After again expressing his pleasure in a low voice to the child, Harrison took the bandbox, and, passing through the kitchen, obtained his basket, and ran all the way home.
[CHAPTER V.]
HARRISON IN AFFLICTION.
"Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep."
IT was nothing unusual for Harrison to see a company of men standing idly at the door of the block in which his father hired three rooms; but as he ran joyfully up the steps he thought their manner strangely subdued, as they stood solemnly aside to let him pass. On the first floor a woman who had always been kind to him suddenly came out of her apartment and pulled him in.
"Poor child!" said she, "trouble has come to your mother. I couldn't bear to let you go by and not speak a word to comfort your dear heart."
"What is it? where is mother?" he asked, wildly rushing up the stairs.
Oh, what a sad sight presented itself to his view! Stretched on the cherry table, at which he had so often eaten, lay the insensible body of his father, bloated and disfigured so as scarcely to be recognized, except by those who loved him so well.
With one dreadful shriek of agony Harrison sprang past the lifeless form, and sank down at his mother's feet.
Who shall dare to describe the anguish of that torn and bleeding heart? She sat there alone with her dead, her form rigid, her eyes strained and fixed upon that poor remnant of humanity. She caught her breath at long intervals, and with great effort; while her hands were still clutching the papers which had been the means of informing the authorities of the name and residence of the deceased.