The Portland daily press., 1875-01-15

heath of Gold RraZe."

Some bows came down to No. rs house and
repo,ted that old Braze was going to die.
Several of the men went to his little old SHAH
ty on Macomb street, fearing that the report
was true, and sorry that the old mans time
had finally come, although he had little to
live for.
the long ago. and he never felt quite right
about the steamers coming here to break up
fire companies and destroy time-honored GUS
toms. The clank of the firebell would rouse
him. even after he was old and bent and fee
BILE. and he would creep down 10 the fire and
cheer as the pipemen dashed into the smoke
and flames, and as the hook and ladder boys
hung to the cornices and passed in and out OF
the windows. He didn't say word against
the putting, powerful steamers. but he longed
for the days when No. 6, and No. 10, and No.
8 took water from the same cistern, and
when the ssBreaker down boysr' of the
foreman drowned the Ioar of the flames. He
used to come down to No. rs house and sit
for hours at a time, and finally came to con-
slider himself a member of the department,
although he couldn't quite get over the loss
of dras-rores, trumpets, red shirts, and a
company fight now and then.
Loneliness, poverty and want met the eyes
of the visitors as they entered the little old
house. Old Braze was lying on a miserable
bed, and a ragged boy, who had been sent
in by a neiehbor to keep the old man COM
PAW. had grown weary and fallen asleep in
his chair.
81 sent you word, boys, because Pm going
out of commission to-dayp' said the old
man to the firemen. s'Yes, this old machine
is worn out, and she's to be laid upP'
On the wall over his head Was a fireman's
leather hat; across the room hung bat
tered brass trumpet with its faded cord and
tassels. Not a picture-not an ornament
bare walls, with here and there spot
through which one could see daylight. He
had lived alone for years, and he had become
used to the gloom and wretchedness and the
poverty. Death had already set its seal upon
The old mans face, and the firemen had not
core an hour too soon.
sect any alarms last night?" he asked, as
the men sat around him.
1t had been quiet night, they said.
Its kinder tough to be laid away where a
Teller can't hear the bells! continued the old
man." and it seems as if he'd be lonesome
s'pose there'll be general alarms and big
fires, and all the steamers out, and l won't
know anything about it,"
Ore ofthem asked if he didn't want TO see
clergyman.
mo, guess not" he replied; give been
praying little this morning, and kinder
thinking over old days, forgiying everybody
and asking forgiveness. When Pm gone
I'd like TO have you boys man the brakes
and put me under the sod in sort O. decent
STYLE"
They asked what should be done with his
personal effects, aud he replied:
sid like the hat and trumpet put into the
coffin along with me; seems as if I'd rest
better for knowing they were there. The
neighbors can come in and take away the
rest.o
After few minutes his mind began to
wander, and he whispered to himself. Then
he shook off the weakness, and trying hard to
discern the faces of the men through tie
glaze OF death he asked:
''Tsn't that an alaIm?'
They smoothed back his thin, gray hair
and whispered that he was mistaken.
81 thought it struck APP he went on after
a moment, "but 'spose deaths picked up
the drag-rope and is hauling me out of the
house."
He was quiet again for two or three min
utes, and then dew himself up, looked wild
ly around, and whispered:
'"rell NJ. Z to play through two hundred
feet of hosew
They tried to lay him down, but he pushed
them away and hoarsely shouted:
Down with the brakes-chuck'e boys; hi /!
hi!-h-a a-an'
He fell back, and the boy, reused by his
wards, sprang Off the chair, and after glance
at the white face on the bed he whis-
pered:
"Wby, old Braze is deadr'
And he was.