River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-25

Meanwhile Hugh Derwent Had Dragged His
Weary Way Homeward.
sure Of the times, had failed. Unfor-
tunately, he fell seriously i'll of a
fever, which completely Frustrated
him. BY degrees their small savings
were expended, then the best of the
furniture was sold, for they were too
proud to ask help, and so they went
from bad to worse, until they only
had the poor bed, the stove, the table
and two chairs, which now furnished
in scant measure the little room in
the tenement they called home.
Hugh had been out since early
morning hunting for work, and his
wife was growing momentarily more
anxious about his prolonged absence.
What could keep him? 1t began to
grow dark. Pressing her pale face
against the panes, she peered out in
to the street.
Mamma, I'm SO hungry" pleaded a
weak little voice from the bed Cant
/ have something's
"Oh, Harry, what shall we do? Sis
ter wants something to eat?" cried
Mrs. Derwent, putting her arms
around her little boys neck.
Mamma, don't cry. I'll go out
again; perhaps I'll get something
this time, and pr'aps I'll meet papa.
! won't come back without some
thing this time" cried Harry. Now.
see, mamma, if L do. Please don't
cry!"
Oh, where will you go, my poor
little darling, where will you go?
Your clothes are too thin to go out
in this wind. / cannot, cannot let
you go!"
But Harry was off; he had no time
to lose. He had no time to lose, in
deed, if he meant to reach the great
publishing house in Broad street 1t
was fully five o'clock, and he must
be there before six, and it was such a
long, weary walk for a little fellow.
Poor child, he was old for his
years. The trouble he had seen
about him for the past year had TAX
en- all the childishness out of him,
and now he had but one thought, and
that was how he should help along
in their great trouble. Little Mary
must have bread, and so must mann
ma and poor papa, who had been out
all day. As for himself. so excited
was he in the new resolve that had
taken possession of him, that he for
got how faint and hungry he was
On ana on the little fellow trudged:
the crowds were surging past him.
for j, was the holiday time, but he
needed them not. He couldn't help
taking Il little look in passing the
windows of the shops, which were
now all aglow with electric lights.
and gay with the cOlors of their
tempting wares. He was an earnest
little lad, SO he scarcely needed the
temptation to lnger which would
have been so strong for most little
boys. On and on he sped toward the
great building 10 which was conferred
his hope for relief for poor mamma.
Yes, he felt sure he should take back
more than bread to little Mary and
mamma. He wondered whether papa
was home, and whether he mad found
any work, and so on and on through
the crowded streets he proceeded. lit
lie minding cold or fatigue so long
rs he was nearing his destination in
time.
Meanwhile Hugh Derwent had
dragged his weary way homeward.
He had met the usual rebutfs, some
rudely uttered, some gently worded,
for there were men who were
touched by his pallid face and the
hopeless expression of his coun-
tenance Mary listened for his foot
steps, for it was now too dark TO see
the passers-by on the street. caught
faint, uncertain sound as of some
enc lettering on the stairs. Opening
the door she discerned the figure of
her husband coming YEARLY up, step
by stsD, but ON, so slowly. Sooa she
had lin clasped in her arms. No
need for him to repeat the sad story
Of allure again; she knew it when