Page:Samantha on Children's Rights.djvu/334

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there, and where then wuz it? I don't know, nor Josiah don't. But after a long, long time it come back slowly, lingerin'ly, as if it hated to come.

Celestine hung over her with a look on her face that made me believe that if she ever did come back she would come into a new world where love and care rained instead of art exclusively. Yes, she come back agin, but Jack, dear little boy, he had gone away for good. Yes, I say that word a-purpose, he had gone for good, good for him, but for them who loved him so, what shall we say?

I wonder if he wuz permitted to look forward and see what wuz to be in the future; Tamer and Hamen brung together by the awful hand of Grief and mutual remorse, Hamen a different, more Christian man. Tamer's icy, cold mean broke up and pulverized by the hand of Grief, the flood of awakened remorse sweepin' away on its current old foolish ambitions, pride and self-will. Anna left free to marry the man of her choice, Tamer and Hamen rousted up to good deeds and the performance of duty, so layin' up a store of blessed remembrances to replace the old wretched ones. Cicero comin' home repentant to begin a new life under the guardianship of a new father and mother, all this and more.

But yet, oh, my poor Jack! that your dear little ice cold form wuz to be the centre from which such blessed events should flow out! Icy cold forehead with the brown curls layin' on it like gleams of gold, not warmin' it up any; roses heaped in the tiny cold fingers that did not close on what they loved so; tears falling on the sweet face onnoticed and in vain.

Good-by, dear little Jack—good-by!