The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-11-02
THE PATHETIC STORY
=. ! OF KINGS CONVERSION.
As Told by That Prince of La
Dor Reformers, the Rev.
Charles Sickle.
Wonderful Effect of Becom.
ing Possessed Of the Spirit
of Helpfulness.

There was always a half-cynical
smile on his lips. The upper part Of
his face never seemed to laugh. The
wrinkles were up and down instead Of
across. His chief asset was his tongue.
He could talk. But most Of the things
that he said might better have been
unspoken. He did not hesitate to sac
rihce his friends in his bitterness. He
could say enough cutting things in a
day, to make a dozen men feel all
ripped up for week. Naturallys
therefore. he had few friends. No man
felt like getting very close to him in
confidence. There was nothing sacred
to him. Religion, home, women, NOR
ality-all suffered at his hands.
We wondered what he did with him.
self when he was away from the shop.
There seemed to be for him no deep
interest in anythAg He v! as literal
MISUNDERSTANDING, unsocial, q law unto
b b5#B! A3 a S$$s az gt 9 tsns
enough interest in life to become great
ly excited about anything. But during
the days of certain week there came
a new expression into his face. Grad
ually the story Of the change became
known.
For years there had been In his home
a. little invalid - seven-year-old
daughter. He mad been caring for her
most tenderly, carrying her about, and
nursing her better than could have
been done by trained servant Just
across the hall In the tenement in
b.
lily in: which there was a daughter of
the same age as his own, but strong,
hearty and we'll. Her laughter and
singing cut MIN, deeply, because his
child never laughed and sang that way.
Her romping on the streets and in the
back yard simply goaded him into a
state Of frenzy. Why could not his
little girl do these things? These
thoughts had made him bitter, cynical
and almost cruel to others, while he
devoted himself more fully than ever to
his helpless sick one.
But one day the cause of his unhap-
piness became very i'll. He could hear
ner moaning in the night as she suf-
fered the tortures Of a frightful dis
ease. He could noa sleep. For nearly
week this was continued. In desper-
alton he finally knocked at the door Of
his neighbor and found the father Of
the sick child almost sinking with
fatigue, yet trying to minister to the
constant needs Of the invalid. The
mother had been worn out and had
fallen down, exhausted, during the day.
In the most embarrassed way: he Of
fered his services as nurse. He had
never before. spoken to, the father, AL
most joyfully he began his duties. The
years OF training that had been his in
caring for his own child now served
him to good advantage. He seemed to
know just what to- do. Soon. the sick
one fell asleep, but ne watched till day.
light. For three nights he performed
this service getting just few hours
sleep: Towards the dawning of the
last morning, the child passed away in
his own arms. AS he tenderly laid the
body down upon the bed, there seemed
to go with the departed spirit, all the
bitterness in his own soul. The rasp
had already left his voice. The. hard
ened look upon his face had gradually
been softened. His eyes had lost their
unnatural GOODNESS.
And these things the boys had no.
ticed. He was no longer smart" in
his speech. The spirit of helpfulness
had taken possession Of him. He
seemed to make every other mans
burdens his own. By bitter exper1-
ence he had learned that other hearts
have their aches, and as he learned
more about others trials, he became a
comforter instead Of cynlc. 1t was
this evolution in Kings life which af-
fected not only himself, but nearly
every other fellow In the shop. More
! of the spirit of brotnerliness prevailed.
Deep became the sense Of responsible
ity one towards the other. It needed
the sacrifice Of a. life. but out of that
sacrifice there sprang UP a new spirit
| which found expression in many lives,