Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-03-14
For the " eeki, Sraphis.
PEN PIcTURTs
Of Tho Charlton Hills.
BY AzILE E, CROSBY.

i was late one nlgn., Cold, dreary,
rainy one, when the rain turned to ice
as soon as 1t touched the earth. We
had slept the first deep sleep and lay
halfunconscious, when pattering feet
were heard on the door and chlldren's
voices were heard in half whisper.
Then louder spoke one as if afraid,
20, auntie, my mamma sent US for
you. Will you 60 please2"
"Yes," we answered "come in and
warm"
The swaying brarhes slashed TO-.
gether making the outside world full of
sad, forboding sounds. And such
little, shivering, half clad bodies that
make the hear ache with pity.
Soon we were IN the way, with
lantern in hand, prking cur way as
best We could oyer tie icy clods. Stop.
ping at house By the wayside; a
neighbor joined us Then over hills
and through deep hollows we picked
our way to the chin. On reaching
the doora big, bully man set Ii aside
for the door had 10 hinges. An old
blanket, hanging over it to keep cut
the cold, tapped aide in the wind as
he held the door away for US to enter;
when from the bid came the faint
words:
Shut 1t as soon as you can tor l
am SO cold"
And the cry OF al infant, the wall of
new life glided out on the night
wind, out from thathome where wtis-
ky had done its wok, robbing it of all
comfort for 1t hd neither the SEM
blance of home moi thecessaries OF life.
Were an artist | ,ould not paint so
sad picture. Per of mine could not
tell the half. Three poor, scanty beds
nearly filled all the roon and an old
stove with the doorpropfed up, filled
with icy wood that lad to be chopped
while we waited and shiwred, but We
draw the curtain over the rest of that
nights work. The want and destitu-
ton make too sad a picture for even
then pen.
Two months laer, 60 with US to
that cabin, there where the snow is fall
ing fast outside, ind stand beside US
while we dress tie cold, still body of
the babe for Its hst sleep. The snow
drifts in through the root and falls on
the little, whle face. Brushing 1t
away and coyelng it gently over, IN
our heart we think God for sending the
plying angels D soon to take the lit
tie one to themselves, that it would
nevermore be old are ask for bread
where there was none.
This is no verdrawn picture and
there are otherscenes of the Charlton
hills. Early ore afternoon, mounting
our steady hore, we went to call of
mercy and dlty. Riding leisurely
along, singinga line here and there of
some old famiIar song and language,
tie golden sulshine shimmering down
through the wvering leaves painting
lights and shdows by the wayside,
our II oughts wandered back to long
ago chlldhoodwhen all the world was
SO bright and life seemed one long
summer day. Hearing a halloing
and some one;ay,
Come thisway the hill is so steep
over thar"
So awakening from the happy,
childhood reveie, we found:ourself on
the top ofa teep hill overlooking
small valley and cabin just down at
the foot. Apund the door stood
number OF hat clad children. If the
picture withou is sad, what think you
the inside dlsloses just a little loom
with two beds on one a poor, wan
woman, youni in years, half bolstered
up with an oil chair, while she held TO
her pale, thin ACE young babe which
strove in vainto pacify. In one cor-
ner little thre year old girl sat play
ing with stick: while beside the bed
boy with lispng. broken words asked |
for bread. Who Can write the all on
seEseless paper or w can think for a
moment that the wavering shadows
painted only beautiful picture along
the roadhome that night?
But 'he all is not yet told. In few
short months after came the mother
withher story of woe, how the little
girl was badly burned and she had not
even rags to dress the sores and too
The husband worked hard all the week,
and Saturdays, when he was paid of in
own, he drank up and treated away