of the bed, and I
know Il Blossom stirs she will wake
up and call me. Her little heart is
mat loving she can watch even while
she sleeps. / feel this morning more
than ever how we are ali watched
over In loving kindness that never
sleeps and He amt ever going to for
elt single one Of us. Amt 1t a
blessed thought, and pertecting and
comforting in times of trouble?"
That's true, Miss Seliny Lue," an
sWered Mrs. Dobbs thoughtfully. "And
We all oughter be mighty happy with
20 much good being done to US"
And amt we? Why, 1t Jest buffers
my bread Of life with happiness. Look
like some folks likes ter swoller they
Dread dry. but you and me want a lit
tie sprinkle Of happy-sugar atop Of
our,n How's Mr.. Dobbs a-holdihg
out - s54'
He amt cussed word since our
trip. Miss Seliny Lue. Sometimes l
sees him Jest aschawing the swears
and" " "a IN
Don't notice 1t, Mary Ellen Jest
hold to the thought that he amt ago
lng ter do It no more, and thatll
help Z
But look yonder. Miss Seliny Lue.
An that cute And Mrs. Dobbs
lurnsd Miss Selma Lue around bodily.
y vas Carrots standing IN the gro
csry door. He was growing and CUR
ghAg and wobbling, but he stood his
kroand determinedly- alone. One