1856.] ^'May Be So." 377 



matter at all. If you'd rather set there than come down into the 

 parlor and look out for dear father, you can please yourself." 



And turning away as I spoke, I left the chamber, and went down 

 stairs. Seating myself at a window, I looked forth, and endeavored 

 to feel unconcerned and cheerful. But this was beyond my power. 

 I saw nothing but the form of my grieving child, and could think 

 of nothing but his sorrow and disappointment. 



"Nancy/' said I to one of my domestics, who happened to come 

 into the parlor to ask me some question, ''I wish you would run down 

 to the toy store, in the next block, and buy Neddy a wagon. His 

 heart is almost broken about one." 



The girl, always willing when kindly spoken to, ran off to obey my 

 wishes, and in a little while came back with the article wanted. 



"Now," said I, '^go up into my room, and tell Neddy that I 've got 

 something for him. Don't mention the wagon; I want to take him 

 by surprise." 



Nancy went bounding up the stairs, and I placed the wagon in the 

 center of the room, where it would meet the child's eyes on the 

 moment of his entrance; and then sat down to await his coming and 

 enjoy his surprise and delight. 



After the lapse of about a minute, I heard Nancy coming down slowly. 



"Neddy's asleep," said she, looking in at the door. 



"Asleep!" I felt greatly disappointed. 

 ^ *' Yes, ma'am. He was on the floor asleep. I took him up and laid 

 him in your bed." 



"Then he's over his troubles," said I, attempting to find a relief for 

 my feelings in this utterance. But no such relief came. 



Taking the wagon in may hand, I went up to the chamber where he 

 lay, and bent over him. The signs of grief were still upon his 

 innocent face, and every now and then a faint sigh or sob gave evidence 

 that even sleep had not yet hushed, entirely,'^the storm which had 

 swept over him. 



"Neddy!" I spoke to him in a voice of tenderness, hopino- that 

 my words might reach his ear. "Neddy, dear, I've bought °you a 

 wagon." 



But his senses were locked. Taking him up, I undressed him, and 

 then, after kissing his lips, brow and cheeks, laid him in his little bed, 

 and placed the wagon on the pillow beside him. 



Even until the late hour at which I retired on that evcnincr, were my 

 feelings oppressed by the incident I have described. My - May be so," 

 uttered in order to avoid giving the direct answer my child wanted had 



