The morning call., 1893-04-07
A CHILD'S TEAR.

In a Partisan green room a new per-
former was complaining of nervousness.
From some of her companions she received
encouragement, but the majority expressed
themselves after this fashion:
Such tremors are incurable As nature
has formed US, bold or timid. cold or ardent,
grave or gay, so we must remain. Whoever
saw an ambitious man cured of his ambi-
tion or miser of his avarice ?"
Some members Of the company objected
TO the fatalism of these observations, and
one said:
IF you ask for a converted mlser, can
show you one. Here he isl am one!
The man who said this was a popular
dramatist, noted for generosity. His state
ment was received with CALCULATIONS of
''NonsenseV" "Impossible" DO you ex-
pect US to believe that?"
Indeed" answered he, quite seriously
Il speak the truth. was miser, although
now, l trust. l am such no longer. If you
would care to hear it. win relate to you
the story of my conversion. 1t was effected
by chlld's tear"
Ali present Immediately crowded around
him and heard from his lips the following
recital:
"ln.1SS4," said the dramatist, IT had Just
given to the theater of the Porte Saint Mar
lin one of the most successful Of my pieces.
One day about that time two letters reached
me by the same post Both were from
MaTsellles. One was from q theatrical
manager, informing me that he intended
bringing out my new piece there and that
he desired my presence at the final re-
heaTsal of the drama. With regard to re-
Enumeration for my trouble l might make
my own terms IN reason. The second let
far uags larfa .,
the wife and daughter of your brother are
dying IN want, Some hundreds of francs
would save them, and | doubt not that Won
will hasten to visit connections so near TO
you and make arrangements for their pres.
en-. and future comfort This letter bore
the signature Of DR.. Lambert OF Marseilles
AS l have already told you [ was mser
In the worst sense Of the word. The physi.
clans letter. FAR from moving me to pity
merely renewed certain angry feelings
which had formerly existed in nv mind to-
ward my sisier-in-law. When, some years
back. my brave sailor brother, who has since
been drowned, had written to tell me of his
approaching marriage with q fsherman's
daughter, l, in my miserable pride and
maDlnpss, had replied that III marrying a
penniless girl l considered that he was do
Ing most foolish and degrading action. |
was even wretch enough to advise him to
break of the match. il that were still POS
sibie. Ny brother, like the honorable man
he Was, welded the girl he loved. My
sisteT-in-law, who was high-spirited Bre-
ton, never forgot my letter, and had de-
spised its writer. When she lost her hus-
band and found herself in need it was leng
ere she could bring herself to apply to me.
But the sight Of her only child wasting
away from sheer want Lad at last broken
her pride.
Theater seemed likely to prove a highly
profitable one, !, as you might expect, lost
10 time in accepting the offer. l wrote off
to the manager at once and followed my
letter in person with as little delay as DOS
sible. When l arrived at the principal
hotel al Marseilles l encountered there, in
the act of inquiring Tor me, The doctor who
had written on my sisters behalf. AS had
not replied to his letter the good man said,
In his simplicity: He will be here in per-
son. and bad looked for me every DAY.
You have lost no time, SIR said he
Doubtless you thought, and rightly. that
did you delay death might forestall you.
All l am indeed glad to see youp
II was completely nOnplused. My sole
object in visiting Marseilies had been the
professional one; but how could | avow
such fact to such mar? For very shame
could not do so. Accordingly. instead of
going straight to the theater as | had in
tended doing, ] walked away with the
doctor to my sister-in-law's poor abode.
ut VAS most wretched room. Yet the
first object in it that caught my eye was
very beautiful one. Near the inyalid's bed
pretty curly hair, and a face whose express
sion was pathetic com bination of youthful
brightness and premature sadness. At the
first glance 1 could have taken the lovely
creature into my arms; then | sternly re-
pressed this alien emotion. The doctor,
after he had spoken few words TO his pa
tient, beckOHed me to approach. AS | did
20 the poor woman tried to raise herself.
The mixture OF sadness and pride on her
faded eOuntenance told me plainly how
great an effort 1t had cost her to appeal to
me- Using the strongest plea that she
knew, she pointed 10 her child with weak,
trembling finger, and said in low tones:
See here! She will soon be alone In the
WorldP
Even this touching appeal produced Il
blush TO say iO no effect upon my hard
heart answered coldly: Why give way
to such fears? You are young. you have
good physician; why lose all hopeY A less
selfish man would have added, you have
brother-ln-law also, who means 10 do his
best for you.' But | said nothing Of the
sort. My only thought was how l might
burden. The little girl, who had been gaz-
ing AT me with wondering eyes, now came
10 my side and said: viii you please sit
upon the bed? Because you are too tall for
me TO kiss you IL You stand
Il sat down, and the child climbed upon
my knee. Her mothers eyes were closed,
and her hands were clasped together as il in
prayer. Unaffrighted by my black looks
the niue one tnFeW ner arms around my
mex and pressed her lips to my check.
VIII you be my papa? said she Il will
love you so dearlyl You are like papa, he
was very good. Are you good, too?' NV
only answer was 10 unclasp her arms some
what roughly from my neck and SET her
down upon the floor. She. cast unen me n
glance Of mingled surprise disapp ointmert
and fear, and tear rolled slowly dawn nor
check. Her silent sorrow worked the mira
Gle that her pretty, fond prattle had failed
to elect. As by an enchanter's wand the
uRliness OF my character, the utter brutality
OF my conduct was revealed to me in that
moment. l shuddered in horror and self
disgust, aud yielded at once 10 my good
angel. lifted the disconsOlate little maiden
into my arms and, laying my hand upon her
head. said: Yes. my child, 1 promise to be
father to you; you shall be my dear little
daughter, and l viii love and take care of
you always
"How happy this promise made my sister
in-law words fall me to describe. Her Joyful
excitement alarmed both the physician
end myself. joy, however. seldom kills.
'Brotherl br0therp she nIurmured, how
my thoughts have wronged you'll Forgive
mep Her gratitude stung my newly awak-
ened conscience more sharply than any re-
prOach could have done. ] FASTENED TO
change tile subject to that of the sick
wol1an's renewal to better dwelling The
Decor. with ready kindness, undertook the
task of house-hunting, for which. stran-
ger TO the place, was not so well qualified.
HE found for us a delightful cOttaZe IN