The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-06-06
An Old Gentleman Recalls the BTemor
of His Last Game in Sorrow.

An Old Gentleman Recalls the Memory
of His Last Game in Sorrow.
I was walking on Michigan avenue
one day last week with a man whose
hair is white and whose steps are not
quite as brisk as they used to be. We
came to vacant spot where two boys
were playing marbles and stopped.
My old friend was more interested
than I, for he asked one of the boys to
let him have a shot, which the boy
did. Somehow the marble didn't lie
snug between the nail of the thumb of
the old man and the ball of his first
finger. That's right, isn't it, boys9 1t
fell out and rolled away and the boys
laughed. We resumed our walk. Tho
old gentleman turned TO me and
asked:
do you remember the last game of
marbles you ever played7'
went back twelve, fifteen, twenty
years in less time than have taken
to write this sentence. But for the
life of me | couldn't remember the
last time ! had marble in my hand
or carried dozen in my pocket.
Il remember the last game | ever
played, said my companion, and his
voice, always kind and gentle, had in
it that sort of tremble which the or
ganist sometimes puts on the keys
when he wants to get down on the
front doorsteps of your heart.
my brother and had played tru-
ants from school," he said. Il led
him into it, although he was older
than l. He was as delicate as a girl
was the black sheep of the family
We wandered off to neighboring
creek and went in swimming. He
didn't want TO go, but l bullied him
into it, and while he was in got back
on shore, took his shirt, dipped one
arm of it in the water, and tied it in
a hard knot. And when ho came out
sat there, and as he tried to unite the
knot with his teeth / called out to him
in an exasperating way to chew beef.
1t was boyish prank. We all did it.
Finally he succeeded, and then we
started for home feeling like l imagine
two dogs feel when they have stolen
their first sheep. Just before we got
homo | bantered him for q game of
keeps In those days that was a boys
first step at gambling. He didn't want
to play, but won him as l always
did. also won his marbles and re-
member that | cheated in order to do
it. We went into the house after the
game and had our suppers. Later on
we went into the old family room and
my father read a chapter in the Bible
while my mother, dear old soul, nod
ded over her knitting. And counted
over my winning in my pocket. Then
my father prayed, as was his custom,
and my brother and | went up stairs
TO bed. The bed was near a window
that had the prettiest white curtains
that ever fluttered. They looked like
snowdrifts hung on pole. My brother
and l went to bed. | lay on the side
next to the window and after he had
fallen asleep peeped out between the
curtains and saw the stars twinklea and
twinkle and twinkle as | had never
seen them twinkle before and as Ihave
never seen them twinkle since, Icov-
cred my head with the sheet and at
some watch of the night fell asleep.
In tho morning my mother, as was
always her custom, came to call us. |
was awakened that morning by a
touch of her hand and she whispered
to me to get up as quietly as could,
that my brother was sick.
II did did SO and went to my break
fast, and then to school. That was
the lonesomest day of my life up to
that time missed my brother, who
prompted me always in the class. In
the evening went homo. l ate my
supper alone My father and mother
were up stairs with my brother, and
was told that / would have to sleep
alone that night. The old Bible was
not opened as usual. I used to won
der if the time would ever come when
l wouldn't have to go to family pray
ers, and now ! wished that l might at
tend them just once more.
II went to breakfast the next morn
ing alone and the servant, an old,
motherly negro woman, told me |
wasn't to go to school that day, that
my brother was very sick. loitered
about the house and after awhile my
father came downstairs and took me
back to the room where my brother
was. My mother was sitting on the
bedside holding one of his hands, and
bis eyes were closed. They never
opened again in this world.
Now you know, maybe, why, when
| picked up that marble awhile ago, it
fell out of my hand"
You know there are times when it
is best to leave man alone when a
cloud comes between him and the sun,
and turned away from this dear old
man at the next corner and left him.
Chicago Times.