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

g of all the mysterious things going on about her. Only once was she allowed to look upon the silent sleeper. That was

of my rest so much that I ain't goin' to be bothered with her any more'n I can help from now on. I didn't promise to keep her only till spring, but I can ma

, watching the small procession unt

d is where folks never cough no more, and where they don't have to pay rent? That

a," he added tenderly, drawing her up closer to his side, "I don't want you to go and leave me, fer I'

you think we could find it? Folks have all

ike it here in the city, and it seems like I used to know more about tha

and I'm a-carryin' Tom. We walk down the cool grassy lane with the brook a-runnin' on one side, and the trees is a-wavin' in the soft breeze, and the birds is a-singin', and Tom's mother stops to pick some wild roses. And the little white meetin' house with the steeple a-p'intin' str

paid the fare. Wasn't He kind to do that?

ty kind, m

ght; "I want to whisper somethin' so nobody'll hear. The very first day Sary's away,

a, good! then we

he clapped her h

oil it all, though of course Sary's a good woman,

lks that can tell us, for the fare is paid for everybody, and they're going all

hink we'll find it anyhow. I'm a-git

at land, won't

They used to sing it in the little white meetin' house with the ste

e sang many times ov

u a song of tha

ay home of

ver beat on that

ears of ete

the soul in my vi

jasper wal

ut thinly the

at fair ci

le home is for

s of Nazar

ll kingdoms f

h our crowns

will be in that

m all sorro

lips and with ha

ne anothe

for it says Jesus is there, and

and I'm so glad we're a-goin' to find it. I'll like it so

ilight began to fall, then they hea

tell, Rosa," hurried

he very first chance we have.

ngin' with grandpa long before I got up the steps. But it is real lucky fer you, though, that I'll have y

be somethin' new fer you to have a cooked meal every day, and sometimes two or three of

'most a-killin' me. Father'd ought to be shook yet, fer causin' me so much trouble.

resent dingy surroundings in general, and with Mrs. Gray in particular. Her first i

n the meantime was swinging energetically back and forth in the one rocking c

d make me a cup of tea. You and father can drink

ood! I'm glad I ain't w

bbed Rosa, "didn't mother

t supper, and don't

ry! Of course your ma went the

t, father, and I jest wa

or you'll wish you hadn't. I believe in the good old-fashioned

a cruel whip, the first one ever intended for her. Her little frame

e child to need no whippin', a

a withered hand, "Sary don't mean it; Sar

't but one boss here, and that's me, so there! Do you understand? I 'spose not, though, fer you ain't g

what she was doing, by accident Rosa droppe

goin' to lick you this very minute, now you jest see. I g

ld man's outstretched arms, while tears chased eac

her chair, Mrs. Gray with a sharp cry

ll lick you some other time, and you needn't fergit it neither. Git right d

osa waited long enough before obeying to kiss

ery first chance we have, and if we

s. Gray, "what did I

, for evidently, judging from the groans of the patient

due to the fact that grandpa was gone twenty minutes instead of fifteen, and that she, obliging woman that she was, took it upon herself to make al

eputation of being the best housekeeper in the thickly populated building. She never c

tiful land and mother, was all that gave her even the slightest ray of hope. "But," she added mentally, "I am sure mother would tell me to stay

, carrying out the peremptory commands of the cripple. She bathed

ket and lying down upon the floor, she dreamed till morning o

ep except by using a crutch, the pain at times be

Rosa in her spare moments was obliged to run errands, tend babies while th

e complain. Every day she was growing more thin and pale, her ey

f praise ever escaped the cruel lips, but fretting, scolding, and threats of the much talked of "lic

attered, who saw and understood, causing the feeble

en for a word, fearing that the ever-vigilant M

know!" Then Rosa's pensive face would light up with a smile angelic, reflecting s

was beginning to walk again, the postman

laimed, scrutinizing the envelope quite l

No tellin' what they'd be up to. There ain't many that'd be as self-sacrificin' as I am, and keep an old man that ain't g

ut experience had taught her th

aker, "bring me that tin

nounced a few minutes later, counting over several

jest guess I'll do it, and you can git along the best way you can. Let me see: I'll go tomorrow afternoon, and be gone all day S

other. At last their opportunity had come, and a be

and her departure, Mrs. Gray spent mostly in giving dir

the first flight of s

git another speck of grease on

ndpa would start for the beautiful land a