The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-12-24
A FOOLS CHRISTMAS

hal done very well with themselves since
their parents died Indeed, there were those
who considered II quito proyidontial that
thsy had heen thrown on their own resources,
since their father had been anything but a
mllol of fnancia success and thor mother a
l.ITlike woman who had never lhrIyod IN
tp rude western garden into which she had
loan : .planted
Bothdtd In the same week, and the children
o. once sot about tho business Of HE with
Erea, good sense They had uol u dollar left
when everything WIS settled Eyou the old
house wa sold away from them But they
decided 70 hold together and gotthnIr share Of
Che worlds chanoes There were five OF
tem-6eorge, Catherine julia Annette and
lavy
Nobody ever mentioned Davy who did not
TUs his name softly and with an accent Of
gentle pity, for no was simple minded lie
wa a fool Though he was large and well
formed, NJ sixteen his face was ug vacant as
u habya But there was mo harm In him.
tha ueghbon md lIo was lu.i big In
fant, pleased with the trncs thNp delight th,
very least Of children, and Of a. little use, ~
u, .ulnco Is reokonel In th blind Old world,
tho weeds that grow on the hillsIdes or the
wild vines that choke tho grain
Not he wasL u diNgroeable figure 10 look
o. His appearance never excited rrpuldon,
only pity. lie was always well dressed, and
The yellow curla that covered his big head
like lleoco were always brushed and shin,
ins Though his vacant brown eyes were
sometimes misty with tears, they know moth.
INK Of anger lle had n laugh Tor every
body aud WIS invariably happy llo could
not understand In the smallest degree the
troubles which besot all humanity born 10
superior eudowmens lla world was 40 H.
tlr and NO comfortable, No simple aud no
beautiful, NO entirely without distress or
dr0nd that he was absolutely happy
Mothers OF bright boys just beginning to
make places for themselves In the world
sighed ~ they looked NJ Davy Carson and
recalled his Image when he was chubby
bohy toddling by his mothers side
lhey recalled him as ho had often Rat by
ho W she fewed, on the shady porch, putting
The words Of his small vocabulary together
T. express his pleasure The dogs aud the
cats the swallows that uullt their nests undor
th roof OF the old porch, tho squirrels that
sometimes dashed through the yard tho but
torilios and oven the bees know Dnyy He
who could talk only holtingly TO men and
women know the language tho yoicCow crea
tucs understand, Many tho DAYS he passed
IN h'r company, laughing and happy
And No hu gruwup-grow In body, though
6cgr.oly At all In mind II wW pltiful
b. 500 him, almost man In stature holding
hIs hands below some foolih toy, habyS
mug, or glass bird, when another examined
II, childshly oager 10 protect II from possible
carccNne@
In but two things did he ndvancc-klnd
NJ and love Though his intellect stood
til Ibis spiritual senses seemed somehow 70
grow lnstInctively he understood that all
living things were entitled 10 kindness, and
IN his poor, simple fashion he was forever
Cry ing 10 help the helpless His mind was
moi cloudei there, Higher than tho intellect
El's tho soul Through the strange veil that
throudod his mind the simple boys soul
looked out clear and boiutlful, Literally aud
a. putoly did he lulall tho golden rule-ho
who could not understand law, who knew
not a line Of injunction, who hal no idea Of
reward or punishment Of heaven or hell, OF
God or demon Yet he did all that tho wisest
OF uf are commanded 10 do,
Aud NO he grew up-hig, simple, kind and
loving
When his father AMI mother dlcd-both
were carried 10 the cemetery on the same
day -Dayy was daacd by the strangcnops Of
II all but ho could not understand that any.
thing In he nature Of calamity had 90.
currcd, Ho tiptocd over the room and spoke
In whispers, not because he was awod by tho
presence Of death, but for fear noise would
disturb their sleep
When ha saw thom no more ho called thom
ofton, searched for them again aud again.
and waited for them always with n pntitrcs
that was more than mortal, md longing
that made IA childish face nt Tins look old
and sick
There woro days when ho was so suro they
would come hnol, that hcat by tho gate from
morning until night, looking down the street
over which the long dark wagon had driven
whci II carried them away aScep-sat therc
hopeful mud happy, cagor 20 bc the first 10
greet them,
One day Reverend Winthrop walked by
and was touched by tho longing In the boys
face The hunger Of the heart had tcmpor.
arily cItnguished the look Of vacancy In his
eyes, aud they burned with pHthos that was
indcscribnblc llu mt rocking worn.out
h'N w NAN NNl'Nk NlllN NAtlllNNll hlHHlNk
and holding II up that II might soc those ho
waited for while they were still far on
"What Nrc you doing, Davyr aid the min.
lstor kindly
"Waitin for mothr"a 'Nthcr' answered
the bg child, his face bncaldng into laugh
NJ the mention Of their names
Mr. Winthrop had kind heart, but was
sometimes clumsy In his methods VI impnrt.
ing instruction, He reycrcd the truth, aud
thought he ought 10 bring II within the coin.
pfchcnsiun Of the child's feeble mind aud 10,
with the lest intentions In the world ho bo.
gan by trying TO rob him OF his sweet hope
"Thy viii mover come, Dayy, never
never In this world again
"Eh' said tho boy aud the momcntary
look of hope gave way 10 ono Of buwildor-
mcnt lie did not understand
The minister continuedl "lhry will never
come Dnyy Not to-day, i,or 10 morrow,
nor next day, nor noXt Ncy'rl ncyUrl
They cannot come They nto doBd,N
"Doadi dcadr echoed The child, looking
Into distance Dead like tho birds that
can't Ny or sing, like the dog chat kept 80
stlll and was put into tho ground, Ike tho
squirt that was killed on M, odd walnut
trccl No. they couldn't die Nv mother
couldn't die My FATHER couldn't dicn
lie tnld this with such calm Ns urnnco,
such unrlllol hope, that tho minister stood
abashpd and rcbukod Here wa, the perfect
faith ho had yauly tried 10 lbytil into
greater minds the sum Of all his ttaching
The soul hu had tried 10 enlightcn was op
higher ground than he II knew no doubt
He repeated over aud over thc boys words,
"They couldn't die" M he walked away,
seeing clearer thnn ever what IA meant by
Che scrlptural assertion that out of the mouths
OF babes cometh wisdom
Yes, the Carson ohidren"-ns tho neigh.
bors called them, though thoy were all grown
up--hUd done well with themselves since theli
parents died Tho four who constituted tho
working force developed genius for tho
science Of getting elong,n They were M
ambitious, practical and worldly as their
father had been dreamy and unworldy.
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