The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-12-03

Fall of the Roman Empire" would be
a mere sketch.
But what mischief wasn't that boy
guilty of? After overhearing us, one
day, regretting that our little Scotch
terriers cars should be so prominent,
didn't he stick that unfortunate ami
mails ears close to his head with shoe-
makers wax, and then proudly exhibit
him to us, as an instance OF the trl-
umph of art over nature? And didn't
he bring desolation into Lois dainty
room, in the vain effort to discover a
secret panel there? Some street COM
rade of his. an ardent reader of dime
novels, had related to him thrilling
story, in which secret panels Inquired
largely; and thereafter Barb's sole OBJ
ject in life was to discover such a
panel in our old-fashioned house. One
day he found that, beside the chimney
in Lois room, the paper, upon being
tapped, gave forth a hollow sound.
Coincidence. So did the paper in the
yellow-covered novel. 1t was the WORK
of a moment for Barb, in his eager
certainty of hidden treasure, to run
his knife around the paper, lift 1t up,
and-oh, me. oh, me! The soot-box
that hadn't been opened for twenty
years! The SCOT that in thick, black
cloud settled on the fair, white cur
tains, chung to the counterpart, made
the whole dainty room dingy ana
soiled and uninhabitable! Barb fled.
Before me, on the screen. I see him as
he looked that night when we had dis
covered the disaster, searched for, but
failed to find him, and were begin
ming to fear he had run away, and he
emerged from the ash-barrel, where
he had lain concealed all the afternoon
and stood among us, surely the most
wretched figure that was ever seen.
1t was after this, but not long, that
we began to be troubled about BARB.
Often he was gone all day, returning
at night, unable to give satisfactory
account of himself; often we heard OF
him in company of boys it were bet
ter he should not know. Nancy
threats, Lois gentleness, mammals pa
thence, seemed to avail nothing. We
had almost made up our minds tnat
Barb must leave us, when, one NO
vember afternoon, about two years
, from the day he had appeared among
us, we heard of Barb for the last time
Oh, poor Barb! poor Barb! Down In
the crowded streets, he had Joined
crowd which a sudden alarm of fire
had called together; in his excitement
he had not heard the cries which
warned him of an engines being close
upon him. There was no time to rein
in the galloping horses; no one hao
been to blame. Oh, poor Barb!
Hes at Station B, ma'am,' the Off
Ger said. "The doctor says it can't be
long, for his lungs are hurt bad. He
kept moaning for Miss Lois! Miss
Lois! and as soon as we could make
out where he came from the chief SEN
me to tell you"
We hurried on cloaks and hats anC
followed the officer into the chilly NO
vember dusk.
1t was a little whitewashed cell
Barb was lying on a low pallet, GOV
cred with rough, gray blanket. Hi
eyes were closed, and they did no
open as we came in. When Name.
saw him lying so, the wan, gray shad
ow on his set, still face, she rushed
forward and threw herself on he
knees beside him, with passionat
cry: ooh, Barb Barb! Ye're dom
goin' to die, and we haven't got relig
ion, and ye'll go into the fiery furnace
foreber and foreber!"
Lois gently drew Nancy away, ant
knelt in her place, taking both the lit
tie, bruised, black hands in hers
Don't listen to her. Barb" she said
"SAe doesn't know what she says
Dear. try to hear and understand wha
say. Do you remember the Goo'
Man l used to tell you about, Sunda,
nights? The one, you know, VIII
healed the sick, and took little chill
dren in His arms? You are going t.
Him, Barb; and He will love you, AM
help you, and teach you how to live.
The gray lips moved family will H
be good to me, like you are, Miss Lois
Will He let me get my BRET, withou
it's hurtin' me so orful?"
Dear" she said, HE will be bette
to you than you can ask or think
Barb, 1 want you to try and say t
Him the little prayer l taught you
Try, dear, try!"
Into the silence the weak voice fal
tered, while Barb held fast the kim
hands that seemed an anchorage TO
him. who was drifting so fast away:
Now l lay me down to sleep,
1 pray-de-Lord-"
No need. oh, Barb! No need to fin
ish that prayer! The soul you woul
have commended to His holy keepin
had gone to Him.