The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-22

y 49, - t~>As sSAs SsS'S 49,
back alleys when gathering garbage
at the misty hour of dawn, or when
carried or dragged thither at night
upon some thieving errand by the
negress' evil friends.
They were numb with liquor that
afternoon when he left this midnight
mother and the dumb thug who was
her consort and he had been spurned
into the street, where he lay long
time bruised and full of pain. Then
dizzy and crying, he came away; dizzy
from his hurt, and crying because he
was leaving the little rag-matted hole
under the stairway where he had al
ways slept, because he was parting
from the hard faces about him, the ven
omous creature who had starved and
beaten him, and her sunken, shambling
hut!
All, he had never known else! By
day and by night, winter and summer,
this had been his all, his world, his
home! Ponder it, you who sleep on
down in chambers fragrant and lined
with rose and gold! You who are all
but soured with honey, was not here
soul7-your own twin-essence. starved
and ruined, moving in brother-fesh
across the Field of Lessons?
For a time he followed the river,
limping and sobbing, and gazing
through his tears into its polluted
depths, as if yearning after the soft
oblivion it might yield. But, when his
sore feet touched the water, his poor
little heart was not stout enough, and
he turned away, and ere long came
into beautiful avenue; then he ceased
to weep; wonder swept the tears from
his hollow eyes. 1t was Sabbath
though he knew it not-and the sun
was going down in great flush of
clear vermilion far away at the other
end of the beauteous street, lighting a
thousand soft and glimmering fires
along the stately dwellings as it sank.
Everywhere were flowers and exquisite
ly dressed children, lovely girls sitting
by richly appareled men and women in
costly chairs upon the porches, with
rings flashing, bright rugs beneath
their feet, and background of tinte d
glass and splendid furnishings.
A light that was alien to the face of
little Tim slowly began to illuminate
his pinched and pallid features; then he
wavered and went back; then that look
of strange delight came into his eyes
again, and he hurried on as if he were
entering the borders of Paradise.
Glittering carriages were rolling soft
ly along the smooth pavement, and
hundreds of women and children, clad
in satin and velvet and flower like fab
RIGS, drifted with mingling hues along
the avenue. The child forgot his rags,
his bare feet, and crooked spine; the
look of delight began to deepen in his
eyes: then he saw that some stared at
him, that others scowled and pressed
back their costly clothing to let him
pass, and the light died out of his face,
and he shrank from side to side and
turned into little park and hid
1t smelled sweet as heaven there
among the blossoms, and he lay quite
still on the soft grass with his poor heart
tluttoring. Up above him he could see
the deep. serene summer sky, hung
here and there with filmy loops of lace
that seemed to burn with pink and
crimson from the far-off sunset. 1t
seemed to him that he had never no.
ticed it before; that his hungry eyes
had always been peering into bitches
and holes and filth, or blind with tears
How calm and sweet it was there where
the rich dwelt!
He could hear voices here and there
from vine-wound porches fronting on
the little park, and one, lmpid and en-
gaging, was saying near by, "Oh. 1
shall go to DR.. Easman's church. Do
you not think his delivery beautiful? 1t
rests me just to look at him; he is so
handsome, too''
YES said silvery, affected voice
in reply, sand he is so gentle. He is
| quite unreasonable about his salary,
though, they say; will accept but seven
| thousand! It's too bad. he is SO pleas
ant and handsome; he could surely do
better than that!"
Then little Tim saw form garbed
in blue, and capped and belted, ONE
between him and the peaceful azure OF
heaven. and he sprang up and ran, but
was struck by a cane. and wavered and
fell. But ere the officers fat paw
could secure him he was gone.
The next avenue seemed fairer than
the first, and was alive with beautiful
humanity flowing on toward the
churches. Down this. with little
thread of blood trickling from among
his matted curls. he ran like kind o
hunted human animal, and coming tc
a larger park hid himself again. ane
= lay there painting and sobbing while
the shadows began to gather and hui
die and group. and the clear STAR
swarmed into the voiceless deep above
him. Then in a little time he crep
away and came into the broad avenu
again, going he knew not whittier. A
huge church was just beyond him, ra
diant with light and colored glass, an.
he drew back with fear. But at that ,
} great wave of music went mellowin,
up through all the glowing structure
and the child's breath stopped and hi
!. grimy hands came together with
clutch. He had never heard othe
music than the banjo and drunken