Wichita eagle., 1888-11-06
LITTLE CABS JOURNEY.

across the courtyard into the interior Of the
apartments occupied by the family Of the
little Gabriel, who was familiarly called
Little Gabn by all Ia the house The father
was cutter m a tailor's shop; the mother,
a sickly woman, and already white haired,
though but 45 years old, busted herself with
the housekeeping, and used up In that the
remnant Of her health. on her five children
the three eldest had swarmed out from the
home; there remained only a girl Of IS, who
was a dressrnaker, and Little Cab, VINO was
a hunchback. Born Of parents who had
passed half Of their lives in unwholesome
workshops, or in dark and badly ventilated
stores, Little Cab was the victim Of incur
able ricketts,. Els twisted spine brought his
shoulders nearly up to the level OF his ears;
his slender and feeble legs bent under his
warped and badly balanced chest; he could
walk only when bis form was held up in
a peculiar corset. From this distorted body,
which buiged out both front and back,
arose head. too highly developed in form,
but with q face Of an exquisite delfoaoy and
of singularly piquant expression Although
he was 8 years old, one would have Thought
him hardly S, judging from his poor stunted
and twisted body; one would have called
him 90 at sight Of his thoughtful face, his
projecting brow and his great dark brown
eyes, so sad and so precociously thoughtful
Father, mother and the big sister worshiped
him, because Of hts loving manner and his
extraordinarily lively intelligence. The doc
tor had forbidden them TO let him do any
work, but to DISTRICT him and to change his
surroundings they took him 10 a school,
where be limited himself to listening gravely.
yet retained all that he heard. One evening,
after school hours, noticed him under tbs
porch of the house, seated against the wait
ing room of the janitor. His mother having
gone out to make some purchase, and his sis
ter not having yet returned from her shop,
he had found the door Of their rooms closed
on his return, and, leaning against the wall,
his eyes turned eagerly towards tho street, he
was waiting With a thoughtful and pain
fully resigned looked While questioned
him, his black eyes threw over mo long,
Observing and frightened glances In the
meantime the big sister arrived, all out Of
breath.
"Ahi my poor Cab" she cried, 81 have
kept you waihngi You wore growing i'm
patient, hunphe'
ssNo," replied Cab in calm voice, clear, as
O silver bell, Il was only saying to myself
that perhaps you did not want auy more Of
me, and that you would not return am 90
sick and 50 weayisma"
"Ah, YOU bad boy" murnured the young
girl, as she covered him with Kisses then,
turning towards me with her eyes full Of
tears, ''he is so delicate" she added, "and so
Intelligent; he reasons out things just like q
grown up person What pity be has 80
little strength! The doctor ssvs that IL he
can go this summer to Berck, the sea air and
the scnd baths would probably cure him
But Berck is far away, and then there is the
expense. After all am going to Try 70
make enough to carry him there
And the brave young girl worked from
morning until nlshs to lay Up tie needed
amount. She wore herself out working over
her sewing machine; she cut, laid together
and seved with hardly moment q rest
Wsi into the night beard tAe sharp and
buried movements OF The machine, rssea1,-
hing tho abrupt russIng that grasahoppsrs
make in the faids; beyond ths curtains, u
INUNDATED By the lamp. distinguished the
hard working girl In outline. and thought
Of Hoods terrible Song Of she
Shirt
Everybody h the house h.sw TIE story Of
Little Cab. sad the WIVES OF tns tenants will
ingly ia5rusted work to TIN bic sister. They
81 topped tire child N 1ns Rails, on toe sandiss,
d tee courtyard: tsay .aI1lsd bin, they
treated hin WITH great tscisrnRsN eaey sent
him datatses he, always shy, recoiled from
tie caress., and, mere uneasy than diverted,
npsafsatei Sor long time On these sudden
mar:s CT frieaSship.
Why aoes the lady Oh the third 6ocr give
me piay4fngs,r asked bc tho1ghsfsuy Of
his sister, ''sirce she does net know mar
Then. after a moments deliberasion, be
added, with q cIearnss OF perception that
was hearsrsadirs because Of tbs giimpees il
gave Of the hard thinking to which this
chiid's bram was ss1bjees>d: 1T = because l
Am huncaback. no doubt
Much work came in and The httfe pile of
Avinss IN q remote CORNER Of . b1reaa
drawer grew steadily. July was Close q
hand, and they bad already begun prepare
lions for TIE departure-the pc-ehase of .
handsome leather trunk, tos making of .
suit for tis cniId-and Est;s Cab. who wns
IN state Of wonderueut, talked to his |
achooA1,s.es Of nothing ert cts journey 20 tie
YEA baths, when, &c sae eleventh hoSr, a IN |
fortunate acciIaa. care - throw everything |
in.o 6isoraer. TIC yo1aS wife 81 The gov
c.ers, O. tie fifth noor bad oT6ase5 |
he c-cszaaEe- 70 nesr.y trsn her weidiRg |
gown sod 70 make = cTer IN the hates. fash |
.oa-a gown that cad cost . gTea; cSal Of |
money, and th.. stss visited - E-Ake serve 1
lc-' - lt..ls cs-e.ax Da-fiss AZ thA "n<aas.~