The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-02-21

On haze BFOu1lfcc ShCTUo0d.
This is a sad little story Yves told me one
evening after his return from the scaboard,
where be had taken a cargo of convicts, to join
the Government transport, which was to con-
vey them TO New Caledonia.
Among the number WAS an aged convict, 30
years old, nj least who carried, very tenderly
o poor little sparrow in tiny cage.
Yves, 10 pass away the time, entered into
conversation with the old man. who, it seemed
TO him. had not bad face, and who was chained
60 a mocking young fellow, near-siehted, and
wearing spcctacles on his thin, pinched nose.
The old man was professional tramp who
had been arrested five or six times for yaga-
bondage aud petty theft.
How can one helm from stealing" he said
"when lie has once begun-no one to give him
work, and nothing TO Go-and nobody to give
him anything TO eat2 One must cat, mustn't
he? This last time was sentenced for steal
ing bag OF potatoes. which dug up in the field
with waEon-whip and gOurd. Oh, why
did they not let me die ia France, instead of
sending me Of, poor old man like me?"
Then. cheered TO fnd that someone lent q
sympathetic ear to his story, he hastened to show
Yves that he had the greatest treasure on
earth, the little cage and the sparrow
And the little bird seemed to understand all
his master said, for had he not been his COM
panion for nearly year. perched on his Shout
der in the prison.
II was not without much trouble that be had
got permission TO take the bird with him to
Caledonia And then TO make a cage for the
voyage; to procure little wood, bit OF old
iron. aud some green paint to make it look
pretty aud neat
Poor little sparrow" said Yves, telling me
tie story. THE only food in his cage was
piece OF the black bread on which the prisoners
are fed. Yet withal he was as contented and
skipped about as gsily as any other bird"
Some hours after, when the steamer was
reached and the convicts were embarking for
sheir long voyage Yves, who had forgotten the
old man, CHANGED 10 pass by him.
Stop. take This" he called in a changed
voice, holding out the little cage. Take it (;
you may have some use for it. Do what you
like with IT,"
30. no." said Yves you must keep it. Your
little companion can't do without it."
"Ah.n said the old man, the cage is empty.
What. have you not heard it? My little bird
lie gone"
And tears of inexpressible sorrow rolled down
his checks.
In the jostling about of the trip the door of
the little cage was opened ahd the little sparrow
got frightened and few away and having a
broken wing, dropped down Into the water.
o, what moment OF sorrow and distress
To see him struggle and die, bnifeted by the
waves in the wake of the gunboat aud TO have
DO power 10 save him.
At first the old man cried out for help, beg
Ring someone TO save his pet aud calling upon
Yves in his distress.
Then remembering his wretched condition,
be was silent. Miserable old man that he was
who would care for the loss Of his sparrow, or
think it worth while TO try 10 save him.
Was ii likely they would stop the gunboat
10 rescue little gray sparrow from the waves,
the poor little bird OF a wretched convict
How absurd The thought.
Then, IN silent despair. he watched the little
gray body, struggling in the spray, till the aw-
fui realization coming over him that he was
all alone in the world tears Of iuconsolable sor-
row INSTRUCTED his yision--ard all the while
the near-sishted young wretch with the spec
taeles, chained to his side, laughed and Knocked
ut his grief
And now the bird was gone he did not want
the cage. which he had made with such pains.
aud handing il TO the humane officer. who bad
listened SO kindly to his story. he begged him
90 accept il before he set out on his long voy-
age.
And was. sorry for the old man. did accept
the poor little cage, for he had not the heart TO
give him pain, by seeming TO refuse what had
cost bin 60 much trouble.
cannot find words to tell the story with the
psthOs that Yves related il 60 me.
il was very late that night when ! retired.
And 10 my great surprise found that /, who
ali my life had listened uumoved, to horrors
and tragedies aud murders was so distressed
OF heart that sleep lad fed from my pillow.
p" IL ] thought i could get il TO him would
buy him another bird" / said
Yes, said Yves, =" thought Of that myself
You might buy sparrow at the bird fancier's
put II In the poor little cage and take il TO him
before the steamer sets SAIL. But il will not lie
30 easy, for ia order 10 do so you must be at the
steamer TO morrow morning. aud when you ret
fara 4r~T,
man, ss j do not even know his name Only
well, one would feel little foolish under the
circumstances"
Yes, to be sure; but would have to he
q little FOOLISH OF course before he would think
81 doing anything OF the kind"
30 consoed myself for the time aud laughed
TO myself as though; ont my plans
1hey were soon 70 change. however. WAX
ing up The next morning .ouud my resolve of
The night before quite gone. and ] seemed 10
myself Childish and ridiculous ever 10 have
thought OF such thing.
HE poor old conyict's sorrow wss too griev-
ons TO be consoled by mere plsything.
Poor old man, all alone in the world the
most beautiful bird OF Paradise could not Gil
The place 10 his affections left vacant by the
homeiy gray sparrow with the broken wing
which bad shared his prison bread and stirred
70 Infinite tenderness and tears his hardened
oio hesrt as good as dead TO everything else
around him.
PASSING ~ REVIEW.
Maude 9. Torrey. Lansing, Iowa, in sending
her 70 cents Tor 1895. says: " think the Or
der very fine one aud that as now construct.
cd 10 is much nicer than with divisions. |
was never a good hand at dividing; whole
apple 10 better than a half As the old adage
runs: United we stand, divided we faIl"
III friends slip away. do not try TO force
them back again. III they are worth having
they vii! return; ii not, never mind, you are
better without them than with them
IL IS mistake 10 think we have no infu-
ence over those with whom we cotne In daily
contact says Lou NJ Staring. aud adds: No
matter how humble your station NAV be in life
that influence is felt. man may be ever
30 low ana wicked, but he viii honor aud re-
Epect pure. Christian woman. Her simple
request "ili often keep young man from DO.
Ing wrong. Ga the other baud. 10 may fell
victim to evil cOunselS"
Sister Annie J.. Williams writes that ado
honal voluntary contributions to pay Sister
1iArae passage 70 warm cline have brought
ihe amount drawn from the J.. II. W. treasury
Ho"n 10 SIS. Read her letter and Sister
eisras and Sister hsttie's and add your mile.
~ you nave not already done So
Emmett Searcy, Chairman Historic Con, nit.
Zee, haley, Ieun, wants the address OF Lizzie