The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-13
LITTLE CAB.


tho family Of little Gabriel, who was called
Little Cab
His father was cutter in clothing
house. His mother was scllly and white
haired at 40 and expended all her health
in household duties.
Ho was an incurable invalid. His
crooked spinal column made his shoulders
rise to tho level of his eyes. His legs were
slender and soft and bent under u body
warped and thrown out of equilibrium.
He would not have been able to walk
without an orthopcdic corset
From this distorted trunk with "a hump
on the chest and one on the back roso'a
head too large, but the face had exquisite
dclicacy and ali expression of singular
poignancy.
Although he was years old, one would
have thought him 20 from his thoughtful
face his prominent forehead and his brown
black eyes so prccociously rcnsivc
His father, mother and sister adored
him for his afrcctionate ways and his OK
traordinary intelligence.
The physician had forbidden his work
ing, but To amusc him and to change his
surroundings they sent him to school,
where he forced himself to listen grnvcly
and to retain all that he heard
One evening after school 1 saw him
tho rooms OF the concierge His mother
had gone out to mako some purchases,
and, his sister not yet having returned
from tho shop, hc found tho door of the
apartment locked. He was watching tho
street with hungry eyes whilo his cxprcs-
sion indicated deep thought and mournful
resignation. While l questioned him the
pupils of his eyes threw observant and
frightened chances at mo. During tho in
tcrvicw his sister returned all out of breath.
"Oh, my poor Cab" cried she. 81 have
Kept you waiting, and you are impatient,
amt you?'
mo, replied Cab, with calm, silvcry
voice Il said to myself only that perhaps
you did not want me any moro and would
not come back. am SO sick and so trou-
blcsomc"i
"Ah, YOU naughty boy murmurcd the
young girl, covering him with liissc; and
then turning her eyes filled with tears to-
ward mo;
''IIc is so little and so intelligent. He
reasons like Crown person. What pity
that he is not strong Tho doctor SAYS il
ho can go to Bcrck this summer tho salt
mir and the sand baths will probably cure
him. But it is far away, Bcrck, and il
would be expensive, but l am going to try
to make enough money to take him thcrc'
Tho courageous young girl worked from
morning until night to mako the amount
necessary. Sho broke herself down at hci
machine. She folded, gathered, scanned.
bastcd and scwcd without rest heard
the dry, quick click of the machine late
into the night. 1t sounded like sharp
chorus of grasShoppcrs in tho fields.
Behind the curtains of the lamplight i
saw tho outline f'thc young scamstrcss.
In tho house everybody knew the history
of little Cab, and the women willingly
gave their work to the sister They stop
ped the child on the landing in the halls
and court, carcssing and fondling him and
sending him dclicacics. He was always
shy, and no shrank from their carcsscs,
which gave him more inquctude than
pleasure; ho thought II long time of these
marks of friendship
The lady on the top floor has given me
these toys Why has sho done so, when
she does not know mc:" he asked of his
sister, with Il kocnncss which gave heart
breaking understanding of the working of
his brain. sit is, without doubt because
! am Il hunchback''
Work was plenty, and tho bank grow
heavy in dark corner of the bureau
drawer July was approaching, and prep
nrationS were already commenced for their
departure. a trunk had been bought and
costume for tho child who, enchanted,
talked of nothing TO his schoolmatcs but
his trip to the Scashorc.
At tho last moment everything was up
set by an unfortunate accident
Tho young vito OF n clerk on tho fifth
floor had given her wedding gown to tho
sister to BIO rctrimmcd in tho prevailing
fashion.
Ono evening in playing with the ink
bottle Cab let it slip from his slender fin
gers, and its contents ran unluckily OH tho
whto satin skirt.
They did not scoid him. Alas, mol Tho
CONSERVATION in his face was too painful
to see. His sister stiilcd u cry Of terror
Silently, ncrvously she spongcd tho ma
tcrial and measured the extent of tho dis.
astcr The ink had out ragcously spoiled
eight yards of satin.
Between IL loss to tho client on tho fifth
floor and pity for Cab there must be no
hesitation. The clerk $ wife was not rich
and her wedding dress was her only re-
source for fctc days and occasions of ccrc-
mony. Then again tho little drcssmakcr
was proud and did not wish the people of
the house to know the cares and sorrows
OF their home. The most practical and
dignillcd thing TO do was TO run to tho
Bon Marchc and try 10 match the stuff.
Eight yards AT ID francs IL yard mado q
total of l2O francs, IL rude breach i'll the
bank, a fund for tho journey
II was finished. II would be necessary
TO give up the visit for this year
The girl embraced little Cab and went
to sewing again
Who following winter they worked
steadily on Tie first floor. The autumn
lad been rainy and li;tlc CABS health had
suffered in consequence His bones aohcd,
he had a fever and pains in the head The
doctor c::aninoh linn, striking h;4 heard
meanwhile, and again ordered the child to
!5urcE as soon rs The We.,,ncr bccnmo