The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-13
Written for the sunday sentinel
SOMETHING FOR THE POOR.

~ MRS. SMILE 4. 2A1AGE.
rs Is bitter night" terribly cold"
makes YOU hurry mp" we're among the
greetings mat passed from lip TO lip as bust
ne-s men stopped for moment on the street
-Ioa remember what Friday night was; the
keen, cutting wind thay penetrated to your
very heart despite furs and hanncls. and
hurried you home 70 fire and food. What
do YOU imagine became Of the poor those
long. DARK hours OF cold and hunger? Did
you take the tiu4e 20 consider or TO help any
OF those who can rot help themselves?
Henry Byram locked his office door and
stood for s. moment on the pavement before
ne started on his hcmeward way. His heart
had been very sad and heavy. and as .he
lowering clouds had darkened his room, he
had pushed aside mis- writing and let his
thoughts wander whithersoever they would.
and now they we're always lingering about
one memory-that OF Charlie. MS only boy,
the darling of bis heart Two weeks ago he
had gone home tired and depressed.
for business cares eere pressing
sore upon him The twilight had
fallen and the lights were cleaning
from hundred happy homes, and glancing
through the window he could see the merry
children playing shout the fireside, and hear
now ana then shout OF Joy As he neared
bis own door the shadows lifted from his
heart, and the joyous welcome that greeted
him flied him with delight. Two faces
were pressed against the window pane-they
were the bright faces that we're ever LOOKING
for his sarrniuU ~. -4-frofs and his cbfIIf~
Mr.. Byram threw open the hall door, and
Charlie bounded down the steps and into
his arms. ready for the ride on papa's
shoulder back 10 the fire in Nthe sitting
room The next morning the lips that
were raised for the affeCtiOnate kiss were
parebed. and scarlet Pushes dyed the round
ed cheeks, and the bright little fellow could
not play with papa for "his head ached.
All day the father anxiety increased. and
though he strove to accept il good faith the
doctors opinion, mis- fears we're increasing
All night he sat by the bed and watched
his child, while the pain IN the white
threat and brow made the breath come in
g.,sTs, and drove reason from the brain, and
IN the vagaries Of deirium he talk
ed wildly Another day and night
of agony and pain. and little Charlie 6as
dead. Poor mother and fatherl How many
IL tllls city sympathiZe with them in their
bereavement though as yet they we're 50
stricken and numbed they hardly realized
their loss Gentle hands brushed the
long golden curls and laid them about
the small but shapely head. Care
fully, tenderiy, the soft merino folds were
draped about the tiny form and the waxen
hands were folded Cor the last time over the
cold pulseless breast. A few white flowers,
dropping buds and fragrant blossoms were
in tie Little fingers, and among the glossy
curls, and the child Was ready for the mar
Fnf that 60 and yet terribly
separated from those who had loved the pale
sleeper They kissed him again and again.
for x was the last lr3e that they should
touch the sweet mouth, and those Who have
suffered know Whist fearful depths of sorrSw
are marked by those few words, for the last
time" Henry Ryram saw nothing but the
white lace before him, heard naught but the
echoed voice, Papa. l love YOU" and IN
consciously did bis eyes trace the brief in
scription, Charles Byrsm, aged years"
and his memory pictured the triumph
Of the little heart when the fifth
birthday was reached and now he was dead
There was little mound IN Crown Hill
where underneath the snow rested the boy
he had loved better than his own life and
reason, and rejection could not force the re-
mcmDrance that that was only the body
the fral, beautiful casket that had once
held the precious jewel be had lost. He
had been thinking of Charlie all the after
uoJ-s tND WINS eit,pg WY even YET Ut tonlO
almost feel the warm kisses and the loving
embrace. as he ran 70 meet him. and now
the home was desoIste and bare. There
were no childish feet upon the stairs follow
ng his own no eager hands stealing into
his with shy yet proud affection, no rapid
questionings ss 10 this or that, but silence
unbroken save for the sobs of his heart
broken wife, and he turned 70 go to her to
comfort her if he could, for she tlung to her
grief and would not be cornforted.
That very morning he had watched her
fcndly laying away the garments their little
one had worn, r-essing the folds with
motherly touch and weeping over che famil-
lar things. They might have kept some
poor child warm but they could not have
been bought at any. price and the mother
would not give them away to any one.
She lscerated her heart afresh every
time she handled them, but that
she did not heed. The wind blew
fercely around the corner and nearly lifted
Mr.. Byrsm from his feet as he started home
ward. The men and women he met were
nearly all warmly dressed and yet they were
shiyering with cold, but once in a while the
tattered garments of some poor wretch
would futter by him, and he would catch
glimpse of a face terrible in suffering and
pain. Twice he stopped TO drop few nick
els into trembling. out-stretched hands, and