The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-27

he called his wife-a sickly, stooplng,
limping. half-fed shoemaker, but more
man than thousands with burly frames anu
and ruddy cheeks, and broad ches's' al"
mighty bank accounts, after all.
Sometimes better and more prosperous
sometimes poorer and on his back again,
he lived and struggled until, at 5as1, d
great misfortune happened to him. heaven
Knows how, he drove an awl into his fight
hand, and stopped his work outrigh1. .;
For month, perhaps, anu sta ~ the
poor house-nothing too terrible TO CONF
The last ray of hope was gone, when' one
night, the shoemaker groaned; A.:
e Tomorrow must beg or see them dhe,
and hid his face, too heart-broAeh even W
pray. -. f.o,, f,rce of
habit. near the empty stove, with his wife
on the other side weeping and rocklhS-
and neither of them heard a foot coming up
the stairs, until some one Knocked at the
door. -.
"Who is there ?" asked the VIE.
And n voice answered:
uI want Dave Perkins. I've been sent
for him by q woman that is dying. Can ne
come?' L:1o,s
Somewhat of fright stole into the vie s
mind and she cried, holding him 1asV'
No-you can't go Dave"
But he but her aside gently, and opened
the door.
"Who is it wants me n he asked.
And the man said:
s" don't know her name. l only came
the GRAND a woman sent me-"
Dave put on his hat.
@ III 60 with you, >" lie said. ut may be
some old neighbor, Annie"
He followed the guide through the DARK
streets to a house he seemed to remember
plainly, though whose it was he could not
have said. It/appeared to the shoemaker
; that this night had been dreamt OF before
The dark door, the dripping rain, and t9t
light in an upper window were 50 strangeiy
familiar-even the click of bolt and lock-
ere it was opened.
stairs, and then vert tiptoe to another doc
and beckoned him in.
4 And David Perkins, awe stricken, pause'
i, and saw q picture.
o Awoman on the bed, with one hand grasp
= inga parrots cage-two gentlemen stano. ~
o changing face upon the pillow-and, in til
:; cage, a parrot, green and one-eyed.
Mrs. Grlnge and Polly.
The shoemaker remembered the night o
s which he had brought the screeching treas
s. ure to its mistress at last.
He stood wonderingly near the 200
Is when voice said: ~,
l. 81 want Dave Perkins-has he come !"
And the eyes of dying Mrs. Grint
opened, and met his.
- She beckOneu MN, ana he Dehl oNct he
"You're the boy that brought Pol
back en she aid. s.Good boy, I've Ike
y, trace of you. 1've left you everything, on
Do swear you'll be good to Polly. She'll mi
me. Shake hands. A good boy to bri
#, her home. How dark it is Polly"
as She put her finger through the wires
10 the cage, and the parrot tiuttered.
"Pony!" she said again family.
And with faint croak, the parrot, tote
Hn ing on its perch, answered her; =,
ne " Gringe, Polly wants to go!'
he And then night came to both-the de
ss' woman on her pillow; the dead parrot
the bottom of its cage!
to And Dave Perkins, like one in drea
We heard the truth he hardly dared guess
'ep from the. dying woman's words, utter
,.,S plainly by others.
Us He was heir to ALTO the houses q
lots, the bank-stock, the boarded gold
.he chimneys and cupboardsLall had been l.
shg in the strange words OF the brief Will m;
( i wears before "To Dave Perkins, the
t tell who brought back Poll, and his heirs
~ ie :, evermore."