Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-03-07
LITTLE JOB.
1BS R. B. CARsoS.1

and the ground was shrouded and
carpeted with pure celestial witness.
The snow had been on several days,
the keen air had penetrated the warm
houses, and why should or could the
Widow Wauldon's shabby shanty es-
cape the cutting blast OF the winters
fury? 1t was impossible for the
widow to keep the small room warm
for the fuel was poor and scarce, only
few soggy chunks that little Joe had
managed to catch in the creek when
be was well.
The cupboard was empty and the
prospect was favorable for it remain
ing so, for little Joe was dead, her
only hope, her only support and COM
fort was gone. The sexton was toll
ing the rusty old Sunday School bell
that had so often tolled and called
him to Sabbath School, was tolling
expressly for him now. 1t used to
bring delight to the poor widows
heart but now the cold tears welled
up in her dim eyes, how mournful
and doleful it rang, as it sent the sad
tidings over the little hamlet. 1t sent
pang Of sorrow to every one, lex
cept one) the Shylock who owned the
cottage and who was already lament
ing the loss of the rent.
Little Joe, the boy of odd jobs,
running errands, the boot-shiner, and
the boy who drove the hamlet COWS
back on the section field to pasture,
was dead. How they would miss his
agile and trusted feet.
He was an understood boy dwarfed
and stunted with too early hard work.
His head had the maturity of man,
but his body was bent and expression
weary, and face pinched and haggard.
Little Joe, the Widow Wauldon's
only child and provider was dead.
She took in washing till little Joe was
big enough to help support their hum.
BILE wants, then she grew weak and
staggering, and Joe had to battle for
their bread, and fuel to ward off the
winter chill. He was never idle and
seldom in the house only at night and
then his mother taught him to read
and scribble on an old slate which
she ciphered on when she went to
school. Joe thought i. best to know
how to count and read for some day
he said he wanted to be clerk in
great store and help sell all sorts of
fancy articles like he saw at Joncs's
store.
But now little Joe was dead, his
ambition was cut short, the spark of
life had gone out never to be revived
on earth again. That hectic cough
and dull creeping fever had preyed
on his frail form for two weeks, but
he never complained to his mother.
When questioned would answer "Oh
nothing, I'll feel better tomorrow.
The night before New Years the
widow hobbled over to the overseer
of the poor and doctor was summon
ed, but 1t was too late. His lips were
parching with thirst, the cough was
more distressing. The doctor kindly
felt his pulse, left few powders and
bid the widow cheerful good night.
When the New Year had been
ushered in and millions were rejoicing
and singing glad halleIujahs and
hymns, and wishing each other anoth-
er happy and prosperous year, the
morning light found little working
Joe dead. His mother dressed him
and nursed him as in days of yore
and was loathe to give him up. She
rubbed and chafed his cold hand and
ever and anon kissed his shriveled and
careworn face. The sexton had ceas.
ed to ring the direful bell, and now
came the time to make preparations
for interment.
4 X
Late on New Years day as the
widow and the minister's wife were
sitting near the churchstove, the