Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-11

accumulation of wealth and had
A not taken time TO choose a
&4Y9A good and -companlonable wife
&2kM&B who might become the mother
OF children to him and thus surround him
with a happy home and sons and dsugh-
ters. His best years had been passed in
counting over money and planning ways
and means OF obtaining more and more
to count, till at last his three score and
ten came to find him broken in health and
unable to enjoy the smallest part Of his
great wealth.
One day. suffering from an unusual spell
of melancholy, the rich old man went out
to stroll In a fine park that bordered the
big city In which he lived. As he went
slowly along he became conscious that
there were many human beings about him,
the sort of human beings he had entirely
forgotten' during the last twenty years OF
his life. In fact. they were the kind that
had made small impression on him even in
his earlier years. for he had been too alb
sorbed In money getting 10 pay attention
to the youth OF the iand-the younger gen
GRAFTON. But today the children seemed to
swarm from every direction and to sur
round him At first he merely turned his
head occasionally TO glance at some ju-
venile group and to wonder how they
could enjoy themselves so thoroughly
whsn they were mere boys and girls and
not yet OF the money-getting age. for the
one idea that possessed his mind was hi
OF accommodating wealth, and anything out
side that occupation seemed to hold no in
terest for him.
Now, II they were earning dlmes-nay,
dollars-by their persistent running. jump
ing and laughing l could understand their
relish OF such nonsense, for much could
be endured-suffered-for the sake OF that
dearest OF all worldly things-the almighty
dollar"
Becoming tired, the old man sat down
on a park bench to rest. Had IL not beer
for the cost incurred he would have taken
q carriage and ridden about the park, but
his misery habits had chung TO him ever
after he had become infirm. and he took
the air on his poor. trembling legs wher
they were unable to bear his weight. Al
he sat on the bench beneath a great tree
a little boy came along. and. turning cues,
tloningly to him. asked; Are you m
sir2" The child's face was a sunny one
tame and freckled and framed in a tan.
gled mass of yellow-rsd. curly hair. A
smile as bright as a sunbeam was on hi
face as he spoke to the old man, for h,
was a light-hearted. happy little chap, and
TO smile and laugh were second nature t
him.
TIT old man was on the point OF replying
gruffly 10 the child. thinking him an i'm
pudent young rascal for making bold 4
thus address him. but on looking at tn
little lad's face he hesitated In his an
swsr, for something In the child's voici
and face carried 0m back many. man!
years to the time when he was young an,
played iRnOeently with a younger brothe
who had just such freckles and tangle'
curls and who was forever laughing an,
making others laugh. The Little Laugh
maker" the father and mother had caile'
the younger brother. for he always had
ready joke or a bit OF wit 10 bring tn
smile 10 the so0rest face and a loud lauSl
from one inclined to be marry. And q
the old man recalled his OUNCE brother
The Little Laugh-mAker." he fell into
rsVer,e % eeep that ter the minute b