News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-02-13

lust round the corner from thirty
sixth street. The book was mine
When | tell YOU that it was my dear
mothers gift, that she wrote my
name there, and that it was my one
memento of a happy past, you will |
understand how value it. | sold it
because had had nothing to eat in
three DAYS. | asked her if she'd
mind, don't you know, and she
seemed to tell me To But l went
there and watched it till | could get
it back again, and then you came
and bought it. | knew by your face
why you did. God bless you for 1t
| listened for your address. | hoped
each day to come and buy it. I'm
dying now, they tell me, so | never
can repay you; but would you mind
sending it to me! | do want it so.
1t can t mean much to you, and to
me it is all the world-all that is lett
of hope, memory, companionshlp,
love, home"
Through the lonn bare wards OF
the hospital the white-gowned nurse
led her silently; opposite them the
snow was nothing the great high
windows. The whole atmosphere
was so tense with stiffness and suffer
ing and dea th that the young lady
shIvered among her wraps as she
passed down the aisle. He had
evidently been expecting her, tor he
had been cleanly shaved, and Miss
Boughton was shocked yet pleased
by his appearance. He was terribly
emaciated, and as he lay with closed
eyes and his face half turned away,
she noticed the fine delicate chiseling
of his features, and the sensitive, al
most feminine curves Of his mouth
under his mustache. One hand lay
closed on the cover-lid, bony and
large. His malady seemed to have
cleansed away all the weakness and
dissipation and squalor, and left only
the fine and beautiful. Lie had
clothed him in shame and wretched-
ness; deaths mantle draped him in
awful dignity. The nurse touched
him lightly on the shoulder. Here
is some one tc see you," she said.
He opened his eyes, which, bright
with fever, we're startling, brilliant,
and beautiful, and feebly tried to
turn himself, smiling and looking at
the bundle she held pressed against
her coat with thaC quick eagerness
she remembered 50 we'll She under
stood, and bending forward, pressed
his hand and laid the book upon bis
arm.
open it, please" he whispered
she did so, and catching it again in
his hands, he looked at the inscrip.
ton, and assured that it was his
very own, with force for which she
Was entirely unpreparpd, he pressed
it to his lips aud Rugged it to bis
breast.
God bless you'll he said, with a
look Of the most grateful happiness
"Oh, my dear mother! my DEAF
mother"
For some moments he lay silent
with his eyes shut, but when she at
tempted gentl t. dray away heT
hand, he detained it feebly with bis
own.
THE world is full of Kindness" ht
said, with his faint smile Ever sc
many people have been nice to me
all 10 ALL That is why | thought il
was so sweet of you TO come. | like
to think, don't you know. that th'
last thing that happened to me was
"A kindness. It's pleasant thought
to take away with one. My mother
will be so grateful to you"
Miss Boughton felt the tears com
ing; he was such gentleman, anc
he must have suffered so. "Ah, it il
so pitifully little" she said. 81 nigh
have done much if | had only
known"
He looked down at the cOunterpant
idly, spreading out his skinny hand
"40u have done what you could,
he said presently, smiling into hel
face. " want you to remember thaI
always as a great happness-that
you have done what you could. Il
is a beautiful thing to be gooC
woman" he added softly, as if tC
himself. 81 haven't been a very gooC
man. | was weak and emotional
aud then she died and then lost m,
money, and then | borrowed from
my friends, and then got to drink
ing-oh, it's the old story. Their,
are hundreds like me. But | wan
you to know, because you have bepI
so very good to me, and becaus,
there isn't one soul in all this worIC
who cares whether die here or droI
by the waysdp, that | have Away,
tried to be good, and to do as sh,
wanted me, and that every night
have read here, and thought of her
and lOnged Tor her"
Miss Boughton hesitatpd. "WOulc
you like me TOTO read to your" sh,
asked
THANK you very much" he said
shaking his head, "but had rather
say it to myself, if You don't mind
| remember so well every tone, every
infection, of her voice. can quit,
hear her. She was a beautiful
reader"
He closed his eyes again and a lit
tie contented sigh escaped him. She
could see his lips moving, murmur
ing, the book still pressed tightly tC
his breast.
Miss Boughton leaned over him