The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-04-16

~ 3 wake we're havin'" plpcd one
urchin. Patsy looked at them duly.
but did nos stir from the threshold
near which he stood.
Come on wild ye.' they cried again.
s.git up. Micky Shannon. and lave
Patsy be the corpse" Which post Of
honor In the CHASTITY game seemed 10
tempt the trembling boy from his place.
He suffered himself 10 be drawn among
bis companions. and the former corpse.
reluctantly yielding his privilege. Patsy
stretched out on the wet stones where
Micky had lain. Then the boys straight
ened the bricks at the four corners that
had toppled over during the change,
| put the bottles, serving as candlesticks.
upon them again. and after vainly en-
deayoring to light the bits OF wet wood
which they held for candles. gave up
the attempt and began the ceremonies
suited in their minds to the proper
keeping Of wake. In solemn silence
they first marched about Patsy's pros
tratc form. The boy lay still. his
hands crossed upon his breast a. they
had been placed. and his gaze went
straight upward to the patch % cold
sky visible between the roofs. Nlicky
Shannon Indignantly discovered bis
condition.
Its . foine corpse We are, Patsy
Flynn, wild yer peppers wide open like
. windy. Shut 'em up, will ye," he
shouted roughly, and Patsy slowly
closed his eyes. As he did so the "a
miliar vision came back Of the hospital
hall and cheerful fireplace. with the
dormitory Of white. rcstful beds.
And the play went on, the mourncrs
chanting and grooming their Irish
songs, while the moist atmosphere
slowly settled into a chill, drizzling
rain. With the lowering cloud gray
shadow fell and rested on Patsy's face.
Was IL only the rain that made his brow
50 damp and cold? The boy did not
know. for he was wandering still
among those downy beds. Here was
one softer and whittier and warmer than
any; into this he would plunge and
sink away to sleep. yes. to sleep. for he
was tired, and it would be so good to
rest.
The children did not mind the rain.
and were playing still half an hour
afterward when . noise in the street
attracted them.
The ingines." they cried. sft's .
fire." and with whoop every mour-
ner rushed away, leaving the corpse to
follow.
But Patsy lay still. sleeping now in
the softest and whitest Of his beds and
the gray shadow which was not the
rain nor the mist fell heavier across the
shut eyes and touched the pale lips
with purple tinge. The engines rat
tied BY in the next street. but the
mourners did not come back. for they
were in hot pursuit.
Big Granny had drank only one por-
ton Of beer yet, and restless as usual
under 50 light dose. 1t happened that
she opened the door Of her room and
stumbled through the dark passage
way into the yard while Patsy still lay
there alone. She saw the child on the
flags asleep with his face upturncd in
the rain.
Something in the still. pale features
startled the half-drunken creature and
stiiied the harsh speech which trcmblcd
on her lips. She tottered forward and
fell down by Patsy's side. She touched
the cold and stifiening hand and called
his name in q low entreating tone.
Then as the truth forced its way to her
drink-besotted brain. some emotion
long dormant in her woman's heart
was stirred, and out from her misera-
bic degradation and remorse there went
up wall 30 shrill and piercing and so
freighted with human agony that the
inmates Of the rooms looking out upon
the court hurried 10 their windows to
finds its cause.
And when they looked they knew
that Big Granny was bereaved. and
that one Of the children Of Pearl alley
had gone awav.-N Y. Times.