The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-05-06
Dead Berries Frock.

O00u O0AssS . xhOS~.
Policemen canuot stop long Z,
sympathize With poo people bu
now and then they encounter toucs
of nature that must thrill the hardest
heart. One of the New York officers
the other day. noticed II ps"r man
peering around the junk ships. and
asked him what he MS iunking Ior.
Pm boxing f,r rn:-bu.er- III
know his rig it l should see il again.
but ! haven, the slightest idea where
he live. ar wh-re ! viii fin.i niri.
did he steal s,'n'rthins firm
YOU"
"N-no." VA ire !,.-;,a,;',y reply
"Want him arrested i,,r any tim. ,?
"No-no. ! hope y"u wont laugh
ut me if tell. You see. there's on,y
nv wife and au.I there's IL" work
and It's q struggle win H., aud SOME
times We sit In the darkness AMI wish
We were dead and buried 'lungsi'le OF
our little BERTHE, UP in the p"r folks,
share Of the cemetery. That little grave
up thore is all that keeps Us here. We
cling to life, that We may keep the
flowers growing there.
live stood ON the streets many n
time and felt like going to death ut
ono jump. but that grave rOse mp tn
warn me back. On my way bone at
night I've feared time after time. tn
find the house deserted, ar u curpse
ON the floor; but that little grave has
restrained my wife the same ~ me.
"How old was she.." asked the
officer, his own heart aching a little.
"Th-three years old" replied the
man, land she was the only child
ever cunning to bless US. We had
luck enough before she died | had
work day in and day cut; my wife
was singing the whole day long. and
when l started Tor home at night the
knowledge that Berthe would be
watching tor Inc throaga the bars ii
the gate, picked INV feet up faster
than anything ever has since"
"Well?" queried the officer, a. the
man paused.
well, she took sick and died. 1t
was three years ago. but her voice
rings in my ear up To this hour the
same a. If had left her at home. It's
the same with the wife, sir. A dozen
times day she runs to the doOr,
thinking she heard Bertie's voice /;
and never 60 in that she doesn't lo"k
at me with reproach for not having
our dead darling on my arm.
Five lost two children sighed the
officer. ~ he turned his head away.
Then YOU know G"" the wife
treasures up the little dresses, and
stockings. and hats and thugs" And
the poor fellow vent on to tell how
his wife. in making up the bundle for
the ragman one day. by mistake, put
into it little Berries Sunday frOck,
and it was sold and carried of.
"Ever since them" he went on,
"she has done nothing but weep and
lament, and I've looked here and there
and everywhere in hopes to find the
ragman, and get the precious relic
back. 1t may seem = small 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 q rich mans
child.
THAT dress had more tear stains
than al other relics, and though /
haven't fifty dollars worth Of furniture
in the house. I'd give every stick Of
it, and 60 into the street, to find
Berries Sunday frock. I don't expect
to get it now. It has probably been
sent to the paper miles before this,
and we've lost It forever"
I'm sorry, said the policeman.
"And when 90 home tonight"
softly said the man. my wife will
be standing at the gate. watching and
hoping and o. far as she can see me
she'll know BY my face that my search
has been for nothing. I had rather
lose . finger than meet her white face
and sorrowful look"
And with weary step and hopeless
heart be dragged along. having such
. mission q neither hope, despair. nor
love brings to one in ten thousand.