The morning call., 1891-04-26

1t is about midday. The almost tropical
rays of the summer sun beat fiercely on the
dry plain.
With slow and weary step an old man
approached large oak tree that sheltered
small space from the heat. He was old and
decrepit-a poor old tramp. Dissipation had
shared with Time in forming the wrinkles
of his sunken face-in bending that form
once so stalwart.
He felt strangely tired as he approached
the shade to rest. He could scarcely reach
the shelter before his tired limbs gave way,
and he sank to the ground. Why did he feel
so exhausted? 1t was feeling new to him.
Was he i'll. or was age rendering him unable
to tramp as he had done SO many years.
Yes, he was getting weak. He lay down to
sleep. When it was cool and the sun had
sunk beneath the horizon, he would start out
again, refreshed by repose.
Soon he fell asleep. The sun slowly sank
lower. When its last rays shot obliquely
under the tree on to the silvery white locks
of the old tramp, and the squirrels that had
played fearlessly round him one by one had
disappeared, lie awoke. de must start out
Strange that he scarcely felt rested at all !!
He could not walk; it was no use trying.
lie CTdHleu utdISl IL lLlG VI uuh VI elC elCC
and lay down again. Was it the approach
vitality exhausted? His lonely, roaming
life would find sad climax in death be-
meath the cold stars above, far from q
creature of his kind! As he lay, his head
resting ON mound of earth, and thought of
the life he had lived alone, ever alone, his
dim, watery eyes filled with tears. No fire.
side had ever been cheerful for him. No
loving companion had ever softened grief
by comfort for him. In old ege no child had
ever climbed his knee and listened eagerly
to his tale or innOcently c0nfided secrets to
him. He had roamed ever. Roamed, and
in his Wanderings he had looked forward to
no reaching of home. Home had never
been for him. He was weak, he was bent.
His eyes were watery and dim and the hand
he raised to shade them shook ana trembled.
He could not rise and walk. Where was
the youthful, cheerful loving one who
should lead him and tenderly wait on his
declining days?
He had never thought before how hard
his lot had been. But now-now he was
dying, and alone. AS the moon appeared
over the horizon her pale light found retlec-
ton in the crystal tear drops as they slowly
gathered and rolled down the UNEMPLOYED
| burrows of his cheeks. AS he looked at
the far off, beautiful rising orb and thought
| of the unknown future before him he
| wished for the first time for some nobler,
In the future, the mysterious seemingly
uuknowable future, would he e'er traverse
| the starry heavensP But the pastl Must
| that shape the future? The past days of
| sin-must they rise like CHASTITY shadow
and ever shut him from pleasure in days to
| come? Memory and mind, long since put
to sleep by drink, revived and placed him
| on remorSe's rack. The tears of sorrow be-
| came tears of repentance. but repentance
| can it nullily the effect?
| Suddenly his sorrowful meditations were
interrupted by noise. A sound as of tread
| ing footsteps aroused him and caused him
| to look around. He saw nothing but the
! plain, the starry canopy overhead and the
| gently rustling leaves under which he lay.
| II was fancy he thought-the fancy of a
AS he remembered the only companion
| he had ever known, the loving one of child
hoods days, as the vision Of her kind face
rose up before his long-clouded memory,
kthe tears fell thick and fast from his
sbrunken cheeks. In his sorrow and re-
morse he groaned aloud and turned his face
| downward.
| He was answered. To his heart-broken
| sob there came reply that sent chill of
! horror through him. 1t was low growl.
| He looked up and met the shining eyes of a
| beast
| He knew it. 1t was coyote.
| Harmless-a coward to strong mamie
knew why it prowled around. 1t was
| awaiting his death. As he looked it in the
| eyes it skunk away. Heaven! would 1t
| wait till he was deadp
| He might become weaker, and the beast
might tear his living flesh apart. He cried
| aloud for help. He knew that it was USE
less, except that 1t might frighten the
| prowler away.
Sinking form gradually approaching in the
| gloom.
How weak he wasI He conld not cry out,
| and it neared him. Stealthily it approached,
| its shining, hungry eyes fixed ON his With
strange fascination of horror he gazed
silently into them. Nearer. It almost
| touched him. He moved Siowlyit backed
| those horrible eyes off him. Again it ap-
| preached. Nearer. Nearer, shifting the air,
| it came toward him. Again he feebly moved
and groaned in terror. 1t growled. He
made frantic effort to stir anything to
| brighten that horror away, but it only ap-
| preached again. This time he could not
move. Its nose touched him. Its jaws
Eopened with smack, and he felt their heat
| on his throat. The teeth closed together
| and the blood flowed. With groan the
| poor helpless tramp expired, and the fell
| beast began his horrible feast.
Some weeks after visitor to that part OF
! the country stood beneath that tree. Seat
tered far around were the clean, white
bones of human being. The skull grinned
horribly. The ants crowded in and
| out of it. 1t had been the home of a
brain, q Consciousness. q mind; now II
| lay fixed in a CHASTITY everlasting grin, the
/ home uf insects. BY its side was bundle
clothing. The visitor shudderingly left the
4 spot to the unknowing and uncaring squir.
rels that had disappeared at his approach
Oh.