FROM FATHER'S WELL

Southland Times, Issue 9693, 6 December 1887, Page 4

FROM FATHER'S WELL

By Mns, M. L. Rayne. • ls there no hope ?' ' There is noue 1 ' The doctor laid down the heavy hand whose rapid, flickering pulse he waß counting, and turned toward the weeping family of tho sick man. ' He may last until morning, but more likely he will pass away at the turn of the night.' ' He does not know me,' sobbed the wife. ' He is not conscious,' answered the doctor, gravely. His mind wanders.' 1 Will he suffer much ? ' 'No;he is very happy. Heis talking in his sleep. Do not disturb him,' said the doctor as_he left the patient, whose life he was powerless to save. The dying man, who was so poor at this moment that he could not purchase one hour of time, was rich in the worldly possessions he was about to leave forever. He had houses and lands, and bank stock. He had r.cb viands to tempt his failing appetite. It waa his pleasure to drink of many different wines at his grand dinners. Yet his restless spirit craved one luxury — a simple homely thing that all his wealth could not buy. Listen I He is speaking and they bend eagerly to hear. He is asking for a drink. His wife presses a goblet to his lips filled with a sweet and cooling draught. He refuses it. Then his loving child pours out a glass of his favourite wine and tenderly begs him to take it. ' No ! no! not that !' He speaks wildly, and they bend low arjd try to distinguish his broken and faltering word?. ' Bring — me — the — gourd ! ' ' What does he mean ?' asks his wife in despair. • Xt — is— hanging—just— inside — the — curb,' ' P:ipa, dear, what is it ? ' asks his sweet-faced child. < j —want — a — drink — of — fresh — Water — from — father's — well.'

That was all. He closed his weary eyes to open them in his heavenly home where, when life's little dream is over, we 'shall all one day sake our thirst from our Father's well.