The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1876-12-22
Selected Story.
A SMALL MARTYR

terial of which Tommy's pants had been
originally made. Patch by patch is said
to be neighborly, bat patch upon patch,
leggarly. Poor, little beggarly Tom.
There was hungry look in the boys
great honest eyes-for despite his rags it
was knewn to the neighborhood that Tom
.was honest-that no amount Of good food
could Danish. Heaven knows the poor
child needed food sorely enough, but his
lonely little heart longed for something
more than this. Gould you have seen him
all alone in the great church-yard, laying
his poor, tired head down on his mothers
grave, and wetting the green sod with the
bitter tears, wrung from his tortured heart
in his lonely agony, then you would have
understood that Toms greatest need was
to be gathered into some ones great, warm
caressing love.
He was only baby now-this seven
year old boy-prematurely old through
his woefuI experiences of the great world
about him. How be came into this world
and the reason ofhis coming, was as much
amystery to him as it is to the most pro-
found philosopher that ever undertook to
elucidate the subject.
Neither could he understand the reason
that one white, sweet face that had bent
lovingly over him, should have been laid
away forever with the damp ground lying
heavily and immovably about it. He re,
'membered the last words those pale moth
er's lips had said, and in his baby heart
had treasured them as sacred trust.
Tommy, stay by thy father; be true to
him try to make him better 50 that we
may be ell together there.
Then, with the white face turned toward
the open window, through which the dis
tant blue sky was visible, the last spark OF
life went out, and",Tommy's head rested on
the bosom of the dead.
An unsteady step had come up the walk
through the broken gate, and dark shad
ow had fallen upon the sunht floor. Tom
my lifted his head.
"Hush !" he said, with bis small finger
on his lips "after SO much pain, she's
asleep at last"
Over the bloated face a look of horror
came, and into the bleared eyes the hot
tears gushed and rolled slowly down tbs
coarsened cheeks.
''Mary, 0 Mary darling speak to nj
once more! D God too late, too late.
He covered down over his dead-h
claSped his hands il agony, tore at his un
combed hair,-but there was no awakening
% poor, little motherIess Tommy had said
"she was asleep at last" ;"
Such little time it had been since sh
was happy laughing girl, her step as ligh
as q fawn's, roses blooming in her cheeks
and her glad young heart full of life an
love. And now? Lying there cold am
still, with her thin. pulseless fingers laie
ever her broken heart
Through all the indifference those year
of drinking had imbued him with, the fae
Hpptafei ~ ~ Hit, eeliesfi+ lis his brain ct y
indistinct ideas, and bringing his min
face to face with the terrible truth. Il
had killed her. He didn't need twelve me
to assure him Of this; his conscience wa
faithful aocuser. He looked back owe
the few years other married life-renen
bered how che had come to him, With he
heart full Of love, and her hands willln
to give all needful help; remembered, to-
the beast he had made of himself lie ha
scoffed at temperance stories-at reitera
ed warnings--at friendly words implyin
that there vas danger to him. He vs.
strong and great---his nerves steady, b
brain eiear~-what harm could there be
taking q glasso of wine
From one glass it went to two, tbs
more; then from one night out with
party of friends, it went on to two night
then more than this from laughing plea
antly at his wife's gentle remonstfances,
came to rough words spoken unkindl,,
from one business loss, through grown
incapacity, it came down to utter failure
total ruin.
Hs knew all of this and now that Ma
was dead he had grown 50 sober that
could thiak ii over clearly. Even be b
not heard her last words. Had there be
any thought Of him {
He vas TOO gemorssfGl u this the q
hour Of bis grief to think ef AaFy's chi
but the thought came 70 him 81 last.
was not entirely alone. The boy, With
mothers dark gray eyes was looking vi
fully mp TO him. How often be had g
that look ia the eyes once bright and !
.n-~ -. - n FAvmssp nffEnd