"You are very weary, little wife," he said tenderly, pa.s.sing his hand caressingly over her hair and pressing his lips again and again to the heated brow.
"It is rest to lay my head here," she whispered.
"But you must not stand;" and sitting down he drew her to the sofa, still keeping his arm about her waist. "Bear up, dear wife," he said, "we will hope our precious darling is not very ill."
She told him of the child"s words, and the sad foreboding that had entered her own heart.
"While there is life there is hope, dearest," he said, with a.s.sumed cheerfulness. "Let us not borrow trouble. Does He not say to us, as to the disciples of old, "It is I, be not afraid"?"
"Yes; and she is His; only lent to us for a season; and we dare not rebel should He see fit to recall His own," she answered, amid her tears. "Oh, Edward, I am so glad we indulged her this morning in her wish to play with my jewels!"
"Yes; she is the most precious of them all," he said with emotion.
Aunt Chloe, drawing near, respectfully suggested that it might be well to separate the children, in case the little girl"s illness should prove to be contagious.
"That is a wise thought, mammy," said Elsie. "Is it not, Edward?"
"Yes, wife; shall we take our little daughter to our own bedroom, and leave Eddie in possession of the nursery?"
"Yes, I will never leave her while she is ill."
Weeks of anxious solicitude, of tenderest, most careful nursing, followed; for the little one was very ill, and for some time grew worse hour by hour. For days there was little hope that her life would be spared, and a solemn silence reigned through the house; even the romping, fun-loving Horace and Rosie, awe-struck into stillness, and often shedding tears--Horace in private, fearing to be considered unmanly, but Rosie openly and without any desire of concealment--at the thought that the darling of the house was about to pa.s.s away from earth.
Rose was filled with grief, the father, and grandfather were almost heart-broken. But the mother! That first night she had scarcely closed an eye, but continually her heart was going up in earnest supplications for grace and strength to meet this sore trial with patience, calmness, and submission.
And surely the prayer was heard and answered; day and night she was with her suffering little one, watching beside its crib, or holding it in her arms, soothing it with tender words of mother love, or singing, in low sweet tones, of Jesus and the happy land.
Plenty of excellent nurses were at hand, more than willing to relieve her of her charge; but she would relinquish it to no one; except when compelled to take a little rest that her strength might not utterly fail her. Even then she refused to leave the room, but lay where the first plaintive cry, "Mamma," would rouse her and bring her instantly to her darling"s side.
At times the big tears might be seen coursing down her cheek, as she gazed mournfully upon the baby face so changed from what it was; but voice and manner were quiet and composed.
Her husband was almost constantly at her side, sharing the care, the grief and anxiety, and the nursing, so far as she would let him. Rose, too, and Mr. Dinsmore, were there every hour of the day, and often in the night, scarcely less anxious and grief-stricken than the parents, and Mr.
Dinsmore especially, trembling for the life and health of the mother as well as the child.
At length came a day when all knew and felt that wee Elsie was at the very brink of the grave, and the little thread of life might snap asunder at any moment.
She lay on her pillow on her mother"s lap, the limbs shrunken to half their former size, the face, but lately so beautiful with the bloom of health, grown wan and thin, with parched lips and half-closed, dreamy eyes.
Mr. Travilla sat close beside them, with cup and spoon in hand, now and then moistening the dry lips. Chloe, who had stationed herself a little behind her mistress to be within call, was dropping great tears on the soldier"s stocking in her hand.
Mr. Dinsmore came softly in and stood by the little group, his features working with emotion. "My darling," he murmured, "my precious daughter, may G.o.d comfort and sustain you."
"He does, papa," she answered in low, calm tones, as she raised her head and lifted her mournful eyes to his face; "His consolations are not small in the trying hour."
"You can give her up?" he asked, in a choking voice, looking with anguish upon the wasted features of his almost idolized grandchild.
"Yes, papa--if He sees fit to take her; "twere but selfishness to want to keep her here. So safe, so happy will she be in Jesus" arms."
Mr. Travilla"s frame shook with emotion, and Mr. Dinsmore was not less agitated; but the mother was still calm and resigned.
No sound had come from those little lips for hours; but now there was a faintly murmured "Mamma!"
"Yes, darling, mamma is here," Elsie answered, softly pressing a kiss on the white brow; "what shall mamma do for her baby?"
"Jesus loves wee Elsie?" and the dreamy eyes unclosed and looked up into the sweet pale face bent so lovingly over her. "Elsie so glad. Mamma sing "Happy land.""
The young mother"s heart was like to burst, but with a silent prayer for strength, she controlled herself and sang low and sweetly, and even as she sang a change came over the child, and it fell into a deep, calm, natural sleep that lasted for hours. All the time on the mother"s lap, her eyes scarce moving from the dear little face; her breath almost suspended, lest that life-giving slumber should be broken.
In vain husband and father in turn entreated to be allowed to relieve her.
"No, oh no!" she whispered. "I cannot have her disturbed; it might cost her life."
This was the turning point in the disease, and from that time the little one began to amend. But very weak and frail, she was still in need of weeks of continued tender, careful nursing.
"Mamma"s lap" was the place preferred above all others; but patient and unselfish, she yielded without a murmur when invited to the arms of papa, grandpa, Rose, or nurse, and told that "dear mamma was tired and needed rest."
Elsie was indeed much reduced in health and strength; but love, joy, and thankfulness helped her to recuperate rapidly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD.
"What fates impose, that men must needs abide.
It boots not to resist both wind and tide."
--SHAKESPEARE"S HENRY VI.
From the time of Mr. Lincoln"s election Walter Dinsmore"s home had been made very uncomfortable to him; after the fall of Sumter it was well-nigh unendurable.
Never were two brothers more entirely unlike than he and Arthur; the latter, selfish, proud, haughty, self-willed, pa.s.sionate, and reckless of consequences to himself or others; the former sweet-tempered, amiable, and affectionate, but lacking in firmness and self-reliance.
Poor fellow! his heart was divided; on the one side were home, parents, friends, and neighbors, native State and section; on the other, pride in the great, powerful Union he had hitherto called his country, love for the old flag as the emblem of its greatness and symbol of Revolutionary glory; and--perhaps more potent than all--the wishes and entreaties of a Northern girl who had won his heart and promised him her hand.
One April morning Walter, who had overslept himself, having been up late the night before, was roused from his slumbers by a loud hurrah coming from the veranda below. He recognized his father"s voice, Arthur"s, and that of one of the latter"s particular friends, a hot secessionist residing in the adjacent city.
There seemed a great tumult in the house, running to and fro, loud laughter, repeated hurrahs and voices--among which his mother"s and Enna"s were easily distinguished--talking in high, excited chorus.
"So Fort Sumter has fallen, and war is fairly inaugurated," he sighed to himself, as he rose and began to dress. "It can mean nothing else."
"Glorious news, Wal!" cried Arthur, catching sight of him as he descended the stairs; "Fort Sumter has fallen and Charleston is jubilant. Here, listen while I read the despatch."
Walter heard it in grave silence, and at the close merely inquired how the news had come so early.
"Johnson brought it; has gone on now to Ashlands with it; says the city"s in a perfect furor of delight But you, it seems, care nothing about it,"
Arthur concluded with a malignant sneer.
"Not a word of rejoicing over this glorious victory"--cried Enna angrily.