Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-02-18
THE CHILD ON THE DOOR
"Did she leave any children p
"Yes, this bit of a child"
uAnd who'll talee her 2n

Nsf Nbfo Wv VI - hhhas
"And who'll take her p
'I don't know. We are all very
poor around here, sir, but must fine
her place somewhere. God help tht
! little girl, for she's all alone now"
The sexton had called at the old
tenement house on Lafayette street
east, TO take body TO the pauper's
tield-the body of one whose life had
been worn out in the treadmill OF hun.
ger and despair. Nobody knew that
the mother was dead-hardly suspect
ed that she was i'll, until the child ap-
peared at the neighbor's door and
said
"Would you be afraid to come
over to my house, for ma is dead
and Pm keeping awful still, and
I'm afraid to talk to her when she
won't answer"
The mother had been dead four
hours, Long enough before day came
the fame Of life had burned low and
died out, and that child, hardly seven
years old, bad been with the corpse
through the long hours, kissing the
face and calling for life to return.
When they asked il she had any
friends she shook her head. When
they told her she was alone in the
great world, she looked out of the
window on the black November day
and answered:
81 can make three kinds of dresses
for doll babies, build fires and carry 10
wood and I'll work ever so hard if
somebody will lot me live with them.
There was no funeral. There was
no need of sermon there. The lines
Of sorrow around the dead woman's
mouth counted for more in heaven
than any eulogy man can deliver.
There was no Grape. In place Of it
three or four honest,hearted women
let their tears drop on the white face
and whispered:
poor mother-pOor child
The child's big blue eyes were full
of tears, but there was hardly tremor
in her voice as she nestled her warm
cheek against the lips still forever, and
said
"Good.by, ma-you'll come down
from heaven every night at dark,
won't you, and you'll take me up there
just as soon as you can, won't your
The landlady locked up the house,
and the child went home with one of
the women. When night came she
stole out Of the house and away from
those who sought 70 comfort her, and
going back to the old house, she sat
down on the doorstep, having no com
pany but the darkness An officer
passed that way, and leaning over the
gate, he peered through the darkness
at something on the step and called
out:
"ls anybody there ?"
Nobody but a little girl, came the
answer
"Who is it?'
ats little girl whose ma was
buried to-day"
Ha npened the gate and went closer.
and as he made out the little bare head
and innocent face, be said
"Why, child, aren't you afraid z"
81 was afraid little while ago." she
said "but just as soon as ] asked ma
not to let anybody hurt me | got right
over it, Would any one dare to hurt
a little girl whose ma is dead ? They
could be tooken up, couldn't they p
He offered to go with her to tho
house where she was to have home
for few days, and taking his hand
with the utmost confidence, she walk
cd beside him, and said
VI amt going to cry much till | go
to bed, where the folks can't see me, "
81 hope every one will be good to
you" he remarked, as he put his hand
over her curly head.
@lt they don't they'll never go to
heaven, will they?'
dNo."
There was long pause and then
she said
"But | guess they will be- | can
make doll out OF a elothes-pin and
piece of calico, and | guess somebody
will be glad to let me live with en-.
If you see me over on the step some
other night you needn't be bit afraid,
for amt big enough to hurt any
body, even if | didn't want to cry all
the time l'--Dtroi Free Prees