Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-07-26

He sat his empty kettle on the
table. and threw himself on the home
" lounge He was laboring man,
his face brown with toll All day
long he had been out in the hot sun
upon the top of house, stating the
roof. Sometimes his head was giddy
and his back weak, but he straigh-
tened himself with thoughts Of home
and his treasures there. And now at
the sound of his feet, at sound of his
voice, dimples break over smooth
red cheeks, and loving fingers play
with his curls. He shuts his eyes to
frame the picture in his heart-the
picture Of his wife getting supper
the picture of his prattling baby.
He feels the cool of the evening, and
all these things comfort him, yet he
is not grateful-not wholly; for to-
day he saw another picture that made
him envious; rich Sam Marlowe, md
ing out with his wife and child-a
handsome two; Sam, portly, conten-
ted and smiling, his wife, with a
dainty color in her cheek, and rich
garments folded about her.
He and 1 were boys together, ="
said the poor man to himself, bend
ing to his work again; sand see how
Providence has blessed him, though
he began with almost nothing. Now
he keeps horses and a carriage, lives
in a beautiful house, has married a
fortune, and with plenty of leisure,
can bring up his one boy just as 1
have longed to do my Tom. l, by
marrying early and poor, have
brought burdens upon Mary's shoul-
ders that must be hard to bear. Five
little ones and only q day laborer
YETI and he sighed heavily.
All day the heavy heart never left
him, and his fellow laborers wondered
what had come over their usually
merry friend; now he had brought
that shadow home with him--the
phantom horse and rider, the envy
and the care.
my Mary is handsomer woman
than his wife," he muttered, nursing
his misery. land yet she never knew
rest. AS for taking her out for 8
drive, he ended the sentence with
\ hitter laugh.
Moments passed, during which the
clouds grew thicker and heavier. A
neighbor passing by, told of strange
disease that had lately appeared il
their midst, the doctors called it dip
liberia she said, and it was terrible
and fatal sickness. Then the dool
was shut and the voice faded away
but the something dreary did moi
pass from the mans heart.
Suddenly there was sound o.
alarm in the bright kitchen.
Harry, come here" ..
He arose slowly and passed through
the door of plain little parlor.
His wife held the baby in her arms
the other children were gathered anx
iously about her, looking on.
What can be the matter with him
He seemed well enough till now
But his lips are blue, and suddenly
he ceased play, and hear how h'
draws his breath! Harry, he is very
sick, you must go for the doctor"
Harry started at once; little Her
bert was his idol--a most beautiful
and attractive child, winning ant
loving--a very angel in the humble
home. It was not long before tn,
physician was in their midst. Hii
first glance was startling, his secont
grave. Herbert was very i'll; the ter
rible sicknes was upon him in it
most fearful form. All that nigh
they ministered to him in his agony
for they felt that in such struggles
the little frail flower would soon b,
broken from the stalk, though shield
ed by tenderest care. And alas
when morning broke in with uncloud
ed brightness, the sweet face of tn
babe was set towards it, but it say
no light; the spirit had gone to it
upper home and left the house desc
late.
How long time elapsed no on
knew in that household, for the hour
passed unheeded; but death cam
again and again, and Harry and hi
wife stood in their lone home desc
late. The strong man was bowed +
the earth with agony. For tim
his reason was threatened. He &C
cused God; he heaped curses on him
self.
81 was envious of another" b
cried, sand see how God has smitte
me. o, give me back my children
Only give me the blessings Of m
eyes, the jewels of my heart, and T.
> toll like slave-Iot only throug
the burning hours Of the day, bu
into the blackness and chill of mid
night. / will live on crust; as
not for comforts-but give me m
children, Lord. for / am bereft!"
His wife, in the midst of her ow
grief, tried to comfort him, but b
, would not listen to reason. He sa'
only through the crowding eartl
black with damps and horribly aliv
, with insect vitality, the beautift
brows of bis FIVE little children, hid
den away from him forever and eve
! TUh;lo 4h;a .1rrnrU xvaa still fros