"Yes, Missie, dear, that's about what I does mean," he
said.
"To die, and never wake again," repeated Cecile, "then I'd see the
Guide. Oh, Joe! I'd _see_ Him, the lovely, lovely Jesus who I
love so very much."
"Oh! don't think on it, Miss Cecile; you has got to stay awake--you
has no call to think on no such thing, Missie."
Joe spoke with real and serious alarm. It seemed to him that Cecile
in her earnest desire to see this Guide might lie down and court the
sleep which would, alas! come so easily.
He was therefore surprised when she said to him in a quiet and
reproachful tone, "Do you think I would lie down and go to sleep and
die, Jography? I should like to die, but I must not die just yet. I'm
a very, very anxious little girl, and I have a great, great deal to
do; it would not be right for me even to think of dying yet. Not
until I have found Lovedy, and given Lovedy the purse of gold, and
told Lovedy all about her mother, then after that I should like to
die."
"That's right, Missie; we won't think on no dying to-night. Now
let's do all we can to keep awake; let's walk up and down this little
sheltered bit under the wall; let's teach Toby to dance a bit; let's
jump about a bit"
If there was one thing in all the world poor Toby hated more than
another, it was these same dancing lessons. The fact was the poor dog
was too old to learn, and would never be much good as a dancing dog.
Already he so much dreaded this new accomplishment which was being
forced upon him, that at the very word dancing he would try and hide,
and always at least tuck his tail between his legs.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186