Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-06
Kit.

they came to DEADLOCK IL was SUN ihoio
fun. At one juncture, however, there were
shouts that did not sound mirthful, wild
plunge among the thoroughbreds, and some
policemen ran out from the sidewalk and
talked in authoritative tones, but the crowd
was so dense no one could see what was go
ing on among the noisy drivers and their
plunging horses.
ats only a couple of boys" said the beau
tiful Felicia Hautton, settling back among
the luxurious white robes "two OF those
horrid newsboys. They ought not to be al
lowed on the avenue at all. They're always
getting under foot and frightening the
horses-such good time as we were making,
too-how disagreeable."
"Anybody killed ?" asked one fine gentle
man of another, as they passed.
NAV, two boys mixed up, that's all one
started to cross the street and fell, and
tother got run over trying to save him,
sweet Awabs, you know, can spware few
ia, ta."
"Got under the feet of highhyer and
spoiled his time" said another in dis
gusted tone.
Then the avenue was cleared and the tide
of enjoyment went on, and no more Arabs
were so foolish as to sacrifice themselves by
obstructing the triumphs Of the fashionable
throng.
At shutdown of that same day two poorly
dressed boys applied for admission at the
doors Of Harper's Hospital and inquired for
one of their number, who had been brought
thither that same afternoon. They were
permitted to see him for few moments,
and on tip-toe they entered the long, clean
ward and sought out the narrow bed on
which he lay. When they had awkwardly
greeted him, they sat down upon the edge
Of the cot, and were much embarrassed with
the strangeness Of the scene, and painfully
conscious of their own hands and feet they
were also rather shocked at their comrades
clean face; it looked so unnaturally white,
with dab of red on either cheek. Their
eyes roved stealthily about the other sick
beds and their occupants.
"Say, old feller," began the biggest of the
two boys, addressing his sick comrade, saint
you putin on heap of style ?"
"Wheres Kit ?" asked the sick boy, fret
fully; why amt he along of you ?"
The two visitors looked at each other, and
their faces grew downcast and troubled !;
they dug the toes of their boots into the
clean floor at the bedside and shufiled un-
easily, while both coughed violently in con-
cert then the big boy blurted out:
hlU Wtuu vi all tlldlt, anu hC OOlu hC
to tell you he would be up to-morrer sure
he SEE, SEE he, tell Jim it's all rite"
"You amt gassin' be you? Kit didn't
git hurt nor nothin'?"
." lie couldn't go Grants eff he waz hurt,
could he 2" asked the other doggedly; can
here" improvising lie for the occasion, he
sent yer this"
The sick and injured boy smiled as he
took the big orange in his feverish hands
and turned it over
al knew Kit wasn't the boy to forgit me
here, you fels, take a bite-it's many an
orange and stick of candy and bit of pie
we've divided atween us afore this Poor
little Kit He knowed as how liked EN-.
Here, you take squeeze" as he handed
it back.
But the boys wouldn't touch it, and the
sick patient put it under his pillow. Then
he said, in strange, quivering voice:
81 want you fels to look after Kit, and
don't you forget it; when l gets well I'll
pay back every cent but it'll be long time,
for I'm all mashed in he's little fel and
needs lookin' arter. Now, boys, don't go
back on me, will you ?"
"You needn't worry about Kit" said the
spokesman OF the two, looking away and
digging violently at the floor; "he's all
| rite"
"Lord, am tired" said the sick boy
'If it wasn't for Kit I'd as leve died as get
WE'LL but l promised mother as how I'd al
lus take care of the little chap, and I've
done it; and he wasn't cut up nor bruised
nor nuthin' when they pulled him out'n
from under the horses hoofs 7"
"Wasn't cut up nor bruised nor nothin','
echoed the visitor with his back to the bed
| lGnnI Taut unn lob artar hi N, fill / rat
outer this and III work my fingers off for
We. Lord, how dead tired | am"
He drifted away to sleep and the two boy;
left without waking him, but before they
went one of them slipped little leather bag
of marbles in his hand and the other put {
few pennies wrapped in dirty bit of news
paper, close by, where he would see them OF
waking.
| "IIe'll think Kit sent EN-" said one, a.
they softly retreated "they were in Kit
| pocket when the policeman found him-tt
think he doesn't know"
That night when the hospital doctor wen
his rounds he found the newsboy wide awak
but very still. To the familiar eye of tn
physician his symptoms were clearly defined
"Well, my boy" he said, kindly, "wha
can do for your"
-! The boys face lighted up. 81 want to Sc
eyes, yes" answered the doctor, hastily
"but you must wait until morning"
al don't-think- / CUES
I'm-booked-for- t'other--place. 1t woul,
be all right-ef it wasn't for Kit. But
promised mother I'd take care of him, an
what'll he do without me ? / can't leav
Kit"
The death-dew was on his forehead. II
beat his hands helplessly on the white spreat
while his pale lips continued to murmur, Z"
can't leave Kit p
The physician sat down by him. 1t
against the rules of hospital to hold muc
converse with the dying, or even to motif
: those who are in extremes Of the approac
of death but this was child-the doctt
, assumed the responsibility.
t "My boy, if you knew that you could NJ
} get well, would you feel very sorry?"
l "Not for myself, only for Kit"
"But if told you that Kit was we
, taken care OF that rich and kind faith,
{ had sent for him and given him beautif
: home"
a "Now your gassin," said the dying DO
u with his old fervor. dad amt that sol
I besides he broke mothers heart, and X
It wouldn't speak TO him Of he cum back"
No S"ith ioehoij uSoi wy pup hCa
!, emily one; the priest has told you Of hir
3 3 and the home he gives his children. lie
J, is who has sent for Kit"
n The SICK boy made up his parched lips
! whistle. "W-h-e-w," he said brokenl
% exits dead-killed arter all, when tri,
r 80 hard to save him |"
i :" He was dead when they took him up
! said the doctor, sand not bruise, nor
y broken limb-the shock killed him, and
Il is safe now with his Master-don't you b
Ii lieve that 7"
e But the boy did not heed him his Ii
,; moved family, and the doctor, bending dow
y heard him say again, kits dead t" Tn
d there was long silence, and before he IL
q the doctor turned the white sheet over t
! tranquil face, and Kit and his brother we
% together again.-Seiected.
'r "WHAT tiresome thing that Mrs. Smi
isl" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. I" | called the
r. | TO-DAY and she ran ON 40 falling about