The Red Cloud chief., 1884-08-08
EXIT TOMMY

G"1ommy u leave us to night" We said,
owing 70 softly about his bed.
1hough seven sweet years he had hons o.,
His Father above had the better claim.
His poor little curls had been shorn away.
AND his tny face was old and gray:
loo was his hand and moist bis brow,
And his voice was only Q whisper now.
Tommy lay there with his great round eyes,
But Q deepening light in those eyes we saw,
1ha touched our grief with Q tender ave.
a messaRe had come from tnc King OF
We heard the sound OF she angels wings;
We caught faint whispers and giimmerings
hut the words and the touch were for only
him..
Much had we pondered. and probed. and read
what's Deaths secreti" had ~cried-while
no child of seven. went forth to zee.
We might follow him down. to the awful shore,
BE drenched and stunned with the spray md
roar.
But We must Iinger. with wayinrs fond.
while ne would sail TO the land beyond.
We felt that the angel that held his hand
And led him down TO the misty strand
- sss9 st ~ loW.
What sights he would see. and whittier 60.
But hush! the voice from the little bed,
And the watchful mother bent her head:
NANNY. ] know thar I'm soon to die,
And i want TO wish them all goodbye.
= shouldn't like anything here 10 say:
cHedtdn't shake hands when he went away;
He WINS glad TO be on TO his harp and wings,
And couldn't remember his poor old things
lin Heaven I should never feel content
II l hadn't been kind before ! went;
So let me take leave OF them. great and small,
Animals, people, and toys, and all"
80 the word went forth. and In no great while
The servants entered i In solemn n e,
Zoe stout Did cook, and the housemaid Rose,
And the aproned boy with his smutted nose.
SO each of the women. with streaming check,
A}ent over and kissed him and could not
speak:
Blu he said that they must not gricve and CRY,
For they'd meet again in the happy SKY.
Twas longer and harder 10 deal with jim
The child grew grave as he looked at him.
For he thought to himself: He bets and
ewears,
AID i hardly believe that he says his prayers"
~Oh. Jim, dear Jim. If you do such things
You'n never be dressed I'm a harp and wings"
He talked to the boy rs IA father should,
And begged him hard to be grave and good.
The lad iounged out with q brazen air,
And whistled der,sively down the STAR;
But they found him hid In the hole for coal.
Sobbing and praying In grief OF soul.
Old Rover came next, sedate and good.
And gHzcd ut his master anu understood.
Then up we carried. in order due,
Maria, the cat, and her kittens two.
Proud pu.rred the mother, and arched her
And vaunted her kittens. one white. one
black:
And the sweet white kitten was good and stir,
but the black one played with bis night
gowns frill.
He stroked them all with his poor weak hand,
But he felt that they could not understand.
He smiled. however, and was not vexed,
And babe US bring him the rabbit next.
He welcomed Punch with a loving smile.
And Rugged MIN close in his arms awhile.
And we knew for the dear child's eyes grew
dimD
How grievous it was to part with him.
His mother he babe, with fearful cheek,
Give Punch his carrot three times a week.,
With lettuceJeaves on o cautious plan.
And only just moisten his daily bran.
Then next we brought TO him. one by one,
His drum and his trumpet, his sword and gun;
And we lifted up for his fondling hand,
His good gray stced on the rocking-stand;
Then close to his feet we placed a tray,
And we set his armies i'm array:
And his eyes were bright with fire and dew
As we propped him up for his last review.
His ark came next, and pair by pair
Passed beasts of the earth and fowls OF the
air:
He kissed good Japhet. and Ham. and Shem,
And waved his hands to the rest of them.
But we saw that his eyes had lost their fire,
And his dear little voice hogan to tire;
Helay quite still for a little while,
With eyes half closed and a peaceful smile.
Then, NANNY" he said. and never stirred,
And his mother bent for the whispered. word;
~Give him HE carrot each second day."
Our Tommy and passed away.
-Rcp. Frederick Langbridgc, ia Hdrpcr's b.
, zUS.