The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-30

shout: Lord bless your eyes, muni Who ever
seed any without emf A suppressed giggle on
the stairs revealed the perpetrator of the joke,
and my father rushed off in q perfect ecstacy of
laughter leaving my poor, discounted mother
to appease the angry sea-nymph as she could
But his sweetest trait was revealed in his init
mate fellowship with his children, for whom he
personally contrived many modes of enjoyment,
preparing for them by his own cleverness quite
a stock of elaborate toys and games that afforded
endless amusement Among these contrivances
was mimic theater which he bought
in Germany, and which he afterward
stocked with three several companies,
properly costumed for a tragedy paul and yir-
ginia), a spectacle (St. George and the Dragon),
and pantomime. Another form of amusement
was kind of military game, for which he pre-
pared toy soldiers, tricked out in uniforms and
accoutrements. The whole formed two armies,
which acted against each other by certain rules,
and the game was won by the general who took
the best position.
Continual bodily suffering was not the only
trial to which his fine spirit was subjected The
world heard no wall from his lips; no appeal for
sympathy ever came from his pen; his high
heart endured in silence; and without murmur
of complaint he died. Yet it is no secret now
that for many years lie had fierce struggle with
poverty, enjoying no luxuries and few comforts.
Once revelation of his true condition got into
print, when present of ESQ was rendered by
members Of the Literary Fund. Replying to it,
he wrote:
aGentemen-I have to acknowledge the receipt
of letter from your secretary which has deeply
affected me. The adverse circumstances to
which it alludes are, unfortunately, too we'll
known from their public announcement In the
'Athen@um by my precocious executor and OH
cious assignee. But beg most emphatically to
repeat that the disclosures drawn from me
were never intended to bespeak the worlds pity
or assistance Sickness is too common to hu-
mainly and poverty too old companion of my
order to justify such an appeal The revelation
was merely meant to show, when
tormented with my creditors, that
had been striving, in humble imitation
of an iIIustrious literary example, to satisfy all
claims upon me, and to account for my imperfect
success | am too proud of my profession to
grudge it some suffering. lam writing
seriously. gentlemen, although in cheerful
tone. partly natural and partly intended to re-
heve you of some of your kindly concerns on my
account Indeed my position at present is an
easy one compared with that of some eight
months ago. when out Of heart and out of health,
helpless, spiritless, sleepless, chlldless nave
now home in my own country, and my little
Jones sit on my hearth. l smile sometimes, and
even laugh For the same benign Providence
that gifted me with the power of amusing 9TH
ers has not denied me the ability of entertaining
myself. Moreover, as to mere worldly losses, L
profess cheerful philosophy, which can jest
though China fall and for graver troubles a
Christian faith, that consoles and supports me
even in walking through something like the val
ley of the shadow of DEATH"
His daughter writes of his last hour earth:
''Those who lectured him on his many sallies
and innocent gayety should have been present at
his death bed to see how the gentlest and most
loving heart in the world could die Thinking
himself dying he called US round him-my
mother, my little brother and myself-to receive
his last kiss and blessing, tenderly and fondly
given; and, gently casping my mothers hands
he said Remember, Jane, l forgive ALL! He
lay for some time calmly and quietly, but
breathing painfully and slowly; and my mother,
bending over him, heard him murmur family,
% Lord, say arise, take up thy cross and follow
Msv5
The editor very properly concludes the remi
niscences of the writer of "The Song of the
Shirss with the tribute of the great story teller,
William Makepeace Tbackeray:
HE dies in dearest love and peace with his
children wife and friends; to the family,
especially. his whole life had been devoted, and
every day showed his fidelity, simplicity and
affection. In going through the record of his
most pure modest honorable life, and living
along with him, you come to trust him tho
roughly, and that here is a most loyal, affection
ate and upright soul, with which you have
been brought into communion. Can we say as
much of the lives of all men Of letters! Here is
one at least without guile, without pretenslon,
without schemng, of pure life, to his family
and little modest circle of friends tenderly
devoted"
Tho clean, sweet life of the patient, suffering
Tom Hood will ever remain rich legacy to the
world, the best proof that genius may abide in
modest men, nor be incompatible with geniality
of temper, and the sacredest fealty to loved and
loving.