I Shall Tum Back

ïhey were going away in tlie afternoon, Mrs. and the two children for a few weeks of chnnjre and rest. I hac just dropped nto my easy arm cliair won. lering il I had sncceeded in packing into the trun kg all I liad been tuld to. My two little girla had been intently watchiiiü the prnce3s and constantly remtndlog me tli:it this, tliat and the other pfaytblng, and espeeially the m. dolls must not be forgotten. To their intense delight tliey were assured nothing would be left beüind. The trunki were ready to strap, and j was resting aml planing for their departure, when 15übj(she was four months over three years, but was still the baby of three loving household) climhed into my lap as was ever lier ons torn when an opportunity oSerod. As sim ucstled closely in my anus and rested her weet little face njriilnrt mine, I thoughtof tlio pepuriition that was soon to lake place, the lonelmes th;i t wonld follow, and I could not repress the choklng sunsutioo within me as I said. "Aml Baby is goiug to leave Papa all alone aild so long?" Her baantlful, bright eyea looked p into mine as she replied. "I hall turn biiek papa." She was my pet, and my belief in this conrident assurance from her was the bright hope thut enabled me to endure the thoiiiflit of the f imily absence. The hour of departure arrived, we stooil in the station waiting for the train that was to carry them away from me. An indescribable feeling of uncertainty cansed auxlous tlioughu to fill my mind. I stooped down bestde liifoy and drew her close to me; she placed her arm lovingly around my neck as I gald "What will Papa do without Baby all these days'f" Again the reply carne with a gieater degree of certainty. "I shall tum back, Papa." The last good-bye is aaid, the ta#t kiss l giren. The curtain has dropped bl.wrrn us, and the vall that hule the future, tlirough which no traman 'ye can penétrate, graciousiy couceals from my guzp vvhiit is to be. The mystery of the futuri! We can speculate about it, but we cannot penetrate its deepest recesa?, we cannot kiniw it. Thuiik Ood that we cannot! What heart aches it saves us from, what pains it spares us! Days have passed, letters are written and received, assurances of health and happiness give comfort and joy to relieve the loneliness of separation. The absent onef are eugerly lookiug forward to tlie day wlieu home will opea its arms to thcm again. The last' letter has been written; "to-morrow we shall return,'' is what it contains. At last hope, that has buoyed my heart, dnring these loiijf dayg wlien I have thoiight of the sweet words, "I shall tum back, papa," will chance to a -_r I : n 1 fruition. Tha day called to morrow, carne, and wilh it Baby cam"; but oh, how ekangedl I remember with what delight the anticipited coming fi 1 d me,as I stood asain in the stiition watcliin.n the train with its preolowi freijrht roll in. I remember tbe palé lace of the mother hs slie carne toward me hearing our baby in her arm-", and the quiet manner of the eider girl at her side - a sad contrast to the joyous prattle and eager greeting so long waited for. My God! What fteling was that came over me? Did my heart turn to gtone? I knew not where I was nor what was Irauspirlng around me The only words I heard as I took the chlld in my arms, "Baby is very sick," found a response In thoughts I dared not utter, and what I could not, would not believe, - my baby Is dying! A carriage! homt! thedoctoi! All else was chao?; it was a dream, a fearful dreamshould I ever awake! Before me was the precious little forin for whose coming I had waited so loug, who but j'esterday was so well and happy in the thouglit of seeing papa today, who went from me with eyes so bright and laughiug, uow staring at me une 'Iiícídus and motalllg in hei' fitful dream, - it seemed as f I hould go mud! And now it came to me that every tiour this my precioua child was nearer me, she had left just so mucli of her sweet little llfe behind, and the nearer to her home she came the further away from us she was aolng forever. Baby had come b-ick, - no, not she, this was not the one who left me so full of love and joyous hopes. This was but a little frame buriiing with fever, an unconscious body wliose little llfe Was slowly ebbingnway. Teuderly we carried her to our home and ministered to her. With aching iiearts we watched the preclom Ufe go out. Baby had "come back to Papa" but not to stay. We laiil her in the caíket, dressed in white, the same aa when she prumiscd me, "would tum back," but now I know she could not. We placed in one hand a white rose, and in the other thfi little missives of love from Papa, aaking her to come back to hlm. We wound her ellken "uitls" around our flngers, we kiased her little hand aml beautiful llfellke face again and agaiu, and said within ourselves "Baby canuot come back." ? And so she went out from me, and came again; and 80 left us all never to return. We buried her, and with lier, our brlghtest hopes and Bweetest joys, and flowrrs that cover lier grave are seen by mortals, but they BT6 more beautiful and flagrant than Uod'a bet, for they are the sweet thoughta whlch we gallier from the ganlen of her innocent hfe, and they are rilled with the perfume of Baby's love. With these preeloni uidnories we daily strew her grave. It tboulü not be overlooked In this eimpaign to sce that all candidatos for the State letisliiture are pledged to support the two per cent. railrond measures. It is time the people began legislatiug for the people as well as the railroads. The press of the state should do thélr duty iu