The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-04-11

IM a poor widow living a hard life OF never
W. ending struggle for bread and butter.
EsIx-1 was deprived BY death Of the one treas
- ure she had in all the world. her only
child For fifteen years mother and daughter
had toiled together. their only ray OF sunshine
being their loving oompanionshp. But the girl
was always delicate and at last, under the heart
broken mothers watohful eyes she faded and
wasted away with consumption. For many
months the two had been supported by the sew
inc which the mother could get TO take home,
and il was while making visit to one OF the
east side London tenement houses that a woman
well known in the musical circles OF that city
came upon the struggling pair, gave the mother
employment. and with books and flowers ana
kindly words won Che love OF the helpless
daughter. Having no kindred ones. the dying
girls grateful thoughts turned in her last mo
mcnts 10 this new friend, and she begged her
mother 10 notify the lady OF the funeral, and
ask her TO attend
II was the last OF December cold pelt-
ing rain made the day doubly dreary. In her
COW rooms with blinds closed to shut out the
storm and with the gas lighted TO cheer her
spirits. the woman OF prosperity sat down 10
enjoy the beauty OF her costly apartments, when
suddenly Parepa. the great operate idol Of Lon
don at that time burst in upon her. The two
were warm friends and were Just congratulate
ing themselves upon their prospects for de
lightful DAY together when little tear-blotted
note was handed in. asking the recipient TO go
10 the humble funeral Of the sewing woman's
daughter
This is terrible" exclaimed the hostess and
then explained to Parepa the circumstances. and
planned for her some amusement in her absence
But shall 20 with YOU said the great
hearted songstress.
So the two wound their threats with Com
fortcrs a precaution singers always take put
ON heavy cloaks and worsted gloves. ordered
closed carriage and started off in the storm 90.
ecther But the rest OF the story IS more force
IDLY told IN the narrators own words
we climbed flight after flight Of narrow
dark stairs to the top floor, where in miser
able little room. scantily furnished and not more
than dozen feet square, lived the mother and
laughter.
The canvas-back hearsc peculiar to the S25
London funeral, stood in the street below, and
the small cherry stained box. with It's ruiile Of
glazed white muslin. stood on uncovered tres
lies in the center OF the room
There was the mother. haggard. spcechless
IN her grief. beside the box, q group of hard
working. kndly-hcarted neghbors standing
about u wa, useless to say the poor woman
was prepared for the inevitable end Il was cold
comfort 90 speak 90 her of her daughter
lease from pain and suffering The bcrcit crca-
furc in her utter loneliness was thinking oi
herself and the awful blank future. OF the ap-
preaching moment when the box and It's precious
burden would be taken away and leave her in-
supporably alone So. therefore. with a sym
pathiEng grasp Of the poor. worn. bony hand
we sat silently down 20 attend the funeral
Then. the minister came ia dry. selfsui-
1cicnt man. with nothing of the tenderness of
his hol, calling about him lcer than the da,
pitile,s as The storm he ratified through
some selected sentences from the Bible and Of
tered a set form OF coincidence 90 the broken
hearted mother telling her of her sin IN re-
hcng against the decree Of providence. and
assuring her that nothing could bring back the
dead Then he huruedlN departed while hush
lcil upon ever, one gathered m the little room.
Not one word had been uttered - consolation.
o' solemn import beiitting the occasion 10 was
the cmpuc-t. hollowcst most unsatisfactory mo-
mcnt ] ever experienced
Then Parepa arose her cloak falling about
her noble figure like a mourning drapery. She
stood beside the stained cherry box. She looked
moment on the white wasted iaye upturncd
toward her from within she laid her soft white
hand upon the forehead NJ the dead girl. and
while 70 Las there tendery she lifted up that
matchless voice ~ hers in The beautiful melody.
Nnceis ever bright and fair
Take Oh take her On chs care
speed to ,our own court, her flight
Clad m robes oi virgin white
Her voice a. first lov and somewhat affected
h, the tears in her ewes rose clear and sweet
swelling into an epic of melody a. the lsst words
Of ihc song died upon her Tips. II ever the an
GELS in heaven paused to listen to ea-ifs music.
n was when Parcpa sang giori0rs.y beside
thaf poor dead girl $50 words can describe its
effect upon those gathered there. The sad moth
OF rror~ncr sank ou her knees and with clsspcd
hands and streaming ewes implored Farepa t'