Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-24
Iamia,s Gnad-Niohf.

At q late hourthe 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?"
ut is here answered the old nan as
he touched lis breast cit oil came back
to me an hour ago as passed window
and saw bit of boy III his night gown.
/ would to God that / was deadl'
s'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.
/ have wanted to die--I have prayed for
death-but life still clings to this poor
old frame. j 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 | had plenty. A
wife sang in my home, and a young boy
rode on my knee and filled the house
with his shouts and 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 vexed me still more. /
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 he had
been able to speak, be had called to me
before closing his eyes in sleep, good
night, my pal 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 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 pat he kept calling, and fiend
that I was, / would make no answer. He
must have thought me asleep, for he
finally cuddled down with sob in his
throat. wanted to get up and kiss him
but l kept waiting, and waiting, and
finally ! fell asleep.
"Well?" queried the captain, rs the
| bAitutG BlGW tuiB.
when / awoke it was day. It was a
shrek in my ears which broke my slum-
beers, and as / started up my poor wife
called: OH Richardl Richard! our
Jamie is dead in his bedp 1t 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 was
dumb. Then remorse came and ! was
frantic L did not know when they
buried him, for was under restraint as
lunatic. For five long years life was o
dark midnight to me. When reason re
turned and went forth into the world
my wife slept beside Jamie, my home
was gone, my friends had forgotten me
and had no mission in life but to suffer
remorse cannot forget. II was al
most life time ago, but through the
mist of years, across the valley Of tht
past, from the little grave thousands o.
miles away, / hear the plaintive cali as ]
heard it that night: Good night, my
par Send me to prison, to the poor
house, anywhere that may halt Ions
enough to diel / am an old wreck, ano
/ care not how soon death drags m,
down"
He was rendered food. but he coulC
not eat. He rocked his body to and FRI
and wept and sobbed, and by and by
when sleep came to him, they heard hin
..(.ood night. my BOY, go~s.---s..,-s..-..-
r1ag..rff lslsce ITBSS.