Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1890 — Anticlimax. [ARTICLE]

Anticlimax.

i walked a city street, and suddenly I 1 saw a tiny lad. The winter wind Howled fitfully, and all tbo air above The elear-cut outline of the buildings tall Seemed full of knives that cut against the face: An awful night among the unhoused poor! The boy was tattered; both his hands were thrust For show of warmth within his pocket-holes, Where pockets had not been for many a day. Onto trouser-leg was long enough to hide The miked flesh, but one. In mockery A world too short, tho’ he was monstrous small. Left bare and red his knee—a cruel thing! Then swelled my selfish heart with tenderness And pity for the waif: to think of one 80 young, so seeming helploss, homeless too, Breasting the night, ashiver with the cold 1 Gaining a little, soon I passed him by, My fingers reaching for a silver coin To make him happier, If only for An hour, when—l marvelled as I heard— His mouth was puckered up in cheery wise. And in the very teeth of fortune’s frown He whistled kind a scrap of so mo gay tune! And 1 must know that tul my ready tears Fell on vsteod more merry than ibino own. —.Kioliani K.. Burton, In Harper's Magaalne.