The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-24
A DYING BOYS WORK.
- uns. CHARLES c. MARBLE.

elevated station IN tne great city Vi Ne"
york one cold afternoon in November. I'm
ar his arm were few evening papers which
hore The appearance Of having been once
read and cast aside.
liz was not the typical newsboy with the
,bril cry and happy.go-lucky manner, but
a timid, beseeching little pleader, whose
nm blue lips reluctantly challenged the
needless throng with faint:
"lIey, Gully" was the greeting Of a
rogilish.looking little fellow who had dis
posed Of his entire stock. Hey, Gully, why
don't you push and go in fer to win? The
teller what yells the loudest and don't care
fer nothin', is the only chap what gifts along
in this yer big city,"
"You shet up advisin', will yer?" broke in
larger boy, who had not been quite SO sue
cessful as the other, there's too many in
the business already, I'm advisn' we to go
home and tend the baby, sonny. Yer amt
cat out fer news-merchant, that's fiat"
"lhe baby's Dead" sadly answered the
little fellow, suppressing a sob. "She died
yesterday. She's layin' in the cradle now,
cause we amt got no coffin to put her in"
WAS you expectin' of to buy one sellin'
them papers!" asked the first speaker with
an attempt at a laugh, though the moisture
in his eyes belied the effort
You shet up!" again commanded the
larger boy, drawing the back of his hand
across his eyes, who's to hum with the
the--baby?" he inquired.
Mother"
Where's yer father?"
Dead" replied the little fellow in low
tone.
The boy looked at one another in silence
at this answer, and the larger one guiped
down something which would rise in his
thrJat.
Let's take up. 'scription, pards," he
said, addressing the group. II kin do with
out pie tomorrow fer lunch, kim"
80 kin l. cheerfully answered several Of
the group.
Thus nickels and dimes were thrust in the
little purple palm, and before the wonder.
ing boy could utter one word of grateful
thanks they hurried off, glad to be relieved
OF the sight of sorrow and want.
overcome by such unexpected kindness
from the hands Of these rough lads whose
taunts at first made him shrink, the bows
eyes filled with tears, and great drops made
their way down his pinched cheeks.
Slowly he turned and crossed the street
Was he blinded by his tears, or were their
words of sympathy filling his ears to the ex.
c.uslon OF all other sounds?
cry of warning the mad rush Of pair
OF spirited horses, woman's scream. The
aifrighted boy turned back
Alas! Too late!
Poor little creature" sobbed the little
woman, as they carried the fragile form to
the sidewalk, poor manned little one"
Both legs crushed" said critical OBJ.
server, in matter-of-fact tone; "the wheels
went right over them. Nothing but skin
and bone, too. Poor waif! just as well, if not
better, for him to be out of the world"
You're nice one" contemptuously said
rough-looking man, wiping his eyes upon
he sleeve of his red flannel shirt Maybe
s here's some 'un to home waitin fer him
BONE 'un as loves him. 1t might been nv
Jenny" he added with bowed head, "my
spoy, my Jenny"
s Sonny" said the little woman, laying
her hand upon his head in a motherly way
lido you suffer much?"
W.T. The long lashes quivered, the breast
gently heaved, then the eyes, filled with an
neffable light, light which bespoke a
presenee before which every head there un.
covered, opened, and fixed themselves upon
A tbe fast darkening heavens.
M Then smile broke over his face and from
the white, drawn lips came the whisper:
F Lift me up"
# The father of Jenny tenderly, reverently
did his bidding.
MI Again came the whisper:
MI Lift me up"
EM Eye are up, my little man." raid the rough
Is fellow, chokngy. II hev raised We up"
VA The sufferers eyes wandered to his fol
VI an instant.
III "Tell mother" he said, family, "tel
% mother"
M eyes, my boy" said the man, "what shal
MI tell mother?"
ii "Tell her not to worry about me-" gasp
ri ingly and disjointed came the words
XII for" looking upward now with eyes owe
Ell which the shadows were fast setting -"ther
comes shining being to lift me up, to lif
vi me up. All"
Ell No installing that look, that cry Of joyful
Ell amaze. There were arms about him whic
'# they could not see, voice which whispere,
M words they could not hear, presence whcl
only his fading eyes beheld.
# He was indeed Gifted up" far beyond a.
# earthly woes and wants, and only the ella
Ell rested in the arms Of Jemmy's father.
g4 Iift me up" repeated the cold critics
M observer as he turned to depart. Lift m
# up" and all night long in his dreams war
s% faced women, fragile, half-clad children
M hopeless, despairing- looking men, hovere
2# about his bed with outstretched hands an
Vii pleading faces.
Lift me up" they cried, "help US befor
1t is too late
N lift me up" murmured the little woma
M as she entered her chldless home that nigh
&& "life me up" and in her dreams can
+# visions of little ones in the asylums an
M wards Of the city hospitals, sobbing in the
4& loneliness, longing for the touch Of tend,
c loving hands, the pressure of sympathet
M lips, CHEEKY words and smiles.
lift me up" whispered Jemmy's fathe
as he hurried home, his big heart touched
the core; there's more meanin' in the
# words than thought fer at first. recki
& there's none SO poor but what they kin he
s somebody onto their feet" and the hone
W fellow thought with pang of regret no
X* he had refused tramp but short viii
NH before, the necessary ten cents for night
|s lodging.
S The next day found these three doing
4# that generous hearts and hands could
ia for the bereaved mother Of the little new
boy.
M "Ie told me to tell you not to greve
said the father of Jenny, "fer shini
angel he'd come to lift him up. Mayhi
u he was glad to CO." added the rough fello
wiping his eyes, "fer he looked SO smili
w and peaceful when he said it."
.s ut was a voice from Heaven to teach I
~ my duty, madam" said the critical obseI
er, pressing into her hand roll of bills.
can at least lift you out of the slough
x want and poverty. That cry, lift me U,