Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-28
No. 3O4

and didn't git his letter. Reuben, this is
our baby, MAry's boy"
Dick did not know what TO ssy TO this
unexpected turn of affairs, ana 20 gave
uttersnce 10 prolonged whistle. The
passengers began to gather around the
strange couple, while q young man who
was connected with the press was busily
tsking..uotes for q sensational column which
would make it's appearance in the news
paper the NEXT morning.
Mary was waiting for them when thsy
reached Chicago. Dick, spying her among
the throng, hastily told her all She went
to her mother, who said as she kissed her,
''The Lord lie good. I've found yer father;
always knowed should.n There was
greater crowd than usual that night, q
hurrying, jostling crowd of eager folk with
happy faces and pletboric bundles-gifts
for their loved ones-and but few took
notice of the injured man and the quaint
figure of the old woman bending over him.
Mira Parker went to the hospital with
her husband, Mary promising TO come later
in the evening. She waited in the ofaoe
for the doctors diagnosis of the poor man,
and listened calmly when he told her the
extent Of his injuries, which were internal
He hsd told him he was q very sick man,
and would not probably live until morn
ing; that If he had any business to attend
to it should be done st onoe. Then he
went on to tell her that he had made his
win in her favor and had given her s., 900,
which was deposited in the Chicago Saw
ipgs bank. "This exeitemsnt Is all that
has kept him up" he added. "Be careful
and kssp him ss quist as possible. BE
win probably go In one of bis sinking
turns"
All that night long Mrs. Parker sat be-
side her husbands bed, holding In her
toll hardened hands the feeble OF that
groped on the counterpsne whenever IL
missed her warm clasp.
"SAy Now lay me- can't you, Reu-
benI' she whispered; ''you needn't be
AfeArd to trust In the Lord"
The doctor, coming in Just then, turned
away to hide his emotion. Injured TO
sights Of sorrow as he Was, there was
something infinitely pathetic in that un-
| usual scene; as the strange old couple, re-
united after 50 many long, weArisone
years, repeated toseiher their chIldhood's
| prayer.
"My-soul-so-teep," (" family the dying
| man said. Those v ere his last words.
Just as tbs rosy dawn appeared in the
| eastern sky the eLd came. Hrs. Parker
rose with the peaceful look still linaering
| on her worn, white face, and kissed her
| husband, saying sottly, "You didn't mean
| to leave me, dear" then drawing the sheet
Il carefully over her dead she took MaTy'e
hand and went out of the room
1t was q sabdusd little party that gath
| sred sround the we'll filed table in Mary's
home toward the close of that Christmas
| day. The death of the unknown man, so
closely connected by the ties Of blood, bad
| saddened the spirits of all Hsrri't, the
| elder daughter, was there with her hus-
band and two babies. She had married q
''nice young man and done well" 30 her
mother said. Then there was the other
daughter, Mary, nsmed after her mother,
and Jake, and Dick. They had all pre-
/ pared their Christmas gifts for the grand
| mother whom they had never before
known. Hsrri't and her husband gave
| her q warm new shawl; little Mary, who
was q salesEomsn in q store, gave two silk
| handkerchiefs; Jake and Dick together, an
| easy chair, and their mothers gift was q
/ shining new silver thimble-
With moistened eyes and trembling lips
Mr.. Parker said: II don't deserve all my
blessin's. How good You air TO me" then
simply, "1st u pray" And this was her
prayer:
''Mske MS thankful fer all our blessin's,
dear Lord, an fergive rs Uur debts we
/ fergive our debtors. Amen"
Rachel RoGEBs-
Why throw away yonr moley for every
1 new cough syrup, when yoa can bny that
standard remedy, DR.. Buifs Cough SyroP.