Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-22
"TAKE AWAY THE HEARsE."

We were in the Office when he came
up, flying over three steps at time. and
holding in his hand u paper, contribu.
ton for the obituary column. He was u
wee fellow. only eight years old and
small for that. but the folks in our office
Knew him we'll. They had reason to.
Every day or two he came iu with a slip
of paper When he first came he was
crying bitterly. His mother and babS
brother. twin idols OF his soul, were gone.
and he mourned as one who would not
be comiorted. Then he came the next
day, fearless, but pale and anxious,
rendering the fearful notice. His tiny sis.
ter, the gentle little Eva. was no more !;
and Marion. the beautiful Marion, his
eldest sister. the pride and darling of
the household, was lying with her long
hair loose about her. and tossing her
white arms wildly, while the fearful sign
oil the pestilence was already visible in
yellow blotches on her iair face and bos.
ON. Harry. his brother. twelve years
old. had been lighting with the nurse all
day to get gu: OF bed hut now he was
lying motionless, breathing loud, and fast
a-lrrp-so last asleep that the doctors
said he never would wake again IN this
worlG. We all gathered around the lit
tie messenger, StrUked his hair, and tried
tn comfort him. .an,' everybody wanted 10
'lO something tor him or to give him
something. lie went down stairs with
Il swelling heart. iull OF misery. and vet
con 'ci"us ut growing Importance. Peo-
PIE began to hook at him. and to whisper
about him-ior this was in the beginning
| OF the plague, and they knew not the
horrors that were to follow. At nine
O'Clock at night the little fellow came in
again. with the fearful paper in his hand
Marion was just dead. and Harry died
an hour bcIUre midday Both funerals
would 60 al ten o clock in the morning
The clerk at the desk took the paper with
il shudter. and gazed ut the messenger
with wondering eyes. Everybody was
kind and attentive 10 llim-that IS nearly
every body-for sometimes y face in the
street would grow pale rs he approach
ed. and gent eman or lady wou d ster
out OF the path rs il suddenly called in
another direction. The folks in our of
flee saw him no more for three DAYS ;bu,
ut the end OF that time came in i rush
his hair disheveled. his eyes wide oper
with excitement and establishment thai
precluded grict. He had the everlasting
obituary in his hand.
who now?' asked a reporter. shocked
Uncle John is dead he gasped; and
father is his little lips worked. and hi.
hands clutched together convulsively
father is dying
The listeners looked at the little fellow
with awe, and then at eacl, other. Gu,
hand shook as we took the paper, and
passed it to the printing room.
Will that child never stop RAINING in
here ON his fearful errand>P' WHISPERED
one. " tn Il shIver.as the little ieet were
heard descending the stairs.
| Il wUndSr why he isn't taken away
from the Injected house, and sent to !,
place uf safety remarked another.
| The sound OF his feet makes my blood
run cold says a third. 1T he lives. he
will have cause to remember '7S.
A week passed and the little messen.
ger OF evil tihings was not seen. At the
end of that time his step was heard again,
He came in slowly. like one who was
weary. and held out the dreadful per.
Another one gone; that makes eight.
he said in hollow whisper. Il wonder
who II be the next
He looked keenly into the eyes OF his
listeners. as ii searching them turtively.
who is th's?' we asked. peruslng the
paper. Z.
Aunt Maria
Well, this is only seven; you said
eight
Father died week ago. he answer
| ed. Didn't they put it in The Picayunep
l couldn't come TO tell you. I've been
sick. My head aches-and no wonder.
l've been tormented by that fellow So
BY what fellow?'
'Why, that fellow with the huss?'
.HuSs?
He means hearse.' interrupted u
bystander
Dodge him as I will.' continued the
boy. he turns up again. l can't sleep
Tor the hollcrng he keeps up; and M
soon as lopen my eyes.there he is again
outside the dupr. He keeps sa, ing it
over and over
Saying what?'
Saying. There goes another one ;that
makes eight; and Who II be the nex,?''
answered the child. with a shudder.
His listeners looked at each other. sur
pri>ed and puzzled
why does he annoy rou,' asked one
Indignantly.
Il don't know replied the child, turn
ing t" e" away. but he keeps it up
They heard him descending the stairs.
In IL moment he returned. Say, mister.
there's that fellow now he whispered.
shlvering and breathless. Hes got his
black huss across the door, and / can't
get out
One OF the gentleDen rose: 'I'll soon
see what this means he said, anprily.
What can the fellow object be In fright
ening the child? Come, son; III 90
down with you and reckon he'll leave
You alone after this He clasped the
little hand closely. why, his hand is
hot with iever-ihe child must be sick
Wen gee what this brute means by scar
ing him with the hearse.'
Down stairs they went, the little one
covering behind him. There was no
hearse visible.
He has driven off, said the gentle
man, disappointed. and luckily for him,
too
No, he hasn't; there he is screamed
the child, struggling and hiding. Take
him away; oh.take him away. He keeps
on saying it?'
His skin was burning hot-his eyes
were Wild and bloodshot-he tossed his
arms and nluttered ami moaned.
Having wild with The iever,' cried a
looker-on. Take him In somewhere.
and send for the Towards. Some poor,
iriendless creature, no doubt
why, that is Co. Aliens son. OK.
claimed another. .lhe whole family
have died OF lever. His aunt j., yin1