Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-05-12

ready for pauper's burial in Potter's
Field.
A sturdy, fine looking young man,
more than six feet high, walked into
the Office OF the Bellevue Hospital late
last night. He wore largo slouch hat
and workingman's clothes. A silk
handkerchief was tied around his neck,
and cartridge belt such as is worn by
hunters in the far west was buckled
around his waist. He inquired of the
clerk at the desk whether Mrs. johann
ma Robinson had died there last Sum
day. His broad accent proved him a
westerner. The clerk examined the
register and found that Mrs. Johanna
Robinson, sixty years old, of No. 427
east Fifteenth street, had died of pull
monaris in the hospital on Sunday
She had walked into the hospital on
the previous Tuesday and had died af-
ter five days of lingering illness.
As this entry was read to the young
man he became very pale, the corners
of his mouth twitched and his hands
trembled.
''Where is MY mean the body 2"
he asked.
He was informed that Mrs. Robinson
had died without means, and as no
one had claimed her body it was at
the Morgue awaiting pauper's burial.
"My God Am l too late!" the
strange visitor cried as he sank into a
chair, sobbing "That pauper you have
in the Morgue is my mother. l thought
things would be different from this on
my return . the city. thought that
poor mother would die in home with
me with blessing and smile for her
son.
But it was not to be" he continued,
more oollcctedly. II suppose this is
the punishment for my failure to do a
sons duty to her before this, and that
therefore / must lose the JOY | would
have felt had seen her again and told
her that she would be without care in
the future. 1t is ,lard to believe Only
two hours ago | arrived in this city
from the far West. had not seen my
mother for more than 25 years. l was
mere boy then / have lived among
strangers and cIttlemen. / had no
home. / made money and spent it.,
made ii again and lost it, but never
forgot my mother, and my sole object
was to give her home. I wrote to
her occasionally.
Il didn't write to her that l would
come to New York to visit her. /
thought would surprise her, and 1 was
happy in the anticipation of how glad
we two would be. When arrived to-
night ] did not have much bag
gage along, for l intended to
return with my mother to my
home out west as quickly as possible,
hurried from Jersey City to where my
mother had lived | inquired for Mrs.
Drohan, With whom she roomed. The
fat was shown me, and when | raped
al the door, there was a swelling in my
throat that choked me. An old lady
opened the door. / did not know but
that ii was my mother, but the lady
said she was MIS-. Drohan. | asked for
nv mother and she invited me to en-
ter.
II told her that I was Willie Robin
son, and that'I was anxious to see my
mother. I noticed that she turned
color and commenced to ask me what
kind of trip had. She did not an
swer my question. ! asked again, and
very sadly she replied =
q answered very politely, but then
repeated my question. Then Mrs.
Drohan sat very stiff in her chair.
AZ suppose you must be told. Your
mother died at Bellevue Hospital last
Sunday
II am not easily shocked, but some
how | did not know what happened
during the next few minutes. All |
can remember is that somebody gave
me a glass of water and told me the way
to the hospital
The young man was silent for few
moments. Then he cried :-"Now' !
find her ready for n pauper's grave
Oh, mother l was not bad l thought
of you often!'
When he recovered he said to the
clerk: "I'll die rather than see my
mother in Potter's Field. She shall have
a grave as good and honorable as any
mother. Can you keep the body for a
few days until / get money from the
West. have no friends here and no
money. Please do that for a poor fel-
low in trouble"
The clerk promised to do for him
what he could under the rules of the
Morgue, and then he looked into the
register again and remarked:
II find here another entry. 1tseems
that your mother must have thought OF
YOU in her last moments, for she said
that Won would come from the West
and claim her body in case she should
die.n
Oh, mother, how good you We're"
young Robinson cried. i do claim
her body. She told the truth. You
just give me chance, and if there is a
God he'll reward you for it."
And the young man hurried out into
the night, promising to atone for the
wrong he had done in not saving his
: mother from a pauper's death.-N. Y
Herald.
NVE l..