The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-07-06

oeIVdtIOu the boy ana girl Wer
{ standing beside the still form q
: the woman, trying to arouse her.
Mamma" the girl said, "get vi
and see what we've got this morn
: ing; old Sanity has brought us SOM
. real flour, and coffee and sugar, and
oh, so many nice things
But the figure did not move.
! Don't bother her." spoke tn.
boy, "she's tired out; don't yor
know how she cried and set up las1
; night2"
"Yes," smiled the sister, 81 viii
get breakfast,-then wake her
: won't she be happy, thought"
And those two began preparing a
meal that to them was an undoubt-
ed feast.
| still remained at the hole to see
what the end would be, for l felt
that something would happen that
would require the help Of another
/ person.
1t was not long before the girl had
a pot of hot coffee ready, together
with piece of crisp bacon and a
hot cake.
She approached the pallet again
and called her mother, but still no
answer.
Brother" she said in low whis-
per, II believe she is worse"
| could see the boys face pale at
this, and he went to the mattress
and knelt beside it.
AS he drew back the cover from
the face, he gave a cry of sorrow.
"What is it?" asked the sister,
sinking at his side.
The boy looked at her in a de-
spairing manner, and sobbed:
"Oh, sister, mamma is dead and
gone from us"
The girl was speechless with ter
ror, but soon recovered her voice,
and replied in tone choked with
sadness:
"No she amt, Buddy; she's Jest
cold like; she got that way heap
times"
The boy shook his head and con-
tinued to sob.
l thought it about time to show
myself, and, pushing the door open
l walked in.
They were little startled at my
entrance, but the boy quickly asked,
while look of hope mounted his
cheeks:
Mister, I'm so glad you come /;
mamma is worse, and l think she's |
dead but sis says she's jest cold"
l did not reply, but stepped to
the pallet and examined the silent
form.
1t took me but moment to see
that the spirit had fed, and turn
ing to the boy | asked:
Have you any one to go to?"
mo, sir; there was nobody but
pa and nanny and me and sister
when we came here"
Where is your father?"
"He got killed with log last
year."
"And you've been living here
ever since?"
"Yes, sir, but it wasn't cause we
wanted to, but cause we didn't
have money 'nough to get off,"
"What will you do now?"
"Then mamma is dead?" cried
The boy, as he understood the mean
ing Of my question.
"Yes, my poor children, she is in
heaven"
With such sobs as l hope never
% hear again, they fell on the body
md began caressing it and kissing
he cold face, at the same time beg
,ing her to speak to them just'once s
more. II
let the first burst of grief ex- s
'end itself, and then taking the boy 8
n my arms, said: "My boy, can +
'ou go for help?"
"Yes, sir" he replied, his big eyes O
treaming with tears.
l sent him for assistance, and the r
'ody was moved to the mill, from t
Vhere it was given decent burial. v
When l got back to the Office l c
vent direct to the room of the gen. h
raj manager. lii
He was expecting me, and as / n
ntered he said: a
what do you think of prosecut. e
ag Monk, now?" a
ut is the farthest thing from my c
lind," l answered, as the picture v
{ the scene I had witnessed passed Il
efore me. a
"And mine also," replied my i'm Il
loyer, while l saw signs of tears in W
is usually stern eyes. h
Not long after that Monk was 81
INT for and came to the office. 81
AS he shambled in his hideous-
ess was lost to me, for in the face
could only see the good heart that y
had seen the actions of a short g.
hile before.
In answer to questions put to re
i'm we learned that he had been ~
eding three destitute families for CT
70 months or more. j
z r \ ~ ~ | T.