El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-13
The Dying WOman's Dream
Back to the Green Trees and the
Running Water, From the Arid
West; Then the Long Sleep.
Nv Vfuffred BLACK

THEY took her off the train in
Kansas City the other day, the
woman who was going home to
die
She had been out west to get we'll
nlSn- dry air they told her would cure
her-and so she left every one she
tOFeds ana every thing she knew. and
lived alone for a year. But il was no
; use and so she started home to die.
Alas 1t was too late-she had waited
too long. When the train was nearing
Kansas city the woman reused her
self from her stupOr and looked out Of
I the window Trees" she whispered.
/ trees, and I smell water somewhere.
running water. Home, I'm getting home
at last"
And so she was, poor thing, for be-
fore the porter could call for help she
was gone.
Those of US who saw her carried
1 through the gazing thrOng in the
crowded station wondered where her
was so beautiful really, as it seemed
to her
Water. she scented. running water.
1t was near little stream, the home
she loved SO well, I'll warrant. A
little laughing gOssiping friendly
stream with water cress along its shall
lows and tiny darting trout hiding in
its GOODNESS.
Did she go wading'' when the first
SOFT days of spring called to her to
come and be part of the things out
IN the lacy shade Of the green and
waving willows?
Did she ever run away a whole day
to follow and find out, the little va
grant girl with her petticOats all
askew and her stockings hanging down
and her hair all unbranded, till the very
birds stared to see herr And did she
mold supple willow wand in her slen-
Ger hand and sing to herself as she
went away across the far, far green
nils around the bend, past the place
OF the old cross dog and beyond the
mouse with the red barn2 What was il
called TO her from the barn yard2
Something shriin and reproving. Little
brother said it was a Guinea hen and
he started to mock the cry. Pot rack
pot rack" till she put her hand over
out of hearing.
And did they find bear tracks along
the SOFT green OF the path beside the
laughing stream, or maybe they were
tiger tracks-you never could tell.
Spring sunshine and the spring wind
ana the green grass, and in shady
place whole flock of spring beauties
striped white and pink and fairly afIut-
ter with the song of spring, and in the
grass little yellow stars and white ones
fallen from the skies you told little
brother-and he tried so hard to be-
ieye you, didn't he Little girI2
No wonder you loved the little
stream, the running water. no won
der YOU dreamed of it out there in the
SplendOr Of the burning sand where
You went TOO late to be helped Of the
--e-N-Ag pO4St4A ALLcL 6dDDeQ your
strength
I am sorry. Little Girl. I'm sorry Won
didn't get home in time 10 hear the
song OF the little stream again hone
they bore your wasted body back home
and laid 1t somewhere near that run
ming water
For those of US who love the water
are never really content away from it
1t be a mighty river rolling
grandly to the great ocean. or whether
1t be the blue lake opal and pearl at
sunset, and rose and crimson in the
early dawn, or whether It be the great
gray sea itself calling, calling. call
ing to the children who love her to
come Jhome, come home, and be rocked
to sleep.
Trees and running waterl How long
how long they live in the memory. The
dying woman saw those trees there in
the squalOr and the crowd Of the de-
pot and when the indians going to
the cowboys going to Texas.
and the women going to Florida, and
the men hurrying to catch the 1885 to
chicago hurried past her stretcher she
listened and heard only the rush Of
water welcoming her home
n last
Sleep soft, little woman. by your run
ming stream. sleep soft It is a long
long time till spring and waking time.