The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-12
Jnmle's Goodnight.

AT late hour the other n,g'., poo
OLD man, weak with hunger and s.iff wit
cold. entered the central station, Detroi,
10 ask Tor lodgings. While he sat by til
stove to get warm they heard Inn groa
nKe one III distress. and the captain asked
Are you sick, or have you been hurt7'
cit is here" answered the old man as h
touched his breast. lit all came back I,
me an hour ago as passed window an,
saw bit of boy in his night gown.
would to God that were dead u"
"What is it ~ asked the captain as h,
sat down beside the man.
vt is the heart.achc--it is remorse, " thu
Old man answered. 81 have had them
gnawing away at my life for years. have
wanted TO dic-l have prayed for death
put life still clings to this poor old frame.
am Old and friendless aud worn out, and
were some wheel to crush me it would Inc
al act of mercy"
lie wiped his eyes On his ragged sleeve,
made great effort to control his fccIinps'
and went on:
"Forty years ago had plenty. A wife
sang IN my home and young boy rode on
my knee and filled the house with his shouts
ana laughter. sought to be good man
and kind father, and people called me
such. One night came home vexed. I
found my boy ailing and that vexcd mo
SILL more. don't know what allied me 10
act so that night, but it seemed as if every
thing went wrong. The child had a bed
beside us, and every night since he hadbcen
able TO speak had called to me before closing
his eyes in sleep, Goodnight, my pal' on,
Sir, and heard those words sounding in
my ears every day and every hour, and they
wiring my old heart until am fuint."
For moment he sobbed like a child,
then lie found voice to continue:
"God forgive me, but was cross to the
boy that night. When he called to me
goodnight, | would not reply. Good
night my pa, ho kept calling, and ficnd
that was, l would make no answer He
must have thought me asleep, for he trally
cuddled down with sob in his throa..
wanted to get up and kiss him, but |
Kept waiting, and waiting, and finally
fell asleep"
"Well 7" querlcd The captain, as the 81.
lence grew long.
"When | awoke it was day. 1t was a
Shrek III my cars which broke nv slum-
Ders, and as l started up my poor wife
called: oh! Richard Richardl our ia
mie is dead in his bcd!' 1t was 30. He
was dead and cold. There were tears on
his pale face-thc tears he had shed when
ne had called: Goodnight, my pa = and
l had refused to answer | was dumb.
Then remorse came and [ was frantic. Il
did not know when they buried him. for |
was under restraint as lunatic. For five
long years life was a dark midnight to me-
When reason returned and went forth
g1tup EHa9 dpf Fly WeGd Wits IFS 9s ta ,
to suffer remorsc. cannot forget. 1t was
almost lifetime ago, but through the mist
of years, across the valley of the past, from
the little grave thousands OF miles away,
| hear the plalntive call as heard 1t that
night: Goodnight, my pal" Send me to
prison, to the workhouss, anywhere that
may halt long enough to die! | am an old
wreck and | care not how soon death
drags ME down."
lie was rendered food, but he could not
cat. He rocked his body to and fro and
wept and s)bbed, and by and by, when
sleep came to him, thoy heard him whisper:
"dood-nightf my boy, goodnight, my
jamie !"