The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-14

His Life for Smile
Chicago, July Flor the smile of a
happy little child Stephen Kidd, 50 years
old, went to his death. He died from a
fracture of the skull received in a fall
as he stepped backward into an open
stairway after handing a tiny tot cents
for candy.
The account goes on to say
While in front of candy store Steve
Kidd stopped to play for a moment
with a child on the sidewalk. He
handed the tot a coin and then stepped
back to avoid interference with the
baby game in which the child was en-
gagged.
Kidd neglected to turn as he back ed
away and fell into a stairway leading
from the sidewalk to the basement.
His skull was fractured, and he never
regained consciousness.
Literally. he gave his Afe for the
smile of a little child.
Well
How better could Stephen Kidd have
died? What finer deed to plead for
him than the last one of his life?
After all, was 1t not better thus to
die, basking in the smile of the inno-
cent child than decorously in his bed
with attendant friends to weep over
him and candles burning?
Because
While the generous impulse was the
last of his life 1t was not the first
That much 1t Is safe to say.
No doubt his last act was character
istic of his life, and the gracious little
favor to the child was merely the last
of a. series of the heartful overlooking
of so years.
No man is noble by accident
When men die people say, How
much property did he leave?"
But the angels say. What good deed
did he bring with him?'
Measured by the heavenly query
Stephen Kidd died felicitous death. Sell
dom does the grim reaper come to NOR
tails at time so opportune.
And that cents?
Why, that little coin given to make one
of these little ones glad in the mathe-
mates of heaven counts for more than
ST. coo 900.
Was 1t not good for Stephen Kidd after
80 years of mortal life to go as he did?
And If. as we safely may assume, his
last conscious act was but a single bios
som In the Towering of a gracious life
may we not fancy that the kind angels
were swifter than their wont In bearing
his ransomed soul into the inner circle
of the unseen holy
InsaneIy Happy
The relatives OF Chicago man put MIN
in an insane asylum
He is IS years old and wealthy. If
he had been poor he would not be in
the hospital .s'5 81.
His heirs feared the old man would
dissipate the fortune they wanted when
he should die by his rnanv. acts Of kind
ness and charity to friendless children.
1t was this way:
One night, three years ago, the old
man wandered into Chicago mission.
He sat in the rear and listened atten-
lively to the services. Converts began
to testify and when they had finished
the old man arose.
He told his story.
He said he was wealthy, but unhap-
by He sought peace among those
who devoted their lives to Gods service"
He Joined the mission.
Then he took cheap quarters in the
tenement district and each day went
forth to find poorly clad and poorly
fed children that he might brighten their
lives
If the children needed clothes or
food the old man bought them Or he
would get a poor boy bright red
wagon or a little girl a doll or candy.
He freely spent his money to make
the children happy, and he regularly
attended the mission and paid good
share of the expenses.
II am the happiest\ man In the
world,'' he was often heard to remark
when he turned in at the close OF q