Year: 1874

! "Well, boys, it is all right here, and M


suspicion and no need of any ceremony
! let US take him home"


| And then Joe took Willie in mis- arm:


and held him closely with the little face
| against his own, as if he were still living


and started for the cottage. Some of the
people followed in picturesque process
sion, through the pasture lot and dowr
the bank and along by the shore of the
pond. When Walters house was reached
| few of the women went in to soothe
Mary; and Joe and the doctor went
in also, and the people clustered about
the door.


In the course of an hour it seemed that
all had been done that could be done fol


Walter and Mary, and the people, except
few who remained as watchers and help
ers, dispersed to their homes.


The three days that followed were
bright, sunny days. A strange stiffness
and unusual hush reigned in the neigh
borhood of the cottage. The harsh
grating sound of the saw-mill was not
heard as at other times, for the mill was
stopped in token of respect for the great
sorrow. Only the softly-fiowing stream
was heard, mingling it's susu1rus with the
hum of the bees in the garden


Now and then groups of children
dressed in their Sunday attire, would
come down the bank, and with hushed
voices and fearful looks steal up toward
the cottage door, Then kind Joe would
see them and would come out and take
them in to see Willie; and after few
moments they would issue forth again
and walk sadly homeward, and as they
went the sunlight dried their tears.


And farmers and hunters came from
many miles away =" to see the little boy
that was killed by sheep" Some OF
the rough men manifested their sympa-
thy by exhibiting vindictive feelings
toward the ram. After going in and
viewing the bruised corpse they would
come out with dark, determined looks
and grasping again the long rifles which
they had brought with them and "stood
up" by the door they would inquire of
any bystander, with fierce emphasis,
whether the ram that "did that" was
dead On being informed of his execu-
ton, they would say "That will do,
with an air that implied how much they
would have enjoyed it to have had a
shot at him. Indeed, it appeared that il
the poor brute had been possessed OF
fifty or a hundred lives, so that each irate
hunter might have taken one, it would
have been great relief and satisfac-
ton.


On the fourth day Willie was buried
Mary continued inconsolable. All of the
social influences which the neighborhood
could command were put in operation
from the time of the funeral onward, il
order to cheer her and bind up hel
wounded spirit. Social meetings were
held and pleasant little gatherings made
for her. Wherever there was enjoyment
Mary must be. She gratefully submit
ted herself to all their kindness and
tried to please her friends. But it seemed
to do her little good. She remained pale
weak and dispirited.


After few months Walter and Mary
discovered that somehow they were not
suited with their farm. They sold the
place at the first opportunity and re
turned to their former home in New
England, the remains of little Willie hav
ing been forwarded in advance to a Gem
etery there with which they in theil
early days had been familiar. .--Atlantic
M07othly.