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Not One To Spare

Not One To Spare image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
June
Year
1882
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Which shall it be? Which shall it be?" I look'd at Joba- John look'd at me (Dear patiënt John, wbo loves me yet As well as thougb my locks were 1et) ; And when I found tbat I must speak, My volee seem'd stranirely low and weak; 'ÍTell me again what Roiwrtsaid." And then I, listening, bent my head. Tbis is bis letter: 'I will give A housa and land while yon shall live, If in ïeturn, from outyourseven One cbild to me f or aye is given.' " 1 look'd at John's old garments woni, I thouitlit of all that Jobn had bome Of poverty and work and care, Wuich I, though williug, could not share; I tboughtof seven mouths to f eed, Of seven little children's Heeds, And tben of this. "Come, John," said I, 'We'll choose amons them as they be Aslep;" so, walking hand in band, Dear John and I survey'd our band. First to thecrartle lightly stepp'd, Wüere Lilian, the biby, slept, A giory 'gains'. the piüow white. Sf ily the father Btoop'd to lay Hls rouirU haad dowu in a geutle way, When dream or whisper made her stir, And huskily he said, "Not her, not her!" We stopp'd beside tbe truudle-bed, And one long ray of lamplight shed Across the boyish faces tbere, Ia sleep so pitiful and fair: I saw on Jamie's rough, rod cheek, A tear undned. Ere John could speatr, "Hs'h but a baby, too," said I, Aad kiss'd him as we burried by. Pale, patiënt Bobbib's angel face Still in his sleep boreeurleiing'd trace; "No, for a thousand crowns, not him!" He wbispftf'u, while our ey-s wer dim. Poor Dick! bad Dick!our waywardson l urbuleut, recklHfS, idle one - Coold he beBpareo? Nay : He who guve Bid us befriend bim to his grave; Ouly a mothn's heart can be Patiënt enougb for such as he; "And eo„' said John, "Í would not dare l'o aeud him from her bedside prayer." Then stol we softly up abve And kuelt by Marj, child of love. "Perhaps for her 'twould better be," I said to John. Quite silentiy He lif ted up a curl that lay Acroea her cheekjn a wilful way, And Bhuok his head: "Kay, love; not thee;" The while my heart beat audibly. Ouly one more, our eldest laJ, Trusty and truthful, good and glad- S;) üke his father. "Mo, JohD, no - I cannot, will nor, let him go." And so we wrote, in a courteous way, We would not drive one child away; And afterwaid toil liehter seem'd. Thinking of that of which we dream'd, Happy in truthihatnot one face Was iniss'd from its accustom'd place; Thankful to work for all the seven, Trusting the rustte Oae in Heaven.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat