Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-02
AN EASTER ETCHING.
ny rRANK I. WINS
ror tas sunday Gazelte.

For tue Sunday Gazette:
Tommy Wilson was no account. A
stranger child, the neighb0rs said. and
with that dismissed an thought of the
little wan fuce. the great senrchng eyes
with their sensitive appeal for love.
During the twelve years that Tommy
had lived. he never knetw what Il was to
be petted. for In his home there were
many mouths 10 feed, many little ones
to clOthc. and there was no time TO
bestow upon the one who was no account,
while his sensitive nature shrank from
the words of his father as DC chidcJ
him for bis laziness, more than II would
from blows. and the boy. feeling the IN
justice. kept his thoughts within himself,
stubhornness the father called Il. but
it was only that the gentle spirit had
been wounded He had been told that
he was no account until he accepted and
believed Il. But why had he been born
at allY He was not wanted, there were
plenty of brothers and sisters. strong and
healthy. who could play and rOmp and
work while he always felt 80 tired, and
his body achcd II he but attempted to
run or jump. Yet the country doctor
could find nothing the matter with him,
he was simply not strong like other chill
dren.
He used to want TO join the games
but was In the way they said, aud when
tie. he was In the way--why was he
born to be In other peoples wayf He
longcd for cOmpaniunship but none cared
for him except his dog who seemed TO
understand and Tommy would throw his
arms around the neck of this, his only
friend. and cry himself 90 sleep with his
face hid in Carlos shaggy hair The
boy would roam over the prairie by the
hour. the wind whispered 10 him, the
grass bowed It's head as II II would greet
him, the birds saug him welcome, and
lying upon some mound he would count
the needles of the cactus or gaze
with rapture on the beauty Of the wild
flowers until he felt they were friends
aud would tell them all about how he
wanted TO be strong aud play aud work
like his brothers and sisters, and while
they could not speak yet IL seemed TO him
| that they understood aud In some vague
way they comforted him while the
gentle breeze touched his brow aud sOOth
cd him.
! At night Tommy lay awake. watch.
! Ing the skies and wondering what the
/ stars were made of, aud who lighted
\ them, a stage passed by his house twic,
| week and the boy looked nc the pas
songcrs, and wanted 10 know why thcr,
We're 30 many people, where they camt
! from and why they were ALWAYS guinl
| TO some place, but he was afraid to ask
/
] edge, yet shrinking from the ridicui,
/ with which he knew that his question,
would be received
One day he made up his mind that h,
would 80 and see for himself wher,
the stage went, aud calling Carlo b,
started along the dusty road. He coult
not 60 far before he was too tired TO wall
aud he would sit by the roadside an,
rest All day he walked, and when IN,
neon aud stars began TO shine he won
dered If il was the same that he saw
when he was at home. Then he lay
upon the grass and slept, with his hcaS
pinowed upon his faithful dog. The mex
morning he reached little town, and ~
he passed by, heard childrcn's voice
singing an Easter anthem, and he cam,
as close TO the church az he dared to 20
"Glory to God In the highest" they sang
and lac wondered who was God ant
where was the Highest and II there wa
always singing there. But they wer
coming out again, and he must go, for /
they saw him, he would forget the beau
| tiful singing and remember only that NJ
was sad and lonely and no account. 81
tired and hungry and footsore, he sturte,
down the dusty road again until h