Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-19
PATHOS AND POVERTY.
An Affecting Scene at the Death-Bed of a
ChiId-She ssDot" Company at Last.

he gr0peQ his way through the DIM
ly-lighted room until he reached the
bedside, and then, kneeling softly, he
felt for the little hand that had up to
now helped him to bear his troubles so
we'll.
AS he caught it in his caressing
grasp there was slight movement Of
the little body, and pair of deep blue
eyes gazed lovingly at him and smile
of rare beauty circled the thin lips
and lent heavenly look to the pale,
shrunken features.
Poppy" soft, low voice came,
Il so CAD you come. l been lonely
to-day; amt had no comp'ny tall"
A sound, almost sob, came from
the mans lips as he bent closer and
imprinted a kiss of passionate love on
her cheeks.
''Is my little darling feeling better?"
he asked, knowing at the time how
out of place the query was, for could
he not see from her appearance that
the strength now possessed by her was
that which death lent to his victims
only few hours before be finally calls
them.
"Oh, yes;" she gaily replied, II doin'
to dit up in mornin' and see you off to
work"
'.But had not papa better stay with
you until you get well?"
''No," with solemn gravity that
had become part of her since her
mother had been placed in her narrow
bed. papa must work, cause you
might get out again, and you know
how hard it was to get the job you got
now"
He groaned aloud, and the child
looked up quickly, and, fiinging her
arms about his neck, kissed him again
and again.
Onl y few months before he had
buried his wife, and now death was
claiming his little daughter, all that
life had in it was wanted. No,won-
der he felt as if his heart would break
as these thoughts flashed over him.
After the death of his mate he had
struggled hard to keep above despair,
and the mite of child had helped
wonderfully in that direction.
He was thrown out of employment
and had to seek rooms in this poverty
stricken locality, but all the time the
brave heart OF his girl held him up.
Work came at last, and happiness
was almost assured, when she was
stricken with a deadly malady, and
without means he was unable to give
her the attention she should have had.
But all through the time of her sick
ness she had not murmured but for one
thing, and that was company.
The people she was now thrown in
contact with were more repugnant to
her gentle nature than comfort, and
in her childish way she longed for
bright faces that she was used to be-
fore her mother died.
As the night grew older she sank in
to quiet sleep, and the lonely man
held vigil at her side, sitting as mo-
tionless as a statue, fearing lest the
slightest move on his part would arouse
her.
Toward morning she became more
restless and occasional means issued
from her parched lips.
Just as the sun was peeping over
the housetops and pouring a glad
stream of light into the curtainless
windows she once more opened her
eyes and gazed lovingly at the bowed
face, soft, white arm was raised
from the cover and a gentle voice
said:
Papa, l b'lieve / like you stay
with me to-day. | so weak an tired,
an wants comp'ny when | feels that
way"
In an agony of sorrow the man rails
ed her from the bed and held her
tightly to his bosom, all the while Civ
ing vent to groans and sobs of heart
breaking.
She sank to sleep on his shoulder,
and for some time lay so quiet that he
thought she must be dead, but the
soft breath tanning his neck told him
that the end was not yet.
Presently she moved again, and put
both her arms about his neck, whisper
ing:
Papa, seed mamma las mite, an
she told me to come to her."
'My Godn' moaned the stricken
man, "is it not possible to spare me
this one timer"
The child looked up at him with a
puzzled expression on her countenance,
and nesting closer in his strong en-
brace, said:
Poppy, don't want to 90 and leeb
you, but mamma said you would come
to US after while"
THAT | will, my love-" sobbed the
man, raining kisses on the now almost
death-cold face, land it will not be
many days before we will all be to-
gether in happier home"
Don't lay me down, papa; I like to
feel you hold me. an'-an's-it's get
ting cloudy, amt it? The room seems
to be darker than 1t was
There was no mistaking this sign,
and the father pressed the child greed
lily to his breast, as if by his warm en-
brace to ward off that foe which all
have found indestructible.
The still quiet of the room was only
broken by the dying child's gasps for
breath, now coming irregularly, as the
little form trembled and quivered in
the effort to catch the life-giving air,
but the attempts grew more convul-
slve and at greater intervals. and as
the father noticed this pain of utter
desolation shot through his heart.
"My pet" he cried passionately,
kissing the bright golden hair that he
had been used to run his fingers
through in days agone, and kissing
the pale lips that so often welcomed
him home with smiles of affection,
kissing the once dimpled hands that
were now so thin and poor and that
were appealing to him for help in this
awful hour, kissing her-ah, poor soul,
kissing her longingly and madly, for
he knew that those happy days were
gone forever. and that in few mo-