UNKNOWN

Manawatu Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 147, 2 December 1884, Page 4

UNKNOWN

Why did r.lii.s wonrin live ? Had' lite one charm vu.r Ikt r J.Vrha])!^ she asked herself these questions as she sat with her lace m Ijer hands, and looked, out upon tlie cold, cheerless day. There were no tears m her great Mack eyes — only such a look of woe and despair that .the : : world should hav'eitecn there to see , it and lmve it painted on their hearts. , "Mother!" ' . ' A 1 little ' wasted' form on the wretched bed — a bony hand jon. the ■ tagged quilt-— a voice which'told of hungcraud pain and wearing waiting. She bent over 'him, and for a jnomeutra; mother's love shone in 'her eyes, and her. wrinkled hand rested on his pale face with such tenderness as only a mother has. | , "Life me up 'and, let.nie see|the supshine,' I he whispered, trying to put his :'arnii>' around her neck. - : "There is no sunshind," she wlusU - ( ppretl m reply, a sob ,iiji ,h,er thrjoat: " : u K\si me, mother, l aiiA call |me When the sunlight comes, again," he said. , . ,' ' , !",'* • ; She tnew that he had \ieen dying for a week — sinking slowly surely, into eternity,, but, she ha 4 no' friends tp. call : 'in-rsjie .could only weepjOvev.iiim and pray God that she might follow. . Wi'tli.a gasp and a sob s'lie pressed her r li^stp his jforehead,' and .'then turned 'a\i(ay to ''struggle with her despair and great sorrow.' • ' . . _' " "•' '\ '^ i The cloudy, cheerless 'day TadecT into daskj , She. rousefl herself for a moment and peered ''through! tlie' gloom to' see if her boy still sje.pt _ rsmchthen she- j her ■ thoughts again,. And such thoughts ! When* the "darftness covered' the bare floor, as- witn'; - ( a mantle,, and when she could np. /longer scei her , own poverty, the ; boy suddenly called out : ■ '. ■:■ , v? IVloiher .' ; Mother.; !S The^ suniigl»thas; (:ome : !"' ; • •'• : " Not y.ct, dear Ned — not j^et ;It| is nights n^w."/ \ 7 '■{']]> ' " But X see. the sun — it lights aRi the room-^-it'lilazes into my face ?" he called. - ■ :; ' ; ' i , " Thei;9 is np. sun~itJs, cold-and-•dark I' 1 she sobbed.' ''■' 1 | I cc And it grows' brighter ati 4 I : s\ieh'" ; %wedt^-' music .'arid If I see, -Tommy !"he whispered,, ; while , through /the darkness she s.awj his white face growing radiant. 1 "'"'" \ ' :'. ■ : '"Ydu aVo dreaming!" she sdbjbedi i/V" M i Jt;'i%iS'v«:.; .bright"; sun,l> ,f The'' music is so. sweet !T* he: .whispered, clasping her band. t v . ■ • '" "It is clark—- it •• is ; ihight'F ! she fgaspedv-bui he. did not hear;; : : The suuljgnt,.had truly, cp.me,i but it was the sunlight— the golden rays! reflected from the gates' tif- l^eaven — and, not" "the sunlight of earth;! Thd mysterious curtain hiding! the "V/illey "of death -had ( lifted fbil his/ ' spirit 'to : pass under,; and woe had 1 been left behind: '■ r-Aiid, • 6f; slier ?j .;■" Asfc the shadows of night— ask the river., When they found his litte dead bd&y. sb.e; was not there; They cfanhot ;find, 'her/- If -she is --dead God did not judges, her harshly .-rrr-Petroib *Free PrCSS. :.■■..-.. -„.;. :,t>.