Catoctin clarion., 1890-09-25
A LONELY HEART.

n IJlle Ollt WoIudil, WliuNleN "nN
bent, and dressed in rusty black, with
strip of limp Grape dangling from her
shabby bonnet came into the Office Of a
great daily paper.
"You're the editor, be you p she asked
of the man who looked up from his desk
as she entered.
"Yes'm," he replied briefly, but not
unkindly. "What can do for you p
"Well, I--I-Ive brung little piece
Id like to have printed in the paper |
writ it myself, and I don't know as you
can make it all out, It's so long since |
handled a pen, but I'd like nightly to
have it printed. It's about my little
grandson that-died.'
Her voice died away to a whisper at
the last two words and she wiped her
dim eyes on a corner Of her shawl be-
fore she added:
"He took scarlet fever and dldn't live
but tour days, and he'd never been sick
day before in his life, and he was the
very picture of health. Here's photo
graft I've got of him that wouldn't
take the world for now
She laid on the editors desk a card
photograph of a sunny faced smiling
boy of about five years.
"That was taken year ago, and 1t
looks just as he always did, and he died
with that smile on his face-dear, dear
little soul know he's better off, still,
its been awful hard to give him up.
His pa and ma are most crazy. That's
why writ this piece thought it might
mebbe be some comfort to EN-.
She laid several pages Of cheap note
paper covered with cramped and angu-
lar writing in blue ink Oil the desk.
Its some po'try made up bout
him. she said. ut amt very good,
know; some Of the lines don't rhyme
very good and lots Of the words ain t
spelled right, but reckon you could
fix that up all right. I'd agree to take
three extra copies Of the paper if twas
published.
81 am very sorry" SAID the editor, as
be looked at page after page of the
verses, "but we don't publish anything
more than the mere announcement Of
DEATH
ooh, don't you ? l didn't know. I've
seen potly pieces about the dead in
papers sometimes, though | don't know
as | ever have in this one. I'd be will.
ing to pay to haye it printed, but
amt got cent in the world. | walked |
all the way here. | don't mind SO lsuch |
myself. but l know it'd please his pa TO
see the piece in print he was SO wrap /
ped up in Johnnie. But, then, all OF ,
us was, for that mattor-tle dear, dear ,
little fellow ~
She drew a limp cotton handkerchief
from her pocket and wiped her eyes as
she said
"Ill take the piece and see if | can |
get it printed some place else-to please
his pa, you know. He was the only |
child, and, unless you've laid away your
own flesh an blood, you've no idea how
turrible it is to have little life like
that go out jst when its gittn more
precious and interestin ev'ry day. It's !
ben mighty hard fer me, his old grand |
ma, even when l know it won't be but |
little while till I'll be with him ug'ln.
"Well, III have to 20 now. I'm
sorry bout the piece, but amt blamin'
you none. Of course you have TO 90 by
the rules of the paper. No, thank ye,
you needn't help me down stairs. | |
kin git down alone. Bat its kind in
you to offer to help me. Yes, yes, |
know you'd put 1t In the paper if you
could. | amt blamln you none, 1t was
silly of me, l know, but never stop
ped to think but what ev'ry body'd be
as interested in our dear little Johnny
as we was, Goodbye, SIR
And she went slowly out, weak pa.
thetlc little figure, her eyes blinded
with tears and her heart aching with
loneliness, longing for smiles and kisses
and loving words Of the little boy that
died.-[J. l.. II.