The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-02-17
Jamie's Goodnight.

At late hour the other night poor old
man, weak with hunger and stiff with
cold, entered the Central Station to ask
for lodgings. While he sat by the stove
to get warm they heard him groan like
one in distress, and the captain asked:
'.Are you sick, or have you been
hurt?"
''It is here" answered the old man as
he touched his breast "It all came back
to me an hour ago as I passed window
and saw a bit of boy in his night-gown.
I would to God that was deadr'
"What is it?" asked the captain as he
sat down beside the man.
"It is the heart-ache-it is remorse, +"
the old man answered. 81 have had
them gnawing away at my life for years.
I have wanted to die-I have prayed for
death life still clings to this poor
old frame. I am old and friendless and
worn out, and were some wheels to crush
me it would be an act of mercy"
He wiped his eyes on his ragged
sleeve, made great effort to control his
feelings, and went on:
Forty years ago I had plenty. A
wife sang in my home, and young boy
| rode on my knee and filled the house
with his shouts and laughter. I sought
! to be a good man and a kind father, and
people called me such. One night
came home vexed, found my boy
ailing and that vexed me still more. I
don't know what allied me to act SO that
night, but it seemed as if everything
| went wrong. The child had bed be-
side US, and every night since be had
been able to speak, he had called to me
before closing his eyes in sleep, good
night, my pa! Oh, sir, and hear those
words sounding in my ears every day and
every hour, and they wiring my old heart
| until am faint"
For a moment he sobbed like child,
then he found voice to continue:
"God forgive me, but was cross to
the boy that night. When he called to
me good night, l would not reply Good
night, my PAL he kept calling, and fiend
that was, would make no answer He
must have thought me asleep, for he
finally cuddled down with a sob in his
throat. I wanted to get up and kiss him
but I kept waiting, and waiting, and
finally fell asleep.
"Well % queried the captain, as the
silence grew long.
J "When I awoke it was day. 1t was a
shrek in my ears which broke my slum-
bers, and as / started up my poor wife
called: 'Ohl Richard! Richard! ou1
Jamie is dead in his bed!' It was So
He was dead and cold. There were tears
on his pale face-the tears he had shed
when he had called: Good night, my
pa! and had refused to answer! I was
dumb. Then remorse came and I was
frantic. did not know when they
buried him, for was under restraint as
lunatic. For five long years life was {
dark midnight to me. When reason re
turned and went forth into the worlt
my wife slept beside Jamie, my home
was gone, my friends had forgotten me
and had no mission in life but to suffel
remorse. I cannot forget. It was al
most life time ago, but through the
mist of years, across the valley of the
past, from the little grave thousands O.
miles away, I hear the plaintive call as
heard it that night: Good night, m,
pap Send me to prison, to the poor
house, anywhere that I may halt Ions
enough to die! I am an old wreck, anC
1 care not how soon death drags m,
down"
He was rendered food, but he coult
not eat. He rocked his body to and frc
and wept and sobbed, and by and by
when sleep came to him, they heard hin
whisper:
"Good night, my boy, good night, m,
Jamie!'-DetroitF Free Press.