The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-28

scrape. Will Bronson. had slowly come
back to life. ITS all right. Only
acratch." he whispered. as he opened his
blue eyes the sturdy. kindly faces of
the miners bending over MIN. 1T Will
soon stop hurting--and--1'll be well and
strong
They forced some whisky down his
throat and made way of thick set,
kindly faced miner who was generally
looked upon as being the doctor OF
the camp After a hurried examination
he told them the wound would not prove
fatal: that it was only a clean cut holc
through the shoulder Just missing the
bone.
With the help Of one or two others ne
soon had the wound bandaged in fairly
good condition. showing that he had mad
at least practice In that kind OF work
Having propped the now fully Conscious
boy II as comfortable a position as pos
sible on the rude bunk and having
Brawney Pete sitting mute and miser-
able by his side, they turned their at
tention to the Sick stranger.
The child who had run forward SO
eagerly to the fire had gone back TO
where his father lay unconscious on the
door and was crying pitifully in his BABY
voice for recognition.
The men brought them both closer to
the fire and giving the child piece OF
bread. seated him on a box while they
worked on the man. They rubbed him
ana beat his frozen feet until circulation
was al last procured. Slowly he regain
ed consciousness and with almost his
first breath murmured in weak and
almost inaudible voice:
My baby-my-Iny baby boy, IS he
here? Did he--freeze? tried $3.50 hard
-~to~~keep him-warm, ! left home-to
hunt-tor her. All, It cannot-can't be
true. She--could not-have been--so
false. She left--me and--the boy alone
never TO return. Oh. God-it IS not true
My wife--she must be here, How cold
it ls-my baby~-is almost freezing Eddy
-there-~there is a iight--dont cry!'
He opened his eyes and gazed at the
kindly, plying faces above him :n a
blank dreamy manner and murmured
on as If unconscious Of their presence.
All could see the night had been too
much for him. It would have taken a
stronger man than this one to have been
able 30 come through those woods In
the teeth OF the blizzard alone, and this
frail man had borne a precious burden
in his arms
The boy. seeing his father looking to-
ward the fire and hearing his name
called, ran TO him. The rough miners
moved aside as he pushed his way
among them, crying IN his baby voice.
Papa. papa, here ! is"
The chld's voice seemed to go through
the sick mans whole being. He turned
toward the little fellow and a faint smls
curved his drawn white lips,
rs that-you. Eddy" he asked, reach
Ing his hand toward him and patting his
curly head. 'Yes~-papa is getting warm
now. Are you-warm. baby?"
Yes, str. Use good an warm now"
said the child kissing his fathers PIE
lips
i am So so glad. There now kiss
papa again. Eddy tell me, / meaa
say your little prayers for me-"
The child l1nelt obediently by his IN.
Tiers sue Win one hand clasplng his
II was oeautiful picture. lighted only
oy the camp fire. The Innocent baby face
uplifted; his soft, curly brown hair and
blue eyes making him look almost like
an angel, - he llnelt there; his dying fa-
ther on one side and the group Of rough,
49, ~, ~ ..n o. me otne'' ana
49, :, ~, ~. . ''ie'"i'oiloi9 ho"l Oh me
s.Y1aar 49,. 'op9' ,
h,oaa S'u "'io ioVeS niue boys
% o.. r+1o Aeep me through the night
1865 1865 lls p"pa ana mamma and every
oou3 INC ~ good and dear Jesus make
al pa "a people good am SO glad l am
w. ~ ,me cg,u ara mar papa and me Is
n'tia ~ - l-9' u ~ MP me 70 De a good
~ ro ny. ' 't ".s"S9 .ove you amen.
." n,@h 'eaeheo for the chlld ana with
~ 80 go, ei's'e,ins N ms Iast glazing eyes
~ N4@9ca MN again ana again as he
~ :" nun pa9sioha'ely 10 his heart
Aleiy man IN that room was touched.
11Vh miners dashed the tears from their
eYes WIN ne backs Of their rough, la
'9' ,'ll'l',ii',o ha.us' ana others eoughed
b,n,r that r f'tis 70 ",o1e 'ne queer
49,. - " 80 ~ '"9ir t''Iod Is
~'''. az" h'io"" Only S'ohs
- lI'iN ''4 s0iois
fele VINO sat by tie lad whose life
grasDed the hand Of rIuay Hanks stand