The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-10
A DYING BOYS WORK.
ny MRs. CHARLES c. MAnpLE.


bore the appearance of having been once
read and cast aside.
He was not the typical newsboy with the
shrill cry and happy -go-ucky manner but
. tinid, beseeching little pleader, whose
stiii bue lips reluctantly challenged the
needless throng with faint:
Hey, cully!" was the greeting of a
roguish-lookng little fellow who had dis.
posed OF his entire stock. Hey, Gully, why
don't you push and 20 in fer to win? The
feiler what yells the loudest and don't care
ter nothin', is the only chap what gifts along
IN this ger big city"
You shet up advisin', will yer!" broke in
larger boy, who had not been quite so sue.
eessful as the other, there's too many in
the business already, I'm advisn' ye to 20
home and tend the baby, sonny. Yer amt
cut out fer news-merchant, that's fiat"
The baby's dead" sadly answered the
little fellow, suppressng a sob "She died
yesterday She's a layin' in the cradle now,
cause we amt got no coffin to put her in"
was you expectin' of to buy one a sellin'
Them papers?" asked the first speaker with
an attempt at 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 a low
tone.
The boy looked at one another in silence
AZ this answer, and the larger one gulped
down something which would rise in his
throat.
Let's take up 'scription, pards." he
said, addressing the group. 81 kin do with.
out pie tomorrow fer lunch, kim
80 kin |, cheerfully answered several of
the group
thus nickels and dimes were thrust in the
little purple palm, and before the wonder
ing Doy 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 boys
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 e1-
Slusion OF all other sounds,
"A cry OF warning, the mad rush of a pair
ot spirited horses, woman's scream. The
sffrighted boy turned back.
Alasl 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 a critical OBJ
went right over them. Nothing but skin
and bone, too. Poor waif! just as we'll if not
better. for him to be out of the world"
You're nice one, contemptuously said
roush-looking man, wiping his eyes upon
the sleeve Of his red flannel shirt. "Maybe
there's some 'un to home a waitin' fer him,
some 'un as loves him. 1t might been nv
Jenny he added with bowed head, my
boy, my Jenny"
Sonny" said the little woman. LAYING
her hand upon his head in motherly way,
"do you suffer much!"
The long lashes quiversd, the breast
gently heaved, then the eyes, filled with an
ineffable light, a light which bespoke a
presence before which every head there un.
covered, opened. and fixed themselves upon
the fast darkening heavens.
Then smile broke over his face and from
the white, drawn lips came the whisper:
'Lift me up"
The father Of Jenny tenderly, reverently
did his bidding.
Again came the whisper:
Lift me up"
"Ye are up. my little man, said the rough
fellow, chokingy. 81 hev raised We up."
The sufferers eyes wandered to his for
an instant.
Tell mother" he said. family. "tell
mother"
eyes, my boy" said the man, what shall
tell mother?"
IaU har NJ 10 IL
ingly and disjointed came the words
"for-" looking upward now with eyes over
which the shadows were fast settng-"there
comes shining being to lift me up, to lift
NE mp. All"
No mistaking that look, that cry of joyful
amaze. There were arms about him which
they could not see, voice which whispered
words they could not hear, presence which
snly his fading eyes beheld.
He was indeed lifted up" far beyond all
earthly woes and wants, and only the clay
rested in the arms of Jemmy's father.
Lift me up" repeated the cold critical
observer as he turned to depart. Lift me
Up" and all night long in his dreams wan
faced women, fragile, half-clad children,
hopeless, despairing looking men, hovered
about his bed with outstretched hands and
pleading faces.
"Lift me up" they cried, "help us before
Il is too late"
"Lift me up" murmured the little woman
as she entered her childless home that night,
~life me up" and in her dreams came
visions Of little ones in the asylums and
wards of the city hospitals, sobbing in their
loneliness, longing for the touch of tender
loving hands, the pressure OF. sympathetic
Ups, CHEEKY words and smiles
''Lift me up" whispered Jemmy's father,
rs he hurried home, his big heart touche ito
the core; there's more meanin' in them
words than / thought fer at first. reckin
there's none so poor but what they kin help
somebody onto their feet and the honest
5eIlow thought with pang Of regret how
he had refused tramp but short while
Before, the necessary ten cents for nights
sedging
The next day found these three doing all
that generous hearts and hands could dc
sor the bereaved mother of the little news
boy.
"He told me to tell you not to grleve,
Eid the father of Jenny, "fer a shinn
angel he'd come to lift him up. MayhaT