The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-11-18
The Road
To Heaven
One of the Duke of Oxford's Fa.
nous London Tales with a
Moral Attached. :

nous London Tales with
Moral Attached.
On desOlate winters night in the {
7ear Of 1895 two urchins were huddling
closely together in one of the embra-
sures overlooking the Thames Embark
ment, London. Both boys bore upon
their faces the imprint of present and
past suffering, and by their tattered as
we'll as torn clothing it was evident that
they were not only homeless, but veri,
table ragamuffins and social outcasts-
q class all too common in that metrOp-
oils OF the world.
The elder of the two was named Mike,
the younger Jim. Had either been
asked what was his patronymlc, neither
could have told, for what they did re-
member of their parents was only a
fading memory of many kicks and fire.
quent blows, accompanied by terrible
Oaths.
"Jim," said Mike "if that there bloke
'ad'nt 1T me across the bloomin' kisser
when faxed i'm for copper, spose
that loidy would a-nivver ave stopped
and given uz that tenner which lowed
uz to get blowout tonight. My word,
but she was loidy, real loidy, strike
me blind if she wuzn't. Fancy 'er a
pattin' me on my blarsted boko and
axing me as if as 'ow1 loved Gawd.
Who's I'm anyway. and what did she
mean, wonders, by telling on me to
slook up and walk along the road to
''Eaven' I wonders what she ware q
driving atp Pears to me that she were
luney by summit else she said but my
noodle as forgotten 'arf 'er CAB"
"P'ra'ps," replied Jim, "she wuz a
blarneyin' ye. but knows nought any
ways as to what she meant, 'cept she
were speaking of that there place where
the angels is, where there is no sort of
loafers, no pain, no longings In your
stomach when hungry, and no peelers
| to oust uz from doOrways at night when
we's trying to get a little sleep. Oh,
golIy, Jim, wouldn't it he just fine to
ave summit all the time to do, some
where to sleep and where we wouldn't
get no kicks, but l knows nuttings but
what that blarsted missionary cove says
t'other night when e 'ad lis glimmers
on uz and we wuz scared and hooks
away after e 'ad talked awhile to uz."
4 While thus talking they had been
looking down upon the deep and silent
river, watching the shadowy outlines of
the numerous craft as they moved to
and fro on the face of the waters. For
awhile each boy seemed lost in. rev.
erie, and then Mike turned to Bill and
said: cit seems to ma as 'ow 'Eaven
might be reached there" pointing as he
spoke to the river. IL have 'eard them
river cops, when they pulls a stiff out OF
that there place, say as 'ow they spos.
ed the dead 'un 'ad tired of his life and
p'ra'ps gone to join his missus in 'Eav
, en-. reckons as no one would squesl II
got my outings due by fallin' ir
| there and my light got doused."
Thus speaking Mike had climbed ul
> on one of the psrapets and to emphasize
, his words had drawn closer and close
: to the edge and with dreamy eyes gazet
upon the sluggish waters as if tryin,
? to penetrate the mysteries of death
8 An incautious movement, an effort t.
? recover himself-and then q fall int
the very waters which had SO attracted
o the two.
8 A stranger passing by, and shimsel
8 meditating destruction, had all thought
9 diverted from his own particular trou
9 bles in the immediate need of another
:. A plunge, few lusty strokes, and
d grip was secured on the inanimate boy
q The am bulance was speedily called an
o the urchin fastened to st. Thomas
Hospital.
e On opening his eyes, with returnin
it consciousness, Mike perceived the fac
10 of his nurse and such comforts an
cleanliness around him which had hitf