The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-03-08
Jamie's Good.Night.

oiu uous Wcuh Wltu uuuSSb uuu otiu Wttu
cold, entered the central station to ask
for lodgings. While be 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 2"' =
"It is here" answered the old man, as
he touched his breast. at all cane
back to me an hour ago as. passed a
window and saw bit OF boy in his
night gown. ! would to God that !
were deadw
"What is itr' asked the captain as he
sat down beside the man.
sit Is the heart-ache-it is remorse,"
the old man answered. 81 have wanted
to die-l have prayed for death-but
| life still clings to this poor old frame. /
lam old and friendless and worn out, and
were some wheel TO crush me 1t would
be an act of mercy"
He wiped his eyes on his ragged
sleeve made q great effort 10 control
bis feelings, and.went on:
"Forty years ago had plenty. A
wife sang 10 my home, and a young boy
rode on my knee and filed the house
with his shouts and laughter. I sought
to be good man and kind father, and
people called me such. One night I
came home vexed. I found nv boy
ailing and that-exed me still more /
don't know what allied me to act 80 that
night, but it seemed as II everything
went wrong. The child had a bed be-.
side US, and every night since ne had
been able to speak, he had called to me
before closing his eyes in sleep, good
night, my par 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 be found voice to continue;
! "God forgive me, but I was cross to
the boy that night When he called to
me goodnight, l would not reply
Goodnight, my PAP he kept calling,
and fend that was, / would make no
answer. He must have thought me
asleep. for he finally caddled down with
sob in bis throat. / wanted to get up
and kiss him, but / kept waiting aud
waiting. and finally / fell asleep." .i
"Well ?" queried the captain, as the
silence grew long.
"When awoke it was day. 1t was q
shrek in my ears which broke my slum-
hers, and as I started up nv poor wife
called: oh! Richard! Richard! our
jamie is dead in his bedr 1t was so
He was dead and cold. There were
tears on his pale face-the tears be had
shed when he called: Goodnight, my
pat and / had refused to answer Il was
dumb. Then remorse came and / wss
frantic. ! did not know when they hu
ried him, for Twas under restraint as :
lunstic. For i've long years life was ,
dark midnight to me. When reason re
turned and went forth into the worlt
my wife slept beside Jamie. my hom'
was gone, MP friends had forgotten me
aad had no mission iu life but to sulie
remorse. cannot forget it. 1t was al
most life time ago. but through th,
mist Of years. across the valley OF thu
past, from the little grave thousands o
, miles away, hear the p'aintive call as
heard it that night: Goodnight. my
pa. Send me to prison, to the poor
house. anywhere that may halt Ions
enough to die! / am an old wreck, anG
I care no: how soon death drags mi
down"
3 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: sa..
: "Good night, my boy, good night
my Jamie "-Detroit Free Press.