Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-07

Say. mother" and Mollie tuggeN
gently at n fold of her mothers dress
10 attract her attention. Did you see
that beautiful memorial window that
the Staceys have had put into the
church for their little girl who died
last year?"
They were in the church porch as
the child spoke, but her mother made
no reply until they had walked some
distance down the street. and then her
words were few and hesitatingly spo-
ken.
Yes, saw IT.
And" persisted Mollie. who was
evidently a good deal exercised upon
the subject. 1.-The Superintendent spoke
Of it in Sunday school and said that
the window was placed there by the
parents of our lost fellow pupil to be
n constant reminder of her lovely life
among US. She wasn't good a Bit
Still Mrs. Mason made no comment
Mollie made n wry face. which her
mother was too wise to see. and as the
two walked slowly hOmeward Mrs.
Mason tried to divert the little girls
mind from the subject of her dead
her benefit another memorial that
she had seen in a visit to the City
hospital a few days before. This
was a free bed" contributed by the
bereaved parents of another little lost
one, and Mollie listened with glisten-
ing eyes TO the story of the little street
boy who had been run over by u heavy
dray and had both legs broken.
And there he lay" she said. her
own kind eyes full of tender tears,
his little white. pinched face bright
with contented smile and his feeble
hands toying with few rose gerani-
um leaves that some kind visitor had
dropped on the coverlid for him. so
cheerful and happy that L wondered
at him. | asked him If he was com
Portable. and you should have seen his
pale face light up aud heard him pipe
In his thin, shriIl voice:
Comfortable IS II. ma'am? Why,
it's jist hivin itsilf afther the dirt an
the coold an the hoonger an the
batin's. Faith, an it's well paid / am
for the loss o. me two spindle ligs.'
"And he laughed aloud. such a mer-
~ little cackle that really forgot for
the moment that be was helpless.
bedridden cripple for life and only
thought of him as petted child. lying
in state in soft. white. clean bed.
tended and cared for as tenderly as if
he had been the heir to dukedom."
what a beautiful memorial"' cried
Mollie. with childish delight.
Her mother nodded approvingly.
Yes, 1t was a beautiful thought, and
the fund that supports that bed is
called by the dead child's name. the
Ida Lewis fund so that every sick
and suffering one who is comforted
and nursed back to health in that bed
will bless the name OF the giver. whom
they can never thank on earth"
Mollie was silent for a little time.
and then she said softly. while a great
tear rolled down her cheek and drop
ped unheeded upon the soft fur of her
tippet. How / wish we could have
memorial like that for our little
Beth"
The mothers lip quivered. and for
moment she could not control her
voice to reply to the child's suggestion.
Little Beth had gone to heaven only
a few short months ago. and the
WOuuQ III HcT y WIS YET
too sensitive to bear without shrink
ing the tenderest touch. but with an
effort she kept back her tears and re-
piled:
.'It costs a great deal of money for
memorials of that kind. and only
wealthy people OF those with a large
income can afford these noble and
beautiful charities. Some of the grand
est churches. hospitals and asylums in
the world have been founded and en-
dowed to keep alive the memory OF
those who were dear TO the great or
rich ones of earth"
Mollie sighed.
"All the same. / do wish we could
have some kind of a memorial for
Beth. She was such dear. sweet
little thing. she half whispered as
they pauS "a moment upon the steps
of their M lest but comfortable home,
and! futile rs seemed the wish. her
mothers heart could not but re-echo it.