News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-06-22

Fritz gladly obeyed, and when he fin
ished the air, took his coveted prize ani
crept out into the darkness again witt
oh such a happy little heart beating
under his tattered jacket.
He had been SO absorbed in his mis-.
sion of love as not to notice how far he
had wandered from home. AS the child
walked slowly along, his illy-clad form
was chilled and numb from the cold
that had grown more intense as the pal
of night settled over the city. Reach
ing square where the lamps were
cleaning brilliantly and sleighs filled
with merry pleasure-parties were dash
ing along at reckless pace, he paused,
fully realizing the danger of crossing
the broad thoroughfare but beyond ii
Gustchen was perhaps waiting for him,
wondering where he had gone. Taking
firmer grip on his treasures, his vio-
lin and the paper containing the tart,
he attempted to pick his way between
the passing vehicles.
His eyes were turned in one direc-
ton, and, In the binding snow, he did
not see the prancing, restless horses,
| terrified at the sound of the bells, that
were coming nearer and nearer. Is
there no guardian angel at hand to
snatch him from the jaws of death The
| occupant of the sleigh saw the child's
danger, and with herculean strength
made a mighty effort to hold the horses
back, knowing that one moment OF time
would prevent that little life from being
extinguished forever. At the Tightening
of the curb the frightened animals made
a desperate plunge forward. Fritz
turned, but it was too late to escape ;
there was no elasticity in the stiffened,
half-frozen limbs when he attempted to
spring aside. He was dazed with ter
ror, and stretching forth his hands
called, "Gustchen Little mother "and
the next instant was trampled under the
horses feet.
The animals, as if conscious of their
fearful work, stopped suddenly. The
driver jumped from the sleigh, and rails
ing the mangled little body, placed it
terderly on the seat, wrapping the fur
robes around it, and turning the horses
In the direction from whence they had
come, drove to a fine house on one OF
the avenues near by. The family ply
stefan was hastily summoned, and pro-
nounced the child's injuries mortal.
The accident was reported at the near
est police station, and from there tele-
graphed to the various precincts
Throughout the city, that in case the
lads friends should apply to the police
they would be told where to find him
Gustchen was alarmed when she re.
turned and found Fritz was absent.
Making inquiries of the neighbors, she
| learned that no one had seen or heard of
him for several hours. Frau Humber
remarked that she would probably find
| him at the station house, as she heard
the police were ordered to arrest all
street musicians. The girl, whose heart
throbbed painfully with an underlined
dread, went to the station-house, where
news of the accident had just been re-
ceived. The captain, plying the lonely,
terrified child, advised her to have the
father or mother of the boy go with her
to the house where he was lying,
wounded.
eff it is my Fritz whose life has been
crushed out of him, he has no father,
no mother, no one on earth to care for
him but me-" she walled in fearless
! agony.
The address was given her, and she
started out alone, with the mighty weight
of an approaching desolation pressing
heavily upon her. She was too much
excited to be awed at the grandeur of
the house, and when, in answer to a
violent pull at the bell. the door was
opened, said, in trembling tones:
"My brothers, little musician-ois
lost. They told me"
eyes, my child. Come in, replied a
kindly voice, and she was drawn into
warm, light hall.
''Tell me, oh, tell me, it is not my
Fritz ?" she cried, beseechingly, clasp
ing her hands over her eyes es if TO shut
ont the horrible thoughts which forced
themselves into her mind.
81 do not know the poor little fellows
name. He has been asking for some
one whom he calls little mother"
Gustchen uttered low moan and sank
ifeless at the feet of the speaker. Ten
der hands applied restoratives, and
presently the strong young life reas-
serted itself. She opened her eyes, then
closed them again as the memory of the
terrible sorrow that had befallen her
returned. When she grew more COM
posed they led her to the elegantly-fur-
nished room where Fritz lay. Near him
on the bed was his broken violin and
the paper containing the tart. The ad-
monition to be quiet was not necessary.
Every thought of self was stifed, for
had not all her young life been devoted
to the care of this fair haired boy whom
she loved with more than sisterly affec-
tion?
They need not tell her to be quiet for
his sake. Had she not, as far back as
she could remember, borne privation
and toll for his sake, that she might be
enabled to place little of the sunshine
of life in his path-very little, it is true
yet how willingly, how lovingly it
had been given. Crushing back the
agonized cry that rose to her lips, when
she saw him she bent over and tenderly
kissed the innocent young face on
which the death clew had already gath
cred.
Gustchen, are you pleased because
I bought you the tart? I earned the
money all by myself. I went long
way and was very cold and tired. Sing
to me, little mother, L want to sleep.
When [ wake"
AS he ceased speaking, Gustchen
knelt beside the bed and sang a plain
tive German air che knew Fritz loved.
Those who heard never forgot the sound
of the strangely choking tones as the
weird melody flowed from her lips and
eyes unused to weeping, shed tears of
heartfelt pity. Toward morning the
the lad died. His last words were
"LittIe mother the angels know our
songs-I hear them singing"