Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-02-24

Ar Slats hour the other night q poor
old man. weak with hunger and s,ih
with cold, eckersd the CentrM Station TO
AK for lodgings. While he sat by tho
stove to get warm they heard him groan
like one IN distress, and the Captain
aArs you ssef.s or have you been
"It's here" answered the old man, as
he touched his breast. 1t all came
back to me an hour ago rs passed o
window and saw bit ola boy In his
night-gown. I would to God that
were deadi"
"What is ftp" asked the Captain, ss
he sat down beside the man.
rWIt Is the heart-ache-it Is remorsc,"
the old man answered. at 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. lam old and friendless and
worn out, and were some wheel to crush
me it would be an act of mercy
He wiped his eyes on his ragged
sleeve, made q 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 filed the house
with shouts and laughter. ! sought 70
be a good man and a kind father, and
people called me such. One night l
came home vexed. found my boy all
ing, and that vexed me still more. did
not know what allied me TO act so that
night, but it seemed as II everything
went wrong. The child had bed be-
side us, and every night, since he had
been able to speak, he had called to me
before closing his eyes in sleep, Good
night, my PAL Oh, sir, hear those
words ringing in my ears every day and
every hour, and they wiring my old heart
until l am faint" rnf.lu-s
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 goodnight, I would not reply.
Goodnight, my pa he kept calling,
and, fiend that was, would make no
answer. He must have thought me
asleep, for he finally cuddled down with
q sob in his throat. l wanted 70 get up
and kiss him, but / kept waiting, and
waiting, and finally fell asleep"
"WellP" queried the Captain, rs the
silence grew long.
w men 8WOke IL was uhy. IL was
q shrek In my ears which broke my slum-
bers, and as started up my poor wife
called: sOh! Riehardl Richard! our
Jamie Is dead in his bedl' Il was so.
He was dead and cold. There were
tears on his pale fsce-the tears he had
shed when he had called: Goodnight,
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 re-
straint as lunatic. For five long years
life was dark midnight to me. When
reason returned and went forth into
the world my wife slept beside Jamie,
my home was gone, my friends had for
gotten me, and had no mission In life
but to suffer remorse. can not forget.
1t was almost q lifetime ago, but through
the mist of years, across the valley of the
past, from the little grave thousands Of
miles away, / hear the plaintive call rs
heard it that night: Goodnight, mypal'
Send me to prison, TO the poor-house,
anywhere that may halt long enough
to diet am an old wreck, and care
not how soon death drags me down"
He was rendered food, but he could
not eat. He rocked his body to and fro
and wept and sobbed, and by and by,
when sleep came TO him they heard him
whisper: a
Goodnight, my boy, goodnight,
my Jamie!"-Detroft Free Press.