Morris tribune., 1904-04-30

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Then, again, the little dressmaker
was proud and did not wish the peo-
pie of the house to know the cares
and sorrows of their home. The most
practical and digniied thing to do
was to run to the Bon Marche and
try to match the stuff.
Eight yards at Is francs a yard
made total of 100 francs, a rude
breach in the bank, a fund for the
journey.
1t was finished. It would be nee
essary to give up the visit for this
year.
The girl embraced Little Cab and
went to sewing again.
The following winter they work
ed steadily on the first floor. The
autumn had been rainy, and Little
Cabs health had suffered in conse-
quence. His bones ached, he had
fever and pains in the head. The
doctor examined him, stroking his
beard meanwhile, and again ordered
the child to Berck as soon as the
weather became warm.
This time it was decided, cost
what it might, they would start for
the baths at the end of May.
The sewing machine recommended
again, and its grasshopper chorus
was heard far into the night.
They had bought Cab a picture
book with nothing but views Of the
sea. Here were ports with their for
ests Of masts ranged along the walls
Of the quays, steep cliffs and rocks
washed by yeasty waves and fishing
boats disappearing at sea like
flock Of white winged birds.
The child talked Of nothing but
the ocean. He saw it in his dreams,
and sometimes in broad day he
thought the fog which filled the in
ner court strips of coast beaten by
the tide and large vessels with swoll-
en- sails.
Occasionally he took from the
mantel large shell and held it to
his ear. He would stand thus, his
neck lost in his shoulders, listening
for hours to the noise of the sea
which seemed to him to come from
far off-from very far off.
The winter was exceptionally
damp, and [ did not meet Little Cab
any more on the porch of the house.
The physician had expressly forbid !
den that he 60 out.
From time to time I saw him at |
the window: His eyes were sad,
sunken, and they looked far off,
while his slender fingers designed
vague ships on the window pane.
Then, suddenly seeing me in my
window observing him and thinking
himself spied upon, he made an an
cry gesture and drew the muslin cur
ain.
Toward the middle of March I
saw him no more. His bones ached
With increasing severity, the pains
n his head were redoubled, and his
egs could no longer support him.
He lay now the entire day stretched
'ut on his little bed, turning for the
time the leaves of his
picture book, where he saw the
ocean and the vessels with their
White sails.
He had not given up the idea of
lis trip. "When are we going to
tart?" he asked his sister, and when
he explained that they would have
o wait for warm weather he replied
n his thin voice:
"But [ am in a hurry. I want to
'e cured quick, very quick, so that
will not see you cry any more"
He had looked up the names of
he towns on the route, and he al
eady knew them by heart-Chantil-
Y, then Clermont, Amiens, Able
lille and then the ocean.
''Once we are there, am sure my
ones will hurt me no more"
In waiting he had constantly by
i'm the large pink shell from the
Kinney, and with his ear against
IS mother-of-pearl lining he listened
o that distant murmur of the sea
hat was to deliver him from all his
liseries.
Toward Easter | heard no more
he heavy rumbling Of the sewing
Machine. They worked no longer
n the first floor, but l saw light in
he window far into the night, show
ag that some one was watching by
he, bed Of the sick child. :s4
"He is very low the concierge
aid to me in low tones as she press
d instinctively against her skirts
er sturdy, chubby faced boy. 'sHe
annot live long. Poor child! 1t
ill be deliverance"-
One morning | met ON the porch
narrow coffin, carried by two men |