Connecticut western news., 1910-07-21
HUMAN
 INTEREST
 STORIES
By William Henry Spear.
Little Take-a-me.

She was only baby, bright, winsome and sweet but the hold she had upon fathers and mother's heart was inn msasureable For three years the little one had been the joy and sunlight of 8 happy home. All that willing hands could do. or loving hearts invoke, min istered to her comfort.
 She appreciated 1t, in her baby way. Day after day, when the father came home from a day of toll, smiling little face greated his entrance, baby arms outstretched and tiny hands fluttered 6, gleeful welcome. z.as
 "Take-a-me, papa
 The strong man raised the little one in his arms and pressed upon her fair brow and dimpled cheeks, kisses of low ing greeting.
 At night, when knseling by mothers side in her little white night gown, with baby hands enolasped as in faltering words she intoned her evening prayer, father and mother thought there never was a child more precious nor sweeter. Invariably, when the "amen" was said, the baby, reaching forth her loving arms exclaimed:
 "Take-a me. papa
 To his heart the father pressed this tiny bud of promise, and his eyes lighted with tenderness, for he loved his child with love idolatrous.
 But there came day when there were no little feet pattering down to the gate way to meet papa. He came home one night from work, and, as he turned the corner, he marked the ominous silence and the absence of the child from the gateway, and his heart smote him with strange forboding.
 Something seemed to have gone out of his life-some bright spot, like an oasis in the midst of desert. He opened the door and entered his home, to be met by 8 warning ,"hush :" from his wife and the explanation
 Baby is illp' Only three little words, yet full of import.
 Yes, baby was ill. With flushed facs and feverish air she tossed restlessly up on her pillow. Lines of pain had settled upon the cheeks which that morning had dimpled in smiles as she kissed 6 chubby hand and waved papa "by by from the doorway. A few brief hours had wrought this change.
 Fever, /" said the doctor. "It may result in meningitis"
 As the father entered tho sick room the baby's eyes opened wide, and hel little arms were outstretohed. while 6 smile of greeting struggled to chase away lines of pain as she murmured:
 "Take-a-me, papa l" "
 The father raised her in his arms, and as he sat there with the little head rest ing upon his breast, his fingers carress ing the fevsred brow and smoothing back the tangled hair, he murmured
 Dear little 'Take-a-ms.' how papa loves her l" sf. t... . ..
 Have you ever seen the love of strong man for a suffering child? Has never your heart been stirred by similar emo tion? If not this phase of life is to you a sealed book. Sometime it's inner pages may open, and through depths of sorrow and bitter tears. you may learn the se' oret of appreciation through she keen. ness of suffering.
 For three days and nights there was little sleep for father or mother. Dc you wonder father took to his daily work heart heavy with dread forbodingS Or that he hastened home as soon as his days work was done?
 One night he returned and found an air of anxiety about the sick room. The crisis had come.
 Long that father sat by the bedside oi the little one, upon whose face the damI dews of coming night were driving away the sunshine of morning. Once the tired eyes opened, and voice scarcs above a whisped, murmured
 "Take-a-me, papa p'
 The father bent over the couch tC raise the child, but even as he did, in visible hands from another world, reach 1 ing down, took his treasure thence.
 A streamer of white fattered from the door knob of 8 saddened, humble home; asking why, they told me "Little- take a. me" has gone home."