Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-03-26

Oh IWO VI tuIec ohOp'OOOt oii'o w iSoN
and to their surprise, found that the
shop keepers didn't like il, and told
them to go away, or they "would put a
head on them"
"What street is this, Joe ?" asked
Dick; she began to suspect that she
was long way from her quiet home.
"I don't know" replied Joe, "Il
ask this man."
He did ask him, but the man walked
on without answering; then he asked
another, and then another, but nobody
paid any attention to him, and poor lit
tie Joe, thoughthe was boy, and eight
years old, and so very brave about
"playing hockey" began to cry.
"Don't r' said Dick, who felt not
the least fear, "I'll ask somebody my
self"
She walked up to q very tall, very
grand lady, and looking up with her
bright, brave eyes, she said;
"Would you please be so kind as to
tell me what street this is ?"
The lady stopped and smiled some.
how the very grand look went out OF
her face as she bent herhead and looked
down into the little Tom-boy's face.
. "This is Kearney street, DEAR" she
said {; "are you here all alone ?"
"Oh, no, marm! Joe is here, too !;
we've both ruined away and played
hockey"
The lady looked astonished, rs well
she might, at this frank confession, and
began to ask Dick her name, and where
she lived ; finally she took out her
purse and gave her two street-car tick
cts. "You go down to this next street, "
she said, "and get into the car, and
tell the conductor where you live, and
he'll let you out at the nearest street,
and then you will be all right; you and
tho little boy can find your way then, I
guess"
"Thank you, marm I'm very much
obliged" answered Dick, politely /;
whereupon the lady laughed, and pat
ted her cheek, and walked on.
"Come, Joe," said the little girl,
"don't cry; babies cry I've got some
car tickets, and we're gong home,
now."
This news seemed to cheer up poor
Joe, for he wiped his eyes on the sleeve
of his jacket, and took hold of Dicks
hand as though he had perfect conf
dence in her ability to take him home.
All would have gone well, now, and
the two runaways might have reached
home before dark, but, as they walked
along, looking in all the shop windows
as they went, they happened to brush
up against tall, well-dressed China
man perhaps he was rich merchant,
for his clothes were very handsome.
Dick did not notice his clothes, how
ever; she only noticed his long queue
hanging down behind; the spirit of
mischief never failed within her; she
caught hold of it, like littlo Tom-boy
as she was, and gave it a sharp pull.
She did not wait to see what he
thought or said, but dashed across the
street, through an alley and down an
other street, before Joe quite realized
that she was gone.
He did realize, however, that the
Chinaman was very angry, for he
caught hold of the collar of his jacket,
and gave him a sound drubbing, in
spite of his sobbing protestation that it
wasn't him.
As soon as he could see for tears, he
looked around for Dick, but she was
nowhere to be seen, being three or four
blocks away by that time; and, rs he
had the tickets, he couldn't think of
anything better to do than to get on the
car and 60 home; which he accordingly
did; and his mother, who was just anx-
ious enough to be provoked, gave him
another drubbing, by way of mate for
the Chinaman's.
At first, Dick went along, singing
softly to herself I think she was rath-
er glad to be rid of Joe and his tears,
and felt free and happy without his
company.
She found a fine mud puddle, too,
and two little boys playing by it, who
didn't understand mud-pie making half
as well as herself, so she offered to help
them; an offer which was gladly ac-
cepted.
They were delighted with her, and
she with them, and they played very
gaily until their mother called them in
to supper.
Then Dick began to feel very strange
and lonely she was hungry and tired,
and it was dark !; she wondered if she
would ever find the little home, or ever
see her mother, and father, and big
brother again. Somehow, the courage
dropped in the brave little heart, and
as it got darker and darker, she got
sadder; at last, she turned her face
against wall, and began to sob bit
terly.
Nobody noticed her for while but
at last gentleman stopped, and said,
" What's the matter my little girl ?"
II want my MOTHER" sobbed the lit
tie Tom-boy-Tom-bo no longer !
"Where is your mother, dear?"
"Home !"
"Where is your home?" he asked.
She told him.
"Why !" said he, 81 live pretty near
there, myself; come with me and I'll
take You to your mother"
"Pleese do :" said Dick, wipiug her
eyes; "Til never run away again, if
you will"
The gentleman took her hand, and
led her along with him.
$50 you ran away, did you?" he
said.
"Yes," answered Dick, in very
subdued tone, quite unlike herself,
81 played hockey with Joe Lewis, and
went to fire.
"My soul - cried the gentleman,
until the tears came into his
eyes, "what q little mite you are, to do
al II