Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-13
4 RING FOUND BY The WAYSIDE.
Story Of the Little Band and The Hearts
That t United.

IN this great city where 1--we, or course
1 am nothing unusual only = slim slip OF
a boy whom you would never think Of
looking al second time. Nobodys boy,
even, and l have sometimes thought l
was Just common city property, with only
the delightful privilege OF playing sand
bag" for the muscular development Of It's
citizens.
/ am no common tramp, ard yet l do
tramp commonly usually. / mean--and
while the throngs are rushing eyer on.
turning the mighty wheels Of the financial
cars with ears d.adened % all other mu-
sic save that with the silvery jingle with
eyes closed 10 all beauties that have not
the green setting with its golden fringe,
the Etreet-lamp and ! stand together,
and sometimes, as the crowd has pressed
US hard, we have heard a sigh in the
voice that laughed. we have seen tear
in the eye that smiled. Side BY side these
races pass under the dim lamp, some
bright and all aglow with Joy and life,
and yet many. very many. that are sad
ard pinchcd. fascinate me the most as
they jostle along,
And as they 80 l have fancied these
faces In their spheres "a life. IN pal
aces. IN novels, and as they meet under
my lamp l have even thought them
changed IN n twinkling, the hunger and
hollowness fitted from the cheeks OF the
one and looking out from the others eyes.
! walk mostly a night, for It suits my
purpose best. Red lips pae and dreary
faces brighten under the glare Of the
sun. An yet there IS one road leading out
IN the country that in autumn weather Us
very beautiful with its long evergreen
frlnges dropping flowers. and leaves that
are turning gold. 1 like It best under the
g,anc.ng rays OF an evening sun, because
we date our acquaintance from very
bright evening year ago now.
Then, as / passed along busy With my
thoughts-for 1 love TO think away out in
the country. where all else besides l.
drowsy-I came suddenly upon two worry
cid people, G man and tho woman who had
given her life 10 him a long while ago. l
was attracted 20 them for l saw the lone
Illness and sadness that palled like a dreary
November cloud upon their scared faces
perhaps. indeed. more because I saw that
their brightest and happ.est days on earth
lay ont behind.
am young now, and, of course, do not
understand these things. but there can be
nothing sadder, l think. than 10 feel that
tho best OF life is wrapped up In that
emaciated spectre word, gone"
But what drew me closest 10 their side
was that they We're both kneeling in the
dust with which they must so very soon
more closely mingle. l could see now they
would put out HIS hand. perhaps
upon yellow leaf, look dissap-
pointed, and pass on 10 something
else. The faded hands OF the wife. too
wero beside his own. and she was look
ing-nO not looking. Years even had
passed since joyful light had passed into
those dark, sightless eyes-she was wholly
blind
soon found the little ring. for such It
was and tears Of Joy welled in their dim
old eyes as 1 placed tho slender clrclet ia
her palm.
And though the thought that II was I
who lifted only slight burden, perhaps.
from their old hearts has been a bright
spot In my life that grows larger and
even brighter as 1 travel along, that scene
may come back when It may, It saddeas
me.
oh. there they werel knceling in the
very DUST the hand. thin and trembling
OF the aged wife touching here and
there the damp. the faded lips moving in
silent prayer that tie who took away the
light might guide the sightless fingers
the man. cropping IN the dCep shadows Of
the years that wero gone touching now
some barkless tWig, scar Leaf. now q
bruised flower that lay before him.
4 very dreary picture chat, but none
the less true, OF human life and human
Efforts
came to know them well. One winter
nisht-of that winter, they never saw
anotner-l came upon them IN their cot
tage. and they told me of the ring 1 had
found She told me the story IN her quiet
way, and all the while the old hands lay
IL his.
They had been children Of wealthy pa
rents and close companions from ear
Hest childhood. She told me OF their
long walks together under the old forest
trees, and how, when tired they would
sit for hours By the tiny stream that
ran near their homes and talk OF all the
Joys the future held for them; how they
would toss pebbles upon It's smooth sur
face and watch the ripples as they widen
ed. Sometimes they would fancy their
little bark Of life upon these rpples and
wonder where il would go. Would It
be wrecked upon the Jagged rocks that
fringed the shores, or would Il be borne
on. on and still on, TIL that brooklet lost
itself IN the great river. and the river
yielded II 10 the broad ocean, and yet
still on till II should ride calmly and
sweety upon tho sunlit waters Of the
River OF Life?
one summer day as they talked OF this
he had placed the band upon her finger.
She was a child then. and when she grew
up she had it made larger, but she had
become child again. and the day after
I found II ana took IL back and the
jewellers son undid the work his father
had done before him, and there II was
then in his hand as she had worn It when
a girl.
7 was at the old place the other day.
~ 14E -. t-
mansion Is going up whore II once stood
But 1t is alright with them, l am
sure. for l fancy I see
Upon the bosom OF the river
Where the sun unhinds rs culver.
And the moonbeams rest forever
\ vesl floating light and free
THE WAIF.