Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-02
Dead Berries Frock.

Policemen cannot stop long to sympa-
thize with poor people; but now snd
then they encounter touch of nature
that must thrill the hardest heart. One
of the New York officers, the other day,
noticed poor man peering around the
junk shops, and asked him what he was
looking for.
"I'm looking for q rag.buyer. I'd
know his rig if I should see it again,
but I haven't the least idea where he
lives or when I'll find him."
"Did he steal something from you ?"
"N-no," was the hesitating reply.
"Want him arrested for anything ?"
"No-no. Hope you won't laugh
at me if I tell. You see. there's only
my wife and I-and-there's no work,
and it's struggle with us, and some
times we sit in the darkness and wish
we were dead and buried 'longside of
our little BERTHE, up in the poor folks
share of the cemetery. That little
grave up there is all that keeps us here;
we cling to life, that we may keep the
flowers growing there. ........ .a.. F.
"I've stood on the streets many a
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 that little grave has restrained my
wife the same as me-"
~" How old was she ?" asked the Off
Ger, his own heart aching little.
"Th-three years old" replied the
man, "and she was the only child ever
coming to bless us. We had luck
enough before she died. I had work
! day in and day out; my wife was sing
ing the whole day long, and when I
started for home at night, the knowl-
edge that BERTHE would be watching for
me through the bars of the gate, picked
my feet up faster than anything ever
has SINCE" .,aH .r~.. . .4... .
Well?" ,queried the officer, as the
man paused. Oh"
swell, she took sick and died. 1t
was three years ago, but her voice rings
in my ear up to this hour the same as
if had left her at home. It's the same
with the wife, sir. Adozen times a day
she runs to the door, thinking she heard
Bertie's voice; and never go in that she
doesn't look at me with reproach for
not having our dead darling on my
arm" a.... .-ti
I've lost two 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" And the poor
fellow went on to tell how his wife, in
making up little bundle for the rag
man one day, by some mistake, put into
it little Berties Sunday frock, and it
was sold and carried off. .Hnr.s
Ever since then, he went on, 4" 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 q 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 rich mans child.
"That dress had more tear stains
than all the other relics, ard though I
haven't fifty dollars worth of furniture
in the house. I'd give every stick of it,
and go into the street, to find Bertie's
Sunday frock, I don't expect to get it
now. 1t has probably been sent to the
paper mill before this, and we've lost it
forever"
Sim sorry" said the policeman.
"And when I go home tonight"
softly said the man, my wife will be
standing at the gate, watching and
hoping and as 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 he dragged along, having such
mission as neither hope, despair, nor
love brings to one in ten thousand.