Morris tribune., 1904-04-30
Little Cab

OCCUPIED ny tne family OF little Ga
brlel, who was called ''Little Cab"
His father was a cutter in a cloth
ing house. His mother was sickl1
and white haired at fortv-fve anc
expended all her health in household
duties.
He was an incurable invalid. His
crooked spinal column made his
shoulders rise to the level of his
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 a
hump on the chest and one on the
back, rose a head too large, but the
face had exquisite deiicacy 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
adored him for his affectionate ways
and his extraordinary intelligence.
The physician had forbidden his
working, but to amuse him and to
change his surroundings they sent
him to school, where he forced him
self to listen gravely and to retain
all that he heard.
One evening after school 1 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 mournful resignation. While l
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.
ooh, my poor Gab!" cried she. 81
nave kept you waiting, and you are
amt you?''
''No," replied Cab, with calm,
'ilvery voice. Il said to myself only
hat perhaps you did not want me
my more and would not come back.
am so sick and so troublesome"
''Ah, you naughty boy!" murmur-
ID the young girl, covering him with
Kisses, and then, turning her eyes,
lied with tears, toward me, she add
d:
''He is so little and so intelligent.
he reasons like a grown person.
What pity that he is not strong!
The doctor says if he can go to
5erck this summer the salt air and
he sand baths will probably cure
i'm. But it is far away, Berck, and
would be expensive. But am 60
ng to try to make enough money to
axe him there"
The courageous young girl work
d from morning until night to
make the amount necessary. She /
roke herself down at her machine. !;
he folded, gathered, scanned, bast-
d and sewed without rest. l heard
he dry, quick click of the machine
ate into the night. It sounded like !,
sharp chorus of grasshoppers in ,
he fields.
Behind the curtains of the lamp !
ght | saw the outline Of the young ,
In the house everybody !
new the story Of Little Cab, and
ne women willingly gave their work
, the sister. They stopped the
hid, on the landing, in the halls !
nd court, caressing and fondling
i'm and sending him delicacies. He
as always shy, and he shrank from
leir caresses, which gave him more
than pleasure. He
fought long time Of these marks
{ friendship.
':'The lady on the top floor has
wen me these toys. Why has she
one so when she does not know
le ?" he asked of his sister, with a
eenness which gave a heartbreak-
g understanding Of the working Of
is brain. cit is without doubt be-
ause | am hunchback."
Work: was plenty, and the bank
rev heavy in a=dark corner Of, the !
1reau drawer. July was approach
g, and preparations were already !
for their departure. A
unk had been bought and cos
lme for the child, who, enchanted,
liked of nothing to his schoolmates
1T his trip to the seashore.
At the last moment everything
as upset by an unfortunate acct
mt.
The young wife of clerk on the
sth floor had given her wedding