Teddy's Button

o

was learning how to control his mischievous propensities and to restrain his hasty words and actions. Nancy was a great trial to him sometimes, and yet, though the two were ceaselessly involved in arguments and differences, they could not keep apart for long

dent appreciation of the sea stories; but when he reached

, with his red coat and sash and sword, and his voice is so gruff and hoarse, and

on, but any one seeing them sitting on the low stone bridge over the river, with their lines dangling carelessly in the water, and their merry laughter and voices ringing out continually,

oming off; you'll l

is always sewing it on. I think I'll take it right off and p

ath. It was too great a temptation for Nancy. Like lightning she was after it, and a mom

demanded Teddy, quivering

eyes sparkled

it at last, and I shall take it ho

ive it up at once! It isn't yours. You would be a

the river?' questioned

ut a word or sound Teddy plunged in head foremost after it. It was done without a thought. He was a good swimmer, and for a minute Nancy watched him in breathless silence. But when his little head rose out of the water he seemed half stupefied, and cried out in a weak voice, 'Help! I'm drowning!' then sank again. Nancy set up a shout then of frantic agon

ead, and I've kill

vailing, and at last he said, 'I'll put him in my cart, and drive as fast as I can to the doctor's. It isn

h a state of excitement that when at length she burst op

arted forwards. 'It's Teddy!'

ving in agonised prayer, she flew along the road to the doctor's. She was shown into the room where the doctor was hard at work; but Teddy lay like a waxen image, with the s

r straightened himself and paused, looking at the mother sorrowfully. He shook his head, but set to work again,

little heart he felt a feeble throb. He redoubled his efforts; the breath began to appear, a faint

. 'Thank God!' was all she

mpossible to rouse him. The doctor said he must have struck his head against a stone when first he dived into the river, and this had produced concussion of the brain. Nancy had

is mother how much her little son had been beloved. And when on the following Sunday Mr. Upton gave out, in a faltering voice, 'The prayers of this congregation are

rst great shock, she had been able to hand over her child into her Father's loving hands, and rest content with the result; a

ble face, and Teddy was still unconscious. Then doubts began to rise in his mother's heart as to whether his r

h for him than that!' And the doctor could only give her the meagre consolation, 'He may rec

was flooding the room with a golden glory, t

r's house that first terrible day, was like the sweetest music in her e

ut your hand under m

thy sleep. The mother sat down, and though her ar

me in just be

me,' she said; and the d

e after the boy

mother?' he

rling. You'

's my

or contentedly; 'keep him

round the village that

e transparent white skin, but his large eyes shone with light and gladness. His mother made him comfortable, then left him in his grandmother's charge for a short time. Old Mrs. Platt had had her share of sufferin

it, said, with tears in her eyes, as she took his two little han

r neck and hugged her close, crushing her c

very day, granny, and

sy on my legs. I asked mother to let me walk just now, but I couldn't manag

about long before

you know abo

looked wistful

but don't thin

y button, but she told me that was wrong; she said it wasn't being a good soldier to wish to die directly tr

those lovely flowers and grapes that Mrs. Graham

this morning that God could give it to me again, and so I'm going to ask Him every day till it

, 'Could I see Nan

her food when you were so ill. Her mother got quite anxious about her. We'll send for her in a day or two, if you keep well.' And two days af

, ever forgive me? If you had

s face and kissing her. 'I was just as naught

e day and dragged up a lot of stones and old tin pans, but the button wasn't there. I hope it wi

ddy, with a little decided nod, 'and I think He'll do it.

e would do it I would be the Captain's soldier. Yes, I did, and I sai

with great solemnity, and

ou really

trying to be good, and I as

sat down on the rug, and took

was going to die?'

ed and ill. I asked her one day where she would bury me, for I was sure I was much too ill to get better,

to have died and

promptly, 'of course I

the way without dropping me, or leaving me in the clouds before we got there; but I thi

s us to heaven. Jesus died to let

ves me! H

gate to o

wash awa

ttle child

Him to forgiv

you was so ill. I felt

punish

opics, Nancy held up the cat arra

Tar! Doesn't she m

ddy, and was heard in the adjoining room by his

himself again; it does him good to have

e back to Teddy's cheeks, and then others of h

e children, and very diverse were the gifts. Sometimes a bunch of wild-flowers, sometimes birds' eggs, marbles, boxes of chalk, a packet of toffee or barley-sugar, a currant bun,

. Upton, as he came in one day for his first vi

of hospital,' respo

ll fighting fo

has been very good w

take not, you will have a brush with him

he tried his mother's patience much by his fractiousness and res

e day remonst

cross to-day. No

t. I'm tired of t

ing cross won't take you out.' This

won't come near you whe

rst out

ll. I don't know how to

m too tired

of the physical weakness and weariness,