The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-10-16

vice, and with lasting benefit to others as
we'll as yourself.
Bertte's Sunday Frock.
He was walking up Macomb street,
peering in on the Italians, glencing into
open windows at junk. buyers, and now
and then entering alleys to inspect ricke-
ty old vehicles standing in front of
barns.
"What am I looking for9" he answered
the policeman; "well, it may strike you
as foolish, but I've been searching around
for whole month, and may have to keep
it up for another. I'm looking for a
ag-buyer. I'd know his rig if should see
it again, but I haven't the least idea
where he lives Dr. when I'll find him."
"Did he steal something from you9"
"N-no," was the hesitating reply.
"Want him arrested for anythinga"
| "N-no." -,
The officer was wandering what the
cause could be when the man said: sa
II feel bit ashamed to tell you, but
perhaps you won't laugh at me. You
see l have old clothes on, and I don't
look as if | had any cash to spare. I'm
only poor laboring man, renting a cot
tage up by the reservoir, and though
I've only the old woman with me its
often that we barely have enough to eat.
When there is plenty of work one of us
is sure to fall sick, and when we are in
health the world goes dead against US.
1t is sort of a life and death struggle
with us, and sometimes we sit in the
darkness and wish we were dead and
buried 4ongside of our little BERTHE, up in
the poor folks share of Elmwood. That
little grave up there is all that keeps
us here-we cling to life that we may
keep flowers growing there. I've stood
on the wharf many time and felt like
going to death at one jump, but that grave
rose up to warn me back. On my way
home at night, I've feared, time after
time, to find the house deserted or a
corpse on the floor; but the little grave
has retained my wife the same as me-"
''How old was she? asked the officer,
bis own heart aching little.
''Th-three years old, replied the man,
land she was the only child ever coming
to bless us. We had luck enough before
she died. had work day in and day out;
my wife was singing the whole day long.
and when I stated for home at night tie
knowledge that BERTHE would be watch
ing for me through the bars of the gate
picked up my feet faster than anything
ever has SINCE"
'WellY" queried the officer. as the man
paused.
swell, she took sick and died. don't
want to tell you more than that, or I'll be
breaking down right here in the street
and people will wonder if I have been
drinking. It is three years ago since she
died, but her voice rings in my ears this
hour the same as if I had left her at home.
1t Us the same with the wife SRA dozen
times day she runs to the door, thinking
she heard Berries voice; and never %
in that she doesn't look at me with re
proach for Lot having our dead darling on
my ARM"
I've lost children" sighed the officer,
as he turned his head away. -,
''Then you know how the wife treas
ures up the little dresses, and stockings,
and hats and things. We put all those
things away after the funeral, and though
it almost broke our hearts to set the bun
die down and look 1t over, we somehow
had to do it every Sunday; and there
wasn't thing which hadn't been tear
wet before the first year was gone. These
relics have been our riches We wouldn't
exchange them for the wealth of any
man you can name. One day about a
month ago rag buyer came along. You
may think it funny, but even the poorest
of the poor sometimes have rags to sell.
Wife made up little bundle that day
enough to get a tin cup, or something of
the kind-and in some way or other Ber-s
ties frook-our dead child's Sunday frock
got mixed up with the rags and papers
and was sold and carried off, NV wife |
has done nothing but weep and lament |
since that day, and I've looked here
and there and everywhere in hopes |
to find the rag-man and get the precious
'elic back. It may seem a little thing to
you, sir, but to us, we remember the first
line she wore it-how proud she was
low we took her walking how. much
he looked like rich mans child. That
lress had more tear. stains than all the
'ther relics, and though l havnt fifty
dollars worth of furniture IN the house, I'd
i've every stick Of it and go into the
treet to find Bertie's Sunday frock.
ont expect to get it now. It has prob
bly, been shipped to the paper-mill ere
his, and we have lost it forever"
'I'm sorry" said the policeman
''And when I go home tonight"
'hispered the man, "wife will be stand
'g at the gate, watching and hoping:
nd as far as she can see me she'll tell by
y face that the search has not availed.
had rather lose finger than meet her {
hite face apd reproachful look. I wish
e we're both dead ~ /
And with weary st,p and hopeless (
cart he dragged along, having such
lission as neither hope nor despair nor
we brings to one in ten thousand =
etr0St free Press.
A Singular Medical Operation.
A correspondent of the Hartford Times a
riting from Weatherfeld, Conn, says: il
L.. 4 - & -