The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-30
Little Cab


occupied by the family Of little Ga
briel, who was called Little Cab. "
His father was a cutter in 8 cloth
ing house. His mother was sickl
and white haired at forty-fve an,
depended all her health in househol,
duties.
He was an incurable invalid. Hi
crooked spinal column made hi
shoulders rise TO the level Of hii
eyes. His legs were slender and soft
and bent under a body warped and
thrown out Of equilibrium. He
would not have been able TO walk
without an orthopedic corset.
From this distorted trunk, with q
hump on the chest and one on the
back, rose head too large, but the
face had exquisite delicacy and an
expression Of singular poignancy.
Although he was eight years old,
one would have thought him twenty
from his thoughtful face, his prom
inent forehead and his brown black
eyes. so precociously pensive.
His father, mother and sister
sdored him for his afectionate WAYS
and his extraordinary intelligence.
The physician had forbidden his
working, but TO amuse him and 10
change his surroundings they sent
him 10 school, where he forced him
self TO listen grayely and TO retain
all that he heard.
One evening after school | saw
him seated under the porch of the
house against the rooms of the con-
cierge. His mother had gone out to
make some purchases, and, his sis
ter not yet having returned from the
shop, he found the door Of the apart
ment locked. He was watching the
street with hungry eyes, while his
expression indicated deep thought
and monrntul resignation. While /
questioned him the pupils Of his
eyes threw observant and frightened
Chances At me. During the inter
view his sister returned all out Of
breath.
"Oh, my poor Cab" cried she. Il
have kept you waiting, and you are |
amt your"
NO" replied Cab, with a calm, |
silvery voice. Il said to myself only |
that perhaps you did not want me |
any more and would not come back.
| am so sick and so troublesome.
"Ah, you naughty boy" murmur-
ed the young girl, covering him with
KISSES, and then, turning her ewes,
filed with tears, toward me, she add
ed:
He is so little and so intelligent
BE reasons like a grown person
What q pity that he is not strong!
The doctor says If he can 20 to
Berck this summer the salt air and I
he sand baths will probably cure
him. But it is far away, Berck, and
{ would be expensive. But am go
ng TO try to make enough money to
axe him there"
The courageous young girl work
ID from Morning until night to
make the amount necessary. She
broke herself down at her machine.
She folded, gathered, scanned, bast-
d and sewed without rest. / heard
he dry, quick click Of the machine
ate into the night. 1t sounded like
sharp chorus Of grasshoppers in
he fields.
Behind the curtains OF the lamp
light saw the outline Of the Young
eamstress. In the house everybody
tnew the story Of Little Cab, and
he women willingly gave their work
o the sister. They stopped the
hid on the landing, in the halls
nd court, caressing and fondling
Inn and sending him delicacies. He
ras always shy, and he shrank from
heir caresses, which gave him more
than pleasure. He
hought long time OF these marks
Il friendship.
"The lady on the top floor has
yiven me these toys. Why has she
lone so when she does not know
ne :" he asked Of his sister, with q
Ieenness which gave a heartbreak-
ng understanding Of the working Of
us brain. at is without doubt be-
,ause / am a hunchback."
Work was plenty, and the bank
rev heavy in a dark corner Of the
bureau drawer. July was approach
ng, and preparations were already I
commenced for their departure. A D
runk had been bought and q cos
ume for the child, who, enchanted,
.alked of nothing to his schoolmates
'ut his trip to the seashore.
At the last moment everything I
Fss upset BY an unfortunate acct
lent. /
The vnuno urifa - . cln-L - Al Il.