The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-06

And the aood-gates of his heart agsin
opened.
"Whers do you liver Are your father and
mother alive ~
1--WE bide in Blackfriars Wynd, in the
Uoogate. My mither's dead, and fathers
aN q and We bide whiles viii our gudemth-
er," sobhiug bitterly.
"Where did ta.s accident happen "
"Near The college, lir-n
Calling csb. We we're speedily set down
in Backiriar's Wyne. | had never pene-
trated the wretched places Of these ancient
cities by day, and here entered one by
night, and almost alone Preceded by my
guide, entered dark, wide, winding stair.
until, climbing many flights Of stairs in total
darkness, he opened a door, whence q light
maintained feeble, unequal struggle with
the thick, close smelling heavy gloom. NY
courage nearly gave way A. tne spectacle If
that room burst upon me. In ar apartment
certainly spacious Ia extent, but scarcely
made visible BY one guttenng candle stuck
in a bottle, where an oveFcr0wded mass 0i
wretched helngs, sleeping on miserable beds
spread Out on the do0r, or squatted or re-
Ginning upon the cold, uufurnlshed boards.
Stepping over PROSTATE, suarTeling drunk
ard, found little Sandy on a bed Of carpen-
ters' shayings on the docr. He was still "
his rags, aud-a torn, scanty c0vsI-let had
been thIJwn over h;m- Poor lad he was
- changed dis sharp, pallid face wa
cammy ana cod-beAds Of th sweat Ui
sLoHy standing on his Drow-his bruised
and maugled body aY m0ti0niess and slII,
except wnen sobs and moaning heaged or,
hltlering breast. A bioased woman. n
iBauuln arunkeBJcss fthe dead or bauis.e
fathers second w.lc, and not MS mutheIJ
now and then baths his lips with whisky
and water, while she ypled % her 0wu Y
bottle of spirits 10 drown the gr ef she nic-
cougIed ana assumed IA doctor from the
Royal lnhrmaTy La1 called ana leit some
medicine % ~0Uthe tle poor lads agony tlJr
7 nis case was hopeless, even Though he bad
been taken at d stl bot his tips nurse haI
forgotten to administer it. / applied Il, and
had him placed upon a less miserable beI 0l
straw anu seeing a woman, an occupant 0i
ths room, 70 attend bin during the ught,
gave what directions I could, aad LETT the
degraded, squalid home.
NIX morning | va again in BackirIar'
Wynd. IL close, pestiiential air, ard tow.
erin., antique, diIapilaJed mansions (the
abode 81 lhe peerage ~ far-0F time>), nov
struck my senses Above 4 doorway WI.
carved upon the stone "Exc=p. We Lord do
build ye house ye builders build In vain
said the room was spacious, it was al
most noble in its proportions. The walls Of
paneled oak, sadly marred a massive mar
ble msntei-plece Of cunning carving, ruth
lessiy broken and distiguied cnameled tile.
around the fireplace, ones representing some
Bible story. now storely despolIed aud crack
"a and the ceiling festo0ned with antique
fruit and flowers shared in the general Van.
dal wreck. With the exception of L broker
chair, furniture there was none in that su
fling den. It's occupants, said the surgeon
whom found at the sufferers be4, were
chiefly Of our cities pes.s, aud the poor lad,
stepmoiher-who had taken him from Il
Ragged School, that she nj ght drink OF hi,
pitIful earnings-was as surA in infamy a,
any there.
F0r lhe patient medical skL was nought
for he was sinking fast The soul loOkIn,
from nis Asrt blue eve WAS slowly e5bsr
out hts paliid cheeks were sunk and thin
but consciousness returned, and his lami
49, hicEg-ing mp before it sunk forever. Al
took bis ieeby hand, a flicker Of recogul
ton seemed TO CLEAN across bis face.
81 got tie change and was comm"
''My poor boy, you were very honest
Have YOU any wish-anything, poor child,
can DO tor youY / prcriise to-"
'Reuby, I'm sure E'n deein' wha vii
take care of you nO0 M
Little Reuben was instantly in it OF cry
inE, and himself pT0strate on the 0vd.
"Oh, Sandy Sandy Sandy M sohbed hi
little heart
~ will see b your little brothe-"
"ThaLk you, SIR !" Dinn-diuna leav
me, Reu-Reu-by, Pm com-comin'-
COMM"
"Whist whist - cried little Rsub. look
ing up, and turning round TO implore som
silence in the room. That moment, th
calm, faded smile, that seemed to hav
allgnted AZ a mOmentary visltant upon hi!
face, slowly passed away, tho eye bgcam
black and glazed, and hIs little lif5 inporcep
tibly ripped 0ut.
TIE honest boy lies in Canongate church
yard, near the grave-stoue put up by Burns Z,
the memory Of Ferguson, his brother pos
and | have sent little Reuben to DR.. Guth
rie's Ragged School, and receive excellen
accounts of him and from hIm-