Whistling In Heaven

You're surprised tliat I over should say so? Just wait tul the reason I've given Why I say I sha'n't care for the inusic, Unlees thcre is whistling in heaven ; rhen you'Il think it no very great wonder, Nor no strange, nor so bold u conceit, That unlees tbere's a boy there a-whiBUing, lts nmsic will not be cofiiplete. It was late in the antnuiB of '40 : We had come froni our far Eastem bonie Jnat in season to buikl as a oabin. Ere the co]d of tho winter should come ■ Aud wc lived all the. while in our wagon That husband was clearing the place ' Where the Iiouhb was to atand ; aud the cleariui And building it tooit many days. So that our heads were acaree sheltered Iu under its roof, when our store Of' provisión wan almost cxhaustail, And husbaod must , ion rncy for more: And Uie neateal place, where he could get thom "Was yet surh a distance away. That it foroed him f rom home to be absent At ieasta wholo night and a day.f You seo, vre'd but two or threc neighbors,i And the nearest was more than a rnile, And we hndn'c found time yetto know them, For we had been bnsy the while; And the man who hm! heipcd at the ruistnfi Tust staid till the job was woll done ; And as soon as hie moncy was paid him, Had shouldered his ax and had goue. Well, husbaud just kissed me and elarred. T oould scareeïy suppress a deep groan At the thought oí remaining with baby " So long in the house all alono ; For, rny dear, I was childish and tiuild, And braver ones miglit woll have leareil, For the wild wolf was rteu heard howling, And saviigej! sonictlmea appeared. But I emothered my grief and my terror Till hnsbaud was off on hie ride, And tlien in my arm I tnok Josoy, And all the day long ent and cried, As I thought of tlie tang dreary liram heu the darkness of night should f all, And I was so uttcrly helpless, With no one in reach of my cali Aud when the night cJim with itB terrors To hide ev'ryray of light, I hang up a quilt by the window, Aud, almOrit drad with affright, I kuecled by the side of the eradle, Scarce daring to draw a full breatb, Lest the baby should wake, and its cryinrf Should bring xts a horrible death, Thcre I knolt nntil late in the eveliing, And BCarcely an incli had t stirrod.i when BUdilonly, far in tlic dislailce, A soumi as of whistling 1 heard I stnrtea Up, diailüly frightened, For fear 'twas an Indian's cali; And i beu very soon I reinembored Tha red man nc'er whistles at all. And when I was sure 'tiíüS ú white man, I thought, he coming for ill, Hed surclv approach with more caution- Wov.ld come without warning aud stilt. Tlicii the souuds, coming nearor and nearer ïook tlie form of a tune, light and gay And I knew I needu't fear evil From one who could whistle that way. Very soon I hc-ard footsteps Opproaching, Then carne a peculiar diill thump, As if somc one v&s heavüy strikiug An ax in the top of a stunip ; And tlien, in another brief moment TMre carne a light tap on the door, Wlu -ii niiii-kly I imdia the fast'nings, And in stepped a boy, and bofore Thore was oither a questiou or answor, Or cither had time to speak, I juet tlirew my glad anus u-ound liini, And gave him a ldss on the chcek. Then I started back, Bcared ut my boldness, But ho only emiled at my frigh't. Ab he paid, " I'm your neighbor's boy, Elick, Come to tíirry with you through the night. " We anw your husband go eastward, And made up our minds where he'd gone, And I said to the rest of our people, 'That wonian is thcre all alone, And I venture she's awf ully loneeome, And though she may have no great fear, I thiuk she would fcel a bit safer If oniy a boy were but aear.' " So, táking my ax on my shnulder, For fear that a Kavagc might Btray Across my path, and need scalplng, I started rifiht down this way ; Aud coming iu iflght of the cabiu, And thinking to save you alarm, t whistled a tune, just to show you I didn't intend any harm . "And so here I am, at your service ; But if you don 't want me.to stay, Why, all you need do is to say so. And, sliould'ring my ax, I'll away." I dropped in a chair and near fainted, Just at thought of lus leaving me then, And his oye gave a knowing bright twinkle As he said, "I guess I'll remain." And then I just sat there and told him How tembly frightened I'd been, How his face was to me tho most welcome Of any I ever had seen ; And then I lay down with the baby, And slept all the blessed night through, For I feit I was safe from all danger Near so brave a yovng fellow and true. So no"W, my dear friend, do you wonder, Since such a good reason I've given, Why I say I sha'n't care for the music Unlcps there is whistüng in heaven ? Yes, oftea I've eaid so in earnest, And now what Fve said I repeat, That unless there's a boy there a-whistling, lts niusie will not be confíete.