Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 September 1880 — Play Gently, Boys! [ARTICLE]

Play Gently, Boys!

While waiting for a lady, on whom I called the other day, to come, in, I looked through a photographic album which was lying upon the table. The face cf a young lad was so bright and happy, I looked at It a long time. The eye was large and very clear, the brow broad and smooth. It was just one of those faces that go with a pleasant manner and a voice with a cheery ring in it. When the lady came in I turned back to it and asked if he was her sou. The quick tears and the trembling on ber lip gave me the sad answer before she spoke a word. At length she told me all about it, and I will write it tor you. He was a bright and a good boy, always cheerful, pleasant, and obedient, and so was very happy himself and made his parents happy. One bright summer day, he with some mates, wss playing croquet under the trees, when the school-bell rang. The mother was sitting by the window, and saw them quickly put away the mallets and hasten to school, Willie looked up and gave her a smile and a uod as he passed the window. And the wondered within herself if it was a mother’s love that made him look so handsome (and noble to her, or it he was really the finestlooking boy of all. And then she thought of all his goodness and love, and what a blessing he was now to his parents, and what a staff and a comfort he would be in the old age that was creeping on them. She did not see him again until he came to tea. He did not eat much indeed there is not much to eat Id a country tea, only bread in some form, butter, some little relish, and a bit of cake. He went out after it and lay down in the hammock under a tree, and it waa nearly dark before he came in. Then he said:

“Somehow, I feel very tired, and my head aches I’ll go to bed.” “You have played too hard this hot day, haven’t you?” “I expect so. When I came out of school, some of the follows were plsying toes and-pitch, and a little stone one of them threw hit my head, and it made me blind for a minute; then it didn’t hurt anj* but it aches worse and worse.” Ike mother examined the head, but could find no bump, so bathed it all. He smiled wearily, kissed her, and went to bed. How little, rather how not-st-all, she dreamed it was her darling bow’s last —lsst kiss I She told his father, aad he went up; but Willie was asleep, and the father thought he would be “all right in the morning,” and went out About an hout after, the mother went up. He was tossing and turning, and rocking his head, with alow moan, moan, moan. As she looked, a Might spasm passed over his face. She sent at once for a physician. Soon the dear child was in fearful spasms, and before midnight ts was dead. Hite bone back of and near the ear wss fractured by that tiny stone. I was told this more than a year ago, and last week a lady from another town told me of two brothers plsying snow Hail, and one of them threw a bit of ice and struck the other behind the ear and he lived but twelve hours. Bo I write in warning to happy, playful boys, and dose as I begin—play gently.— Observer.

Tie Bey. Lloyd Morgan has had episodes tn the ministry. In Cincinnati he waaaccuaed of stealing books from S poblio library. In Pittsburgh SO waa JJhere he is pastor of a Baptist church. The daughter of a deacon is the complainant tin this case.