Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-15
: ESPECIAL Z THOSE. =

'ESPEC IL THOSE I :
They did not know that Billy had so many
, friends until he lay a-dying. Then they
]! knew
It takes some of us more than four years
to make one friend. Billy had only lived four
years altogether, but everyone he knew was
his friend, and he knew everyone in his lit
tie world. " 1=.
i i Il want some ice for Master Billy head, =
! said the parlor maid. Hes that feverish,
doctor says, it's to be kept on all the time y
Mr.. Stallion, the 6shmonger, looked grave.
II haven't bit of ice on the premises It's
ordered, but it won't be here till tomorrow.
Dear! dear! and to think that the little gen.
tleman's so bad!''
i Mr.. Stallion was stout, seafaring- cooking
man, with short brown beard. He shook
his head and looked really sorry.
whatever shall we ?" cried the parlor
maid. whatever shall we do?'
dol" echoed MIR. Stallion. "Do! why,
get some, to be sure. I'll go to Fareham for
it myself. Tell your lady she shall have it
in an hour"
Mr. Stallion owned an inn as we'll as fish
shop. He crossed the road to his inn yard;
there he harnessed his horse to his spring
= cart, and he drove to Fareham for the ice.
Billy's town is a very little one, but Fare
ham, six miles of, is big, and Mr.. Stallion
got the ice. I'm afraid that he drove furi-
ously and beat his horse, but he quite forgot
to charge for the ice, and no one ever thanked
him for getting it. He didn't mind; he was
one of B}ly's friends.
The earl was another. The earl is young,
fresh colored and chubby, and somewhat
lacking in dignity He is an NJ F. Fl. for all
that, and Billy wont to go with him to
the kennels, and knew all the old hounds by
+! name.
The earl and Billy held long conversations
on the subject of poachers Billy's sympa-
thies were apt to 60 with the poachers,
! but that was the fault of the radical curate
As for the curate, he and Billy were dear
friends. He would spend long sunny after
moons bowling slows and twisters and over
hands to Billy, and he could sing such charm
ing songs.
One of Billy's peculiarities was that he ex-
acted songs from all his friends. Then he
learned them himself and sang them in his
turn. The eurate's favorite song was "For
It's My Delight, on Shiny Night" 1t was
this song that caused Billy's prediction for
poachers.
The earl could sing, too. OF his repertory
the favorite was:
She went and got married, that ard eart-
| ed girl,
| And it was not to a wiscount, and it was
not to hearl.
Here Billy always interrupted, exclaim-
ing delightedly: chats you, you know!''
and demanded the verse again.
There was one friend from whom Billy ex.
acted no songs. This was old Williams, the
gardener. He was very good gardener,
but deaf. Billy was the only person whom,
he could hear well. He really had no notion
of singing, that gardener. So he told Billy
tales in broad Worcestershire instead, and
Billy trotted after him, assisting in all his
horticultural operations, and they loved each
other.
But the fever had got hold upon Billy, it
was such hot July.
At last a Sunday came when those who
loved him best feared that he could not last
through the day. AT morning service the
congregation are desired for William Wyn.
nington Ingram" Then he paused, and,
with ring Of supplication in his voice which
startled the listening people, said: Little
Billy Ingram, whom we love-who lies griev'
ously sick"
civilian Wilmington Ingram had fallen
on inattentive ears, but the familiar name
struck home, and the congregation prayed.
In the pause which followed the words
Especially those for whom our prayers are
desired" the deaf gardeners voice was heard
to say amen" but no one smiled at him
that Sunday.
The earl had no surplice to take off, so he
reached Billy's house first, but the curate
caught him at the drive gate, for the curate
ran.
His father came down to the earl and the
curate, and silently they followed him up
into the darkened nursery. Billy smiled
when he saw them. He could not speak, he
was SO tired.
His mother knelt at the head of the bed,
singing trelessly. His father knelt down
at the other side, devouring the thin, flushed,
! little face with loving, sorrowful eyes. The
curate knelt down at the foot of the bed,
and the earl, who made no attempt to wipe
the tears from off his rudy cheeks, knelt by
| chair BY the darkened window sat the
pretty hospital nurse, in her white cap and
! apron.
'Oh, do not come to Billy's house, the
mothers voice went on. Then she sang
more softly, and suddenly there was silence.
Billy had gone to sleep.
The drive gate clicked, quick step sound
ed on the gravel outside. It was the doctor.
He came hastily into the room, and, stepping
softly over to Billy's mother. lifted her up
and set her in a chair.
He took her place, laying hand on the
child's pulse, and on hisforehead. Then be
said in whisper: 'He'u do; he's gone to
sleep" -... -..
| ! The three men rose from their knees, a.
kBlly's mother fell on hers, with the first
tears she had shed in all that weary week.
They followed the doctor out of the room,
and crept downstairs into the hall. The
room, saying: "Ydd &dst s7t @s s6mt
lunehsQp.. ! Xapt 70 see the little chap
again In % minutes 81 %. What the deuce
was the matter with you all? Did you
think he was deadE~
IT did," said tie earl, in IN awestruck
whisper. ,-~~<%
"Go away" said the doctor, testify; Ego
away, you long lunatics, and leave us
i sr.~