The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-02-02
TALES AND ENDS.
BY ALLEN PAYNE.
A sHEPHERDEsS OF ZION.
[coNcLUpEp.l.

CONCLUDED.
Sam was given good bath against his will but
after supper, such as he never had before, and
new suit of clothes covering his frail form, he felt
better. All the other boys having gone to bed he
was shown to his room, small one, containing
white iron bed, a washstand and chair
He was told to undress and go to bed. The
attendant closed the door, leaving Sam in che
middle of the room looking around in amaze
ment About midnight an attendantwas making
his rounds, looking after the comfort of hundreds
of little ones in his charge. He opened the door
of Sans room very softly and peeped in. There
in a corner on the floor was Sam, his new coat for
a pillow, sound asleep. He was awakened and
made undress and go to bed. The springs were a
revelation to him. the mysteries of the world were
gradually unfolding themselves upon the poor
boy
The next morning, bright and early, found him
dressed in his best, as clean as new pin, eating
breakfast with hundred others. He was de-
lighted but could hardly eat anything such was
his eagerness to get out and tell the other boys OF
the gang of the luck that had betallen him. And
after promise that he would come back as soon
as he finished selling his papers, he departed
running pell-mell down the street. stumbling all
over himself He was dazed and confused. The
world was new to him. He was not Sam any
more He was Sam %, 1.
The traffic in the streets was particularly
heavy About two blocks from where he was to
buy his papers he attempted to cross the street In
front of heavy laden dray drawn by pair of
spirited horses. Two small boys were punching
each other on the opposite side of the street and
the drivers eyes were centered there as well as
Sans. He was knocked down by the horses.
There was a piercing scream but before the
driver had control of his animals one OF the
heavy, cruel wheels had passed over Sans chest
He was tenderly picked up by an eye witness and
an ambulance hastily sent for Within quarter
of an nour after the accident he was lying on
cot in hospital surrounded by physicians He
was given ether to allay his suferings. All they
could learn of him was that he was news boy
and that bis name was Sam %, 1,
Towards evening he regained consciousness
He opened his large bright eyes and in dreamy
sort of way absorbed the contents of the room its
white walls, the nurses in white caps and aprons
moving silently about the room, the little white
cots with their occupants. He glanced over to the
next one from his and saw little boy with one
of his legs suspended from the ceiling with cords
He felt himself and found bandages wrapped
around his small body. Another strange place he
thought What had happened? nurse noticed
his movements and went over to where he lay.
She told him he had been run over in the street
bu that he would be right in few days. She
propounded him with questions but all the infor-
nation she could obtain was that he was Sam %,
l. He fell In love with the pale faced boy in the
adjoining bed and they fell into childish CONVEX
sation. Through this boy Sam heard of heaven,
of the golden Streets the music of harps the life
forever with Jesus-the Good Shepherd.
He was told of the little ones that recently
assed from their cots through the pearly gates
That Jesus often came through there after night,
when they were all asleep though they had never
seen Him. But Sammy wanted to go to.
"Does ye think asked he. "dat Jesus will be
long ter night?"
He might come came the reply
"An' take me 2"
"He might
"But if hold up me hand der ye think he'd see
it an take me long %
"If you want to go and he would see it, he
might take you"
well, I'll keep up me hand
And at dusk Sammy falling fast asleep with
his little white hand held aloft. The physicians
had been to see him off and during the day,
the nurse being left to look after the of the
night.
At daybreak the next morning. just as the sun
was peeping in the open windows Of the room,
one of the doctors entered and walked over to the
little white cot. A hand lay across Sammy's
crushed breast. Jesus had been there before him.
But with all their eagerness to learn more OF SAM
they never were the wiser of the tact that he
no more than
Psalm, 23rd chapter and LIST verse.