Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-11-29
HAMELEss.

I thought I heard . sounA-s voice! Was thsss
voice that spoke7
Or did fsncy7 must have dreamed, and have
only now swoke.
Again7 What Is IT. Icannot see Is there any enc
in the room?
Those wsrda2 "a minister. Come to pray my soul
through the gates Of g3sonsi"
That's kind Of you, but-vhats thlt you ayf Do
not shrink from death7
All, no. long for his terrible arns and the frost Of
his icy breath.
There 10 rest for on his stony breast, there Is
peace in his cold, cold heart
All no, fear mott Ny bosoms bare for the sting Of
his shadowy dart.
Do you know what death means sir 70 such l. the
vanton. the wretch Of the street,
The trodden thing, that you gsdly ones crush down
worm meath your fest7
1t means the end Of . ceaseess pain that none pity
save those who bear.
Dear Death, draw near; lay your hands mine,
draw nearer, nay pillow share.
my guilty soul,
must turn to Christ with trusting faith, and be
will wash out the whole
Why didn't your Christ save my soul before from
pollution's dark, living grave?
When was honest. and pure. and good. vas the
time for your Christ to save!
wasn't always outcast sir, disgrace to my sex
and name,
And it isn't from choice that these last Ave yean I've
been leading life Of shame.
Why didn't your godly ones come to me ere nay vir-
tue was putrid. dead:
II your Christ know how hard struggled, Why did
he make no dear honest bread!
If only could tell you how hard tried-if only
had time to SPEAK
But what does il matter? It's over now. and I'm
growing SO weak. weak!
What is it, 1 didn't task Christ" you say. Nay
sir, on nay bended knees
In the street I've prayed him to send me work that
might not stafve and freeze;
On my knees prayed, in the other dsys. that his
msrcifuf hand might save
The man loved. and whose name bore. from the
stain of . drunkard's grave;
And I asked your Christ, when saw him die, only
six poor feet to yield
Of his great vide earth for burial place-snd b.
gave me the Pettcr's field!
followed Johns corpse to . paupers grave in the
aisles Of eternal night.
And the love of my life went down with the clods
that buried him from my sight;
didn't think. stood there then in tho driving
wind end sleet,
OF my helpless self with . babe In NY arms turned
homeless into the street!
didn't think Of the weary years. tho pain that
was yet to come,
could only think of the close shut ds and the dear
lips sealed and dumb
didn't remember tho life he'd led, nor his last
blood-curdlins curse:
I only thought I'd once taken him for better, Or
for worse;
That tho heart ~ oftan had rra~.>d to mine Iav
pulseles, and cold, and still
And weary voidness was left to me, that nothing
might ever nll.
Yes-he died Of tho trenens; you'll comfort me by
saying his soul 10 lost!
But where is the 6end who sold him rum, the price
that his ruin coet7
He's sitting to-day in Q cushioned pew-s good
Christian. withouta flaw,
Along with the praters Of justice high and the dea
cons who make the Law.
When ne dies, you will cay that the great white
gates hew open to let him In.
While my John is lying in mortal pain frsm his
great, unfergiving sin.
Ah, John-dear John-I am faithful yet: All the
love that had to give
Is yours in death ~ In hfe dear John, and if-some
where-again We live,
You will know-and-forgivs me. Twas for our
child! You will pity. you viii not blame
That to him from starving sold myself, and
drank the dregs Of shame
I tried SO hard to be honest, John. But whore va.
the use to try?
So many were waiting to sell their toll, and oh:
but 50 few 70 buy,
few, few have felf. have Gods love in the
cold blue skies,
Though the ranks Of the starving peor are filed
with mournful beseeching eyes.
They are Alled with eyes that implore, and haunt.
and follow you through the years
Strange suffering eyes that always dry and
heavy with unshed tears.
What il that? Could get no work At all? Ssme-
times; but, good sir, pray
Would you care to preach for seventeen hours At
thirty.hve cents day?
II wasn't often I'd make that much, for sewing
without fire.
In the dead Of winter, is fearful work; and your
stiAened fingers tire
And your head swims round and your shivering
limhs grow numb with the stinging cold.
And-well. 1t doesn't seem half - awful then-this
selling yourself for gold.
To me It didn't seem half 20 bad - to you, In The
generous heat.
When was forced in my mouth to hold my little
ones freezing feet.
The nobler self. like delicate plant, dies fast in
pitiless hour,
And the numbing cold Of Starvation's tooth has .
terrible blasting power.
Aye, and many and many . winter night while You
in your veil warmed home
Wese teaching the love Of Christ and God, was
jArced in the streets TO roam;
Forced in the streets 70 roam MI night, with the
babe on my shivering breast,
And minister's wife has refused me food, or
aplace to rest!
Hsw long do you thiAk your own mother. SIR. would
have led virtuous life,
II she ha been left In the world like this? How long
would your trusted wife
Have remained like the snow falls to the earth