National Republican., 1878-12-21
Little Bertie's Frock.
From the Detroit Free Press.

Little Bertie's Frock.
From the Detroit Free Press.
He was walking up Macomb street peer
ing in on the Italians, glancng into open
windows at junk-buyers, and now and then
entering alleys to inspect rickety old
vehicles standing in front Of barns.
"What am looking for?" he answered
the policeman "Well 1t may strike you as
foolish, but have been seeking around after
a rag buyer. I'd know his rig If should
see 1t again but | haven't the least idea
where he lives or when I'll find him.
Did he steal anything from you ?"
"No-no," was the hesitating reply.
Want him arrested for anything?"
"No-no."
The officer was wondering what the cause
could be, when the man said:
al feel bit ashamed to tell you, but
perhaps you wont laugh at me. You see.
| have old clothes on, and I don't look as
If had any cash to spare, I'm only poor
laboring man, I've rented cottage up by
the reservoir, and though I've only the old
woman with me, it's often that we barely
have enough to eat. When there's plenty
of work one Of us is sure 10 be sick, and
when We are in health the world goes
dead against U.S. II is sort of lifc-and-
death struggle with us and sometimes we
sit in the darkness and wish that we were
dead and buried long side of our little Ber-
tie, 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
streets many time and felt like going TO
death ut one jump, but the grave rose up
to warn me back. On my way home at night
I've feared, time after time, TO iiud the
house deserted Or u corpse on the floor but
that little grave has restrained my wife the
same as me.
How old was sho?" asked the officer,
his own heart aching little.
"Th-three years old, replied the man
land she was the only child coming to bless
US. We had luck enough before she died.
| had work day in and day out my wife
was sin ing the whole day long, and when
started for home at night, the knowledge
that BERTHE would be watching for me
through the bars of the gate picked my feet
up faster than anything ever has since"
"Well?" quivered the officer as the man
paused.
"Wcll, she took sick and died don't
want to tell you more than that, or I'll be
breaking right down here in the street and
people will wonder if I've been drinking.
1t was three years ago that she died, but
her voice rings in my ears the same as If I'd
left her home. It's the same with the wife,
sir, dozen times a day she rushes to the
door thinking she heard Bertie's voice and
| never go in that she doesn't look at me
with rcprOach for not having our dear dar-
ling in my arms"
"I've lost two children" sighed the of
iicer, as he turned his head away.
"Then you know how the wife treasures
up the little dresses and hats and things.
We put all those things away after the tuner
al. and though it almost broke our hearts
to get the bundle down and look it over, we
somehow had to do il every Sunday and
there wasn't thing that hadn't been tear
wet before the first year was gone. Those
les were our riches. We wouldn't ex-
change them for the wealth ofany man you
can name. One day about month ago
rag-buyer came along. You may think it
funny, but even the poorest Of the poor
sometimes have rags to sell My wife
made up a little bundle that day-enough
to get tin cup or something of that kind
and in some way or other Bertie's frock
our dead child's Sunday frock-got mixed
up with the rags and paper, and was sold
and carried of. My wife has done nothing
but weep and lament since that day, and
4 W ioohNt hoi' anu hoptb
to find the rag-man and get the precious
relic back. 1t may seem little thing to
you, sir; but to us-we remember the first
time she wore it-how proud she was-how
we took her walking-how much she looked
like a rich mans child. That dress had
more tear-stains than all the other rel
relics, and though | haven't $50 worth of
furniture in the house T., give every stick
of it and go into the street to find Bertie's
Sunday frOck. don't expect to find it now
1t has probably been shipped to the paper
mills ere this, and we have lost it forever"
Pm sorry" said the policeman.
"And when | 90 home to night whis-
pered the man, my wife will be standing
at the gate watching and hoping and so
far AS she can see me She know by my
face that the search has not availed. had
rather lose u finger than meet her white
face and reproachful look, wish we were
both dead"
And with weary step and hopeless heart
he dragged along, having such mission
rs neither hope nor despair nor love brings
to one in ten thousand.