The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-23

We never got a wink of sleep
Until dear Willie died.
s'He's happy with the angels now
On that far golden shore,
And since he went to heaven above
There's peace on earth once more.
BY the Neighbors.
''T'hat sort of thing always touches me-"
observed Twain as he dashed drop from
his eye. Don't mind my emotion; it's
always relief to me to weep after reading
a testimonial like that. Here is another
from little huddle of waits whose parent
and protector had been cut down and
whom they were about to file away in the
tomb. 1t tells its own homely story Of
heartache and filiaI grief:
s'Father's in heaven. His body is dead
And silent, cold and still.
When we orphans get back from the grave
yard,
We're going to bust the will.
BY His Children.
"And here " continued Twain 1nusingly
as he selected a third, ''is the prattIina
innocence of childhood. Jimmy is dead,
and his little companions offer the follow
ing explanation. Dickens Death of Little
Neu' failed to move me as this has done:
''Jimmy ate an unripe pippin.
He knew it wasn't right
The angels foated down to US
And collected james that night,
And since then all US boys have been
Behaving out of sight.
BY His Playmates.
"You read" sobbed Twain, covering
his face with his handkerchief and proffer-
ing the manuscript with the disengaged
hand, "you read. The grief of artless
childhood cuts me to the heart and I'M
mans me-"
Compose yourself" said the writer.
"You will soon be able to go on
"This, - said Twain when he had again
grown calm, "oomes from stricken wom-
an. It is only four lines, but it tells the
whole sorrowful chapter:
''He died, and my life, which was sad before,
Beheld its tears increased,
For when AlgernOn sought the shining shore
Ny alimony ceased.
BY His Divorced Wife.
"There," remarked Twain, quite com.
posed now. 81 stood that better than ]
hoped. I feel stronger now. All, now
comes one which is warm and instinct
with an unbribed solicitude There are
few democrats to whose sympathies it
would not appeal. 1t is the little matters
such as this, fresh from the best nature OF
man, which makes the green tree and the
fountain, the oasis, if you please, in the
arid wastes of human existence. Listen:
''Our hearts are sad and lonely
Since the general went away
10 cll1nD the SGa1rS OF pearl and gold
And find eternal day.
He was an earnest worker,
With a throat forever dry.
We wonder how he's making out
With the seraphs in the sky.
We hope the generals happy.
Still, unless the folks have lied,
Sersphs don make gin rickeys
Nor give seltZer on the side.
By His Barkeep.
"This tribute is the heart moan of
wife, - observed Twain, while mist again
began to cloud his eye. "When you hear
it, you will say it is a cry from the soul:
"Dear Henry's dead. and I'm borne down
By an avalanche of care.
/ must collect the life insurance
And settle what to wear.
His pain is DER He's happy now.
would not call him back.
won't seem bad as a widow, and
look beautiful in black.
By His Bereaved Helpmeet.
"And now," said Twain, ''we come to
the last 1t does not wiring me like the
others. 1t speaks of grief, but there is a
sordid monotone of money through it all
which makes it ignobIe. Still even the
creditor class has rights. 1 myself always
try to treat a creditor with respect, even
kindness. The regret expressed in this
verse may be sincere. 1t is at least en-
titled to the softening effect of the doubt;
sour tears fall fast above the little mound
Which hides his breast.
John owed US SS7, GO
When he found rest
CHE never left penny when he winged
To realms sloof.
Whate'er went with him's gone, alas, unless
Twas dreproof.
sfAnd so we moan and mourn together
For John who's dead,
For, while twas John who pinned and suffered,
Twas we who bled.
By His Creditors.
Snow" concluded Twain as he careful
" returned the treasures to his desk, 81
feel immensely better. There's something
about those little poems which refreshes
me as might the cold waters of spring.
Then he filed cob pipe and changed
the subject.-Hartford Post.