The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-06-21

Without a coat he went on with his
, night work, often shivering with cold
Then, one afternoon when he awoke his
limbs were stiff and chill was upon
him. He essayed to dress but failed
The boy shivered at his very weakness
He wondered why in so short a time his
strength should GO from and leave him
helpless. What would they think of him
at the office if he failed to be on hand
with his report? He wond red and wor.
ried thus until at last sleep came to him
again and the hours flew by unheeded.
The huge presses resumed their W iTl
aud thunder and the paper came out as
usual, but the Harlem police news was
missing. A black mark went against
the boys name, and as the DAYS went by
the editor forgot the young English re-
porter, for there was new man in his
place.
Far away in Lancashire Mrs. Seaforth
sighed for news of her boy. No letter
had come fol weeks. The last had been
cheerful and full of promise. The moth
er and her eldest son talked to each 9TH
er tremblingly of their distant Colin.
Side by side they knelt and prayed and
thus the dreary days went by.
One day the city editor OF the great
newspaper found letter on his desk
that started him thinking He thought
he could recognize the name at the bot
tom. That night when his work was
done he went up to a certain city hospi-
tai and asked if ne might see one of its
inmates. He was shown upstairs into
large dormitory where there were any
number of whiSe beds with pale, sickly
occupants, and in one be found the OBJ
ject of his search.
Colin was asleep. The matron awak
ened him, however, when she learned
who the visitor was, and the city editor
sat down by the cot and listened for
half an hour to what he had to say. The
young man told hun how he had been
suddenly taken i'll mouth before and
lain in his boarding house until the
landlady, knowing his funds were gone,
had sent him to the hospital. Here he
had remained ever since. All along the
nurse who cared for, and the doctor who
came to see him every day had winked
and smiled knowingly when he asked
would he ever be up again, But he
knew better than that. His life was
ebbiug away, and knowing this he had
written for the city editor.
And, he went on a smile breaking over
his wan face, have always been ambi-
tious to make a name in the great pro-
fession. think-I hope it is not yet too
late. Since | have been here | have
done great deal of writing. Will you
look at this and tell me your verdict ?
He drew from under the pillow roll
of manuscript,
1t is a strange idea. he said, that has
forced its development upon me day by
day. feel almost sure there is merit in
the thought. whatever the value of my
treatment of il. Ah sir; we do not lack
inspiration lying here. | have lain
awake by night and the stars have
twinkled through the window here by
my led, twinkling sentiments far great.
er, far nob!er than can come to any
save
Well, well, said the city editor, we
shall see, we shall see. Perhaps you eX
aggerate your condition. AT any rate,
rest assured that you shall hear frCm
me again.
A moment later he was gone.
A week afterward the great newspa-
per devoted four and half columns to
special story that sprang like flash
into popular approval. 1t was great
creation of great and beautiful mind.
There were in 1t the thoughts which can
only grow in a mind of talent and a
heart at peace with all the world, The
authors name was there, too. And
through the little hospital window there
shone flood of joy.
Two weeks passed. The press had
only now ceased comment upon the
mastery work of the young man who
lay dying.
He would have been great writer,
said the city editor.
| All, to be sure, said the nurse, a great
writer indeed. You should have seen
him at his work, sir. He was inspired,
know sir,
Yes,y yes, added the doctor. Come now,
look up. There. Now you must not
talk my young friend. Really his eyes
are brighter than they have been for
days. That's good now, said the doctor,
rubbing his hands, very good; encourag
ing. very.
But the good man knew that death
was in the room, stalking closer and
closer to the yonng writer.
| His mother had been sent for. She
had been cabled money from that paid
Colin for his story. The answer came
that she could not come; that was all.
But his brother would be with him il
the great steamship won IN its rapidly
closing race with death.
| The end was near. Just as the great
presses whirled off paper after paper. so
the machinery of the sick boys life was
cogging. His brain throbbed, for he
heard the thunder of the press room and
his fancy wrote hurried pages of great
news for the late edition.
A step in the great room is recognized.
He starts. Yes, it is his brother. What
ocean can separate them now Stay
the sea is near. Its wraves are break
ing on the shore, and their beat grows
louder and louder.
| Will-she is p!
| A great sob broke from his brother, but
he did not answer.
Oh, my God Why-oh, God-you
have crape-on-your-ha ! She-is-
dead
A wild cry broke from him and his
hand flew to his face. The doctor let.n-
ed over him and spoke words of COM
| fort, but he heard them not. Many
ullnuleS pdSoeu' 1Heh az ihob 'io 8 6'niSN
fell upon his brothers form crouching
at the bedside.
SO, he murmured, she has gone-to
welcome me. Why should-stay My
copy-my copy Yes, yes-ah! / know
/ it all now. Oh, God in Thine infinite
mercy look here upon my brother.
Stretch out to his aid Thy mighty arm
and guard HIM with Thy great wisdom.
See ! The sun comes in the window.
Will Will l won a name; l--wrote-
A great ray of golden sunshine fell
around his face. The doctor leaned over
the bed and closed his eyelids. He was
dead.
Yes, dead So. let us believe that we
have a great truth.
Honesty of purpose, conscientious
work, energy and faith, will bring us
that for which ambition yearns. What
matters it that some of us may not live
to reap the good seed we have sown ?
Our reward is earned. SO with Colin
Seaforth. He wrote great story for
the newspaper, but his life, his death,
wrote for him in great volume the
deed to his celestial crown.
THE OLD TINDER BOX.
Probably there are few children of the
present day who have ever seen, or even
heard. of the old fashioned tinder-box