The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-01-28
his self-respect) do you ?" said |, after the

L became more ana more interested III
Bob, and wondered what the future had il
store for him. Was this diamond to bt
crusted always with railroad mire, never
to shine with polished brightness before
the eyes of men? Would he see the prob
abilities OF his life and carve out a way fol
himself, or would he be content to build
mentally and morally, like the Major
What ought to be done? What could be
done? So, pitying and planning, | pom
dered, while another infinitely more wise
and compassionate was making the crook
ed paths straight for the feet of this ''little
one"
Three weeks had passed, and Bob hac
not missed a day; so, when the tourtl
Monday came his desk was vacant,
judged something must have happened
heard in the course of the week that he
was sick with ague. Friday morning
met the Major with basket of eggs, whicl
| article he furnished on Fridays Tor his
Catholic boarders and for which the tarm
ers We're glad to find a home-market
"Good morning, sir" said |. Little Rob
ert, over at your house, is sick, l hear"
| "Well, yes, mum, purity strong touch
of the ague he's having. Couldn't make
out for three days what allied him, but
now we know what to do, We'll have him
round in fortnight"
II hope So" | said warmly; ''he is a
bright little fellow, and should be sorry
to lose him from school"
"Oh. yes, mum. Bobby's Il keen one" !"
he rejoined, nodding vigorously as he
| passed on.
| | heard no more from Bob for two weeks,
when on Friday morning ! again met the
Major with his egg-basket.
''Is Robert better?" said |.
"keen as a cricket, num-"
| "Then | suppose | shall see him Mon
day ?"
"Well. no, mum. guess not; Bobby 3
going to work on the railroad Monday.'
! ITO work on the railroad ?" | repeated
| in astonishment.
"Why, not q shoveling, | don't mean.
He's gong to carry drinking water for the
| men; gets his wages from the Paymaster,
| though, same as them.''
''But he is nothing but a baby" said |.
cit is dreadful to put him to work like
| that"
Il think not mum, we've made him a
little neck yoke, and the pals is light.
Some think twill be better for him to be
out in the air after that touch of the ague
too.n
''But such bright child as he is, it is
a shame to keep him out Of school," |
went on Indignantly.
"Yes, he answered, Il think so myself !;
but, you see, faint my affair His mothers
got four besides him. the oldest ant but
there, and what's she to do? Her husband
L. IaI ui in Il
vania. Kept the next shanty to mine. They
thing or other was wrong about the derrick
and the stone slipped out-tust smashed
him! I've hired her since and paid her
good wages, but it's been tough pull for
woman, | tell you! She thought if Bob
by could earn enough to get him suit Of
clothes, why 'twould help along some"
[ had no more to say, and went my
way sorrowfully. Poor Bob! | had allot-
ted much on the progress he would make
that summer. Selishly, may be, | had
thought might give his mind an impetus
which would be felt in years to come. Al
ready he must grid himself to fight the
wolf at the door! Perhaps, in the struggle
to keep body and soul united, all sparkle
and spirit would be gone out forever
ed into August The summer term was
nearly over, | still occasionally met the
Major The last time he stopped, his Jolly
face beaming.
YOU'D ought to ha' seen Bobby last
night, mum, when the Paymaster come
around After he settled with the men,
he reads off Robert Cromwell-S12' and,
Bob walks out kinder scared. BE you
that gentleman p says the Paymaster
laughing Bob looked so little, Yes, Sir,
and he hands over the money. Land O
liberty. he growed two inthcs iii two
minutes. | wish you'd seen him step
round, and the Major chuckled at the re-
membrance.
l had heard accidentally this morning,
that Bob had been out in a heavy thunder
shower, had taken cold which had de-
veloped into q raging fever, and that the
doctor who had been called in gave little
hope of his recovery. | staid late in tic
school house at night writing, and as
came down the hill, half determined to
90 over to the shanty and ask after Bob,
but hestated, thinking | might be unwel-
come As looked that way, a man crossed
the fields, and waited at the fence; as
came up, he said hastily.
"The Major seen We comm, mum, and
sent me to ask would We come over and
see Bob"
sis he worse ?" asked l.
.'IIes Just come to hisself, and can't
last long. He's talked a sight about ye
and the school since he's been sick, and
the Ma jor thinks as he will know ye."
He turned abruptly, and L followed
The old elm cast its long shadow mourn
fully across the Shanty, around whose Opel
door stood groups of men with uncoyere,
heads and great dread upon their faces
| passed in through the room where The
supper stood untasted, to an inner ant
smaller one where on a bed pushed close
to the narrow window lay Bob; at tn,
head knelt his mother tall, hard featured
woman; at the foot stood the Major.
took the little hand that lay near me say
ing-I hardly knew what, till The word
Jared on my ear heartless and hollow IL
the presence of Death.
''How do you DO, Roberto 1t is such ;
long time since have seen you"
He looked up, smiled sweetly, salt
Good night, then closed his eyes to ope
them in Eternity's morning.
went over the next day as soon as
J thought the men would have gone to thei
work, for knew they would be oblige
to bury him early.
, He was already in his coffin dressed il
f the new clothes which he had never worn
} His mother knelt as she had done the nigh
before, her eyes fixed upon the still smil
| ing face. She seemed to weep, and he
features were rigid with despair. l Irie
7 to speak words of sympathy but MY poo
l phrases fell powerless as rain drops on tn
3 rocks | folded some pansies resplenden
I npurple and gold in the little cold fngers
: Bob was wild violet 70 longer, but
, pansy made rich and rare in Heaven
sunshine ''IIe loved the flowers" sh
, burst forth ooh! my Bobbyn ~ and th
1 tears fell fast over her haggard face.
shut the door softly and left her with tn
, dead. Outside the sun poured down hi
happy radiance and the birds sang joyous
ly as though beneath them were not tn
+ desolation Of woe and the horror of grea