Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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8 THE ACORN yet the cold was rapidly getting the best of him. The last quarter of a mile he literally dragged himself forward on his hands and knees. It was one o'clock before he reached Andersons, the place where miss Frost stayed. The poor boy was. by this time, so frozen that it was only with greatest difficulty that he was able to knock at the door, whereafter he, exhausted, sank down. Miss Frost, who had laid awake for some time, heard the faint knock and got up to see what it was. When she opened the door and beheld the child she almost gave a shriek, but calmed herself and picked him up tenderly and carried him to her own room where she laid him on the bed. But when she had lighted the lamp and looked at her charge she could not surpress at My God, Billy Butts”! She at once went to work getting him something warm and rubbing bis frozen limbs. At last he looked up into her face and whispered. Teacher, don't trouble about me: but please go and help my sisters. Mamma is dead, and Nanney and Bessy will die of cold and hunger. Please, teacher, please go and help them. Miss Frost called Anderson's and told them the awful news, and it was not long before a team was sent off to see about the orphans and the dead mother. The children were taken to the home of Anderson's, but Billy, inspite of utmost care was sinking rapidly. He laid there in a sort of a stupor until late in the afternoon when he began to move. At last he sat up and called wildly for Naney and Bessy. Miss Frost laid her hands on his brow and tried to calm him, but be was not to be calmed. He cried repeatedly. ‘Where are my sisters? They are starving to death! Thev are freezing to death! And mamma told me to be good to them. Oh mamma, mamma. I could do no more. I did all I could.' and then he wandered off to the bed-side of his mother. He fancied himself administering to the wants of her and he would cry bitterly because he had no more fuel and bread. Miss Frost tried everything within her power to calm liim but all in vain. At last the little “tots were permitted to come in to where he lay, and when he saw them his eyes brightened. His raving mind seemed to calm suddenly, and looking imploringly up into the face of Miss Frost he said, I feel that I am going to die. I am going to my mother. 1 know I am. But Teacher, won’t you be good to Naney and Bessy? Mamma asked me to be good. Teacher, please be good to them for mamma’s sake.’ The last words were scarcely audible, and Miss Frost laid him softly back on his pillow. He laid thus quietly for a long while. For about two hours he was quiet, but at last he opened his eyes again and gazed on those who stood around him. His lips moved, but not a sound could be heard. It was plain that his soul was ready at any moment to take its flight, and at last he closed his eyes in the last long sleep. Miss Frost could not restrain the glistening tears from dropping on his cheek as she bent forward and kissed him. It was indeed pathetic to see this young hero pass to the land from which no one returns: and it moved even the stern Mr. Anderson into tears. Miss Frost arose, however, brushed away her tears and said. This is the noblest boy I ever met. In school, be was always ready to help any one in need, and he would do anything for one who was sad or in trouble. He was truly a great, noble soul. And now, he has gone to be with his Mother for ever and ever. He will never freeze and never hunger any more. Well. well, it is best as it is. God knows what He is doing. “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense But trust him for his grace: Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.”

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THE ACORN 7 ■cold in the room, and mother seemed more then usually restless. Xanncy and Bessy awoke at nine, but Billy gave them some bread and persuaded them to remain in bed because it was altogether too cold to be up. The cold and the wind increased as the day wore on, yet Billy sat faithfully, although shivering, at his motlir's bedside, in vain he tried his utmost to catch some of her wild fancies as she lay there twicli-ing and tossing. It was indeed a terrible day for Billy. He had had nothing to eat. and the little crust of bread left must be saved for his dear little sisters. It was about three o’clock when it was an unusual stir in the bed, and when the boy looked up, he saw his mother rise on her elbow. She fixed her feverish eyes on Billy with a look so tender and so pathetic that Billy could not help bursting into tears. Her lips moved slowly, and at last he heard her whisper: ‘Billy, I feel the end is drawing near. I am surly going soon. I know I am going to Jesus; but Billy, be a good hoy. Oh! I am sorry. What will become of you my dear children. Oh! My children! My children! Look well after Nanney and Bessy. Go to the village and get seme help. I know you will be brave and good.’ She was silent for a short while and the breathing was becoming more and more difficult. Then again she said: “Bill, now you will be a good boy. Go to the Village for help at cnee. Take care of the girls. Be a good boy and God will bless you. Oh. oh, oh, God—my God—Billy I II tell you this too. but do not tell it. to anybody? But she sank suddenly backwards on the pillow never to rise again. Her soul had loft for the land where there is no pain, and where tears shall he no more. No words can interpret Billy's feeling, as he bent over the lifeless form and wept as if his heart would break. He did not notice that the two little girls had crawled out of the bed. until they hung around his neck mingling their tears with his although they scarcely knew why they cried. The three, sat there huddled together for a long time and wept as only innocent children, with breaking hearts, can weep. It was almost heartrending for Billy to hear his little sisters call for mamma while mamma could never hear them again, and at last he realized their desperate position. He arose and brushed away the tears. He had been unconscious cf the fact that he was almost frozen stiff: and when he looked on his poor shivering sisters a fresh flood of tears burst forth. He took them in his arms and carried them to bed; tucked all the clothes he could fine around them; got the remaining bread-crust and gave it all to Nanney and Bessy. The darkness was falling fast, and Billy, although shivering terrible sat at his sister's bed-side telling them stories about heaven and Jesus who look the children and blessed them; and at last the two were fast asleep. “They will sleep now till morning,’’ he said then to himself, “but I must get help belore then.” He looked out into the dark, blustering night; drew his ragged coat tighter around himself and stepped bravely out into the drifting snow. It was two miles to the nearest neighbor; the snow was deep and the north winds were biting cold. But. it was a case of life or death; and Billy, lnspite of his young years, realized it fully. He went back into the cabin and gazed for a long time into his mother’s face, while scalding tears rolled down his own thin, pale cheeks. Then lie knelt by his slumbering sister’s bed, and prayed the prayer which mother had thaught him, kissel them both tenderly and again tucked the clothes around them, after which he stepped briskly out into the blinding storm. The wind blew the snow right in his 'face, but he fought bravely on against tears, hunger, and cold. The thought of his two starving sisters gave him strength,

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fHE ACORN y Dear Billy, 1 will surely do what 1 can do for your poor, sweet little sisters.' I have now tried to picture, by this little story, my idea of real greatness. It is not the station in life a man holds; it is not what society he moves in; nor is it the superior ability which lias enabled him to rise to a lofty position that makes a man really great. But it is his sou!; it is his desire to help others; it is a noble, renerous, selfsacrificlng soul which will make a man a truly great man, no matter if he be a begger or a king.” The young man arose brushing the tears from his eyes and clasped the old man's hands with fervor saying: God bless you. I cannot thank you as I would like. I.—I think you need some one to lake you home. May I do it?” The moon cast her silvery rays over the two retreating figures. The heaven was set thick with stars which twinkled as if they had never lookod down on misery or deceit. All heaven and earth are still—though not in sleep. But breaibless, as we grow when feeling most; And silent, as we stand in thoughts too deep.” A powerful, an infinite feeling seized my very soul. I felt as if I were in a solitude where I was the least alone. The All .Mighty spoke in audible whispers to my soul. And as L arose and wended my way homeward I resolved to accept the old man's theory of true greatness, and thus seek to become a better man by practising it. A. J. Edstrom, 'll. SPRING. There also will the cool breeze blow; The modest violet nods her head. So glad to leave her warm soft bed. Gunhild Hagstrom,T2. O’er rocks and ril?s and wooded vales, The brock let flows into the dales; Where sunbeams play the daisies grow,