The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-12-18

"Why, this Is Col. Aliens son." said
gentleman who entered the office. .egssI
heard that nearly al the family have
died with the fever, and the Colonel
himself is very low with it."
Eyes, there's only him and me left,
and he'll die, too. But, oh, sir" clasp
ing his little hands imploringly, "can't
you stop 'em bringin' that awful black
hnss forever to our door? It's always
there"
What does he mean?" asked the
gentleman.
TITS the hearse," was the answer. ~It
seems to have made terrible i'm
pression on him. Pity SO young child
(why, he's almost a baby should be ex-
posed to such terrors. A wee. chap,
isn't he, to be bird of ill-omen? Yet
he has brought us six death-notices
within week. declare, I shudder
when I see his poor little pale face i'll
the door!"
twas three days before the child re-
TUNED, and then he stole in so slowly
and SO feebly that no one heard his step
on the stairs, nor saw him until he stood
i'll the room. He was like ghost,
shadow, SO weak and attenuated he
looked as he sank on the nearest seat.
It's Aunt Mary" he said, "but I
dropped the paper" He held up his
trembling hands, and it was easy to sec
t!.ey could not hold feather. "That
makes eight. wonder who'll be next"
mo, You are mistaken. It's only
scven."
did you count papa? He's dead.
you know. No, I didn't bring the no.
tice, for was sick myself" He spoke
in o monotonous, tired voice, and his
pretty brown eyes were bloodshot and
heavy.
The child slowly and painfully de-
scended the steps, but in few minutes
he was heard toiling up again.
"Oh, dear, can't get past that man
with huss," he said, with quick catch
il: his breath, and his eyes
wild with terror. "He's pulled up
right against the doorway, and he keeps
looking at me, and snyin', Who next?'"
There was universal chorus of i'll
dignant exclamationt. "Wretchl mon
ster!" @G;ve me that horse-whip."
said one OF the men, "and II! teach
him to scare children"
He descended the steps three at
time, and ran to the door. No one was
there. He's gone Low, my boy" he
aa;d soothingly to the child, who was
fcei'ly descending the steps.
One quick look, and the child covered
his face with his hands, and sank to the
ground. "Don't you see him?" he
shrieked. "There, right across the
steps. He's coming up now. Oh, save
me. Don't let him take me-" And
then his voice sank into moans
The people raised him from the floor,
and as soon as they touched his parched
hands it was discovered that he was in
9 raging fever. There was no one at
home to attend to MIN, so he was car
ried to fever hospital. How long he
had had the disease it was impossibleto
say, for all were dead who knew any
thing about it or him.
It was merely conjectured that the
fever came upon him when his aunt,
the last member Of the household, was
On her death bed, and in his delirium
he had wandered to the familiar office.
de died that night. A very few min
utes before his death he fell into light
doze, and lay go still and calm that the
nurse began. to think the uncertain
disease had taken favorable turns
The blue lines about his baby month
disappeared, and when he suddenly
opened his eyes the nurse almost
started at the radiance which seemed
literally to stream from their brown
depths.
Mamma, mamma" he cried in
strong, joyful tones, $50 you've come
for mo at last, you, and Margaret, and
al! OF 'em. Lift me up, mamma, SO the
h71ss man can't catch me! Lift nc up
higher, higher" and with laugh of
triumph the child was lifted up above
time, and pain, and all mortal ills.
I do not think any one knew the
little fellows Christian name, so tt.
notice of his death was only the tale OF
! Lis suferiDgs. NJ. B. W1LL1AMs.