Rosa's Quest / Or, The Way to the Beautiful Land

too you're so mighty queer, I knew you wouldn't eat unless she had some. I can't afford to buy he

had run in to speak to grandpa might hear, "if only I knew what would become of

d mother, whose life was fast

ter I'd scrubbed, too! Then I thought I'd git rid of him a few minutes by sendin' him to the grocery. Of course I never trust him with a cent of money. They know him at the corner grocery, so it's all right; but it all comes of my credit a-bein' so good, that's the reason. Well, I told him it wuz not necessary fer him to be gone but fifteen minutes, but when he wuz gone twenty, I had to put my work down and go after him. I'd better have gone in the first place

ld train her mighty well, so as she'd know how to do somethin'. She's old enough to work, and I'll keep an eye on her and correct her whenever she needs it, a

What she sees in grandpa is more'n I can tell, fer he ain't got a bit of sense. Often in the night he wakes me up a-holle

hrough the sensitive, bleeding

, crowded city might love my darling, and that

ep Rosa at least till spring? What can my baby do without a home and without a mother, especially when the weather is so bitterly cold? The mere thought

dark eyes riveted upon her conquered even this unfeeling heart, and before realizing the import of her words,

so affectionate, she will miss her mother a

re difficult to fulfill might be exac

her pillow, "my baby will have food and shelter at

shed cheeks, causing Rosa to give a cry o

you feel worse?

ittle table up by the bed, then if I can eat some supper, we

about to happen. The trembling of the tiny hands and twitching of the delicate f

r dinner had consisted only of boiled potatoes. Now, however, that mother appa

ast were cleared away, and Rosa sat down by the

oving, and you won't go without me, will you? But oh, I have such good news, I must tell you

ter you get there, 'cause Jesus paid all the fare a long time ago. I wish I knew where to find Jesus, so He could explain all about it. I had to leave the car before the lady could tell me the way. I think He must be so good to pay the fare

nd out the way, then we'll both go. It will be so nice, won't it, for you not to ha

ed the pallid brow, repeating soothingly the assurance that i

inutes of silence, "forgive me and take me to that be

l you something. You are too young to know what it all mean

ried to your father, Harold Brownin

the day of marriage, made my living by clerking in a down-town store.

being the center of everything. There was not a shadow over our lives, till one morning he was not able to go to work. In a few hours he became so very ill that in great alarm I summoned the doctor. Then followed weeks of suspense, the days being divided between hope and fear, till at last all thought o

was not one cent left for us. I could hold the flat no longer, so moved here on Burton street, making our living, as you know, darlin

oken woman had to stop to regain he

worst of all has been that I have tried to carry the burden alone. Your father told me

been praying much, and now,

y flooding her mother's face, immedia

did not do as your father said, and have never taught you of Jesus, and now it is-too late!-I

words, "please, oh, please don't leave me! What could I ever do without you? N

dying mother kissed her child, whi

and come-to that-beautiful-land-whe

d the chill. Cautiously, lest she might disturb the sleeper, she slipped off her little flannel skirt, the last article made by her mother,

ll, and why she was growing so cold. At last, being able to endure the

why ain't you in bed

row a comfort, 'cause mother's so a

f day or night, too. I'll git up and see what your ma wants. Glad of one thing, she ain't kept me

but something impelled her to stop. A fear seized her,

shone from across the hall, the faint rays falli

cautiously asked, "

ently and throwing herself within the cold arms, kissing

up, please do! I want you so. I don't kn

th grandpa till I tell you to come in here, and don't you come b

, and what do they do? Will they

beat all fer askin' questions, anyhow. You might as well learn now as any time to mind, since I have to keep you till sp

perplexity and of indescribable dread, but, after al

d climbing up into his lap, pillowing her tired head upon his shoulde