Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-11-08
TIA DARKNESS PASSED AWAY.


1t was mistry, gloomy fall even.
ing, and the drizzle and fog, compiled
with the early twilight, shrouded the
buildings in gloom, and the hands on
the town clock were all but invisible
10 the hour Of D. Just oppositei is the
Office of Brown, Sheriff. * Co. With
in all is cheerful, cory and bright, and
as the clock chimes out the hour, with
a CHEEKY whistle he draws on his
great coat and goes out into the even
ing.
A brief description Of Charlie Sher-
rll will be sufficient and / viii give
it as he walks rapidly along the busy
streets. His is not face that would
attract particularly at the first glance,
but a more careful examination
would have revealed strength Of char
acter. will and enterprise, while the
dark eyes, rather deeply set, plainly
Indicated temper and resolution to
match the full, firm mouth and yet,
withal, there was an expression near
ly feminine about his face when his
thoughts were free from business.
Six years ago he had entered the
employ of the firm, Of which he,is now
a Junior member, as an errand boy.
Coming from the country, imbued
with a spirit 70 win, he had worked
and won his way up until now, at
the commencement Of my story, he
found himself, at little more than 81,
Aigh on the road to success.
Stepping into q fruit store to pur-
chase something to tempt his delicate
mothers appetite, he was waited on
by a little girl scarcely more than
twelve or thirteen years old, whose,
bright, sweet face would attract any
glance After making his purchase,
he crossed over, and, addressing the
proprietor said Where did you
get that little sunbeam, Stearns!'
''Who do you mcan2 All, Dot, in
answer to Sherrill's nod Why,
she came on yesterday was brought
here by one of my customers from
the South Her parents died during
the yellow fever scoWge last
year and she was determined to
come to the city, SO George brought
her here, knowing that ! would do
the best | could by her But | am
sorry, for with her pretty, pure face,
she is sadly out of place, unprotected
as she rs, I'M the city, with all its
snares and evil temptations.
At this point Mr., Stearns was call
ed away, and Mr., Sheriff., turning
to leave. caught another glimpse Of
the child's pretty face.
Passing the store daily to and from
his Office, he always saw the child.
Whether by chance or not she was
always near the window, and Char
lie, loath to own it himself, would
search for that little face he had
learned to look for
So things ram along for some time,
when one evening Mr.. Sheriff., on
entering his home. found anxious
faces gathered around his mothers
bed, and to his hurried inquiries the
physician answered. 'Au attack OF
paralysis; not necessarily fatal, but
very apt to leave her helpless
And so it proved. In a few weeks
her general health was fully restored,
but. alas the right side was lifeless
Placed in her rolling chair she could
be wheeled from room to room, but
she sadly needed some ones constant
care and one evening when her sOu
came home, she told him to try ano
find some lady to act as companion
some one to read to her and loob
after many other small matters sc
necessary to her comfort
They advertised for a ladies com
panion, and though the applicants
were many, none suited Mrs. Sher
rill, who, naturally eNactlng anC
particular was rendered more so 10y
pain and sickness. Not one tina
came would do. One was too old
another too sad, and so on, unit
Charlie quite discouraged, had con
Cluded that his efforts We're of n,
avail, when, in passing Mr. Stern'S
Dots smiling face meet his glance
and the wonder came, that If she ma,
any education, and was willing, VIII,
she wouldn't do Her childish limo
cence and beauty might just suit I'M
mother To think was to act witt
him. and with a few steps he was a
Dots side; Did you ever go t
school little girl2' "Ah, yes. SIN
said. 'aud mamma taught me a grea
deal, too That's good. If every
thing should Smt, how would You llk
to live with me and take care of IN,
sick mother / think you would lil0
it, Bright Eyes We would pay yo,
well, and YOU could have bird am,
flowerSan lots of nice things. Tn
child saw the pretty picture and
childlike, wanted TO GO We'll, w
will see Mr. Stearns, and hear hisopir
ion So Mr.. Stearns was consulted
and was very glad that the pretty lii
tie thing, whom everybody loved
was to have n home away from tn
temptations of public store And S
ii came that Dot was installed i
Charlie Sherul's house. Her chill,
like beauty and frankness please
1Irs. Sheriff., who soon learned /
love her with the same love she ha
given her little Alice who had die
long years before, and the little wa
IL I.,a,, lfl-s r44,Rfa