Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-12-18

moment said, eagerly, Twenty-flrst Pre-
cinct Station. Housed They might know
there"
Thither the cabman drove, and ascer.
tanned the address of Mr.. Fanshaw after
leaving the above lodgings. After that
il was only matter Of time to follow up
the track. The Boutons drove from
street to street, from lodging to lodging,
each degree poorer and shabbier than
the last, to be met everywhere with the |
same sad story; "He couldn't get no |
work, so they had to give up the rooms"
Jane Bouton's pale face grew palcr and |
paler, and her lips became parched and |
dry. Every now and then her husband |
laid his broad hand encouragingly on |
hers, but few words were spoken.
AT last they reached a dilapidated |
house, at whose open door knot of |
dirty men were lounging. The often-re-
peated question was this time answered
in the affirmative. Yes, they were here.
Fallen so low as thisl The BoutoDs
mounted the filthy stairs, swarming at
every flight with squalid children, up and
up till they reached the topmost garret.
Here they knocked, and in min
ute woman came out, closing the
door behind her. A woman-but could
that lean, careworn creature, with untidy
hair and threadbare clothes that hung
loosely about her pinched figure, could
that really be the bonny, comely Mrs.
FaDshaw of old days? Jane Buuton was
past speaking by this time; her knees
were shaking under her; she could hard
ly stand, but she signed to her husband
to tell her story. He did so at once,
in frank, manly way, standing all the
time in the dreary passage. He touched
tenderly upon the various incidents, but
he omitted nothing, and he ended by
humbly entreating forgiveness for his
wife. His listener heard him in entire
silence, and as he paused wailing voice
called from within "Mother, mother,
do comen
Mrs. Fanshaw turned without o word,
and hurried back, leaving the door wide
open. The Boutons followed her. There
was not an atom of furniture in the
wretched room except two straw pallets
and some old boxes which served as
seats; no signs of food, no fire on that
bitter day. On the floor beside the empty
crate crouched two boys of nine and ten,
while girl year or two older was try
ing to infuse some of her own vital
warmth into little child of four. They
were all dark haired, and Mrs. Bouton's
eye passed them and went to where Mrs.
Fanshaw was bending over a pillow of
straw, on which little golden head was
lying. The mother could contain herself
no longer. She flew across the room and
threw herself on her knees by the side of
the pallet. My baby, my baby!" she
cried. Johnny opened his eyes with a
look of wonder, but did not speak.
He is dying" hoarsely whispered
Mrs. Fanshaw; dying of hunger"
For one moment Mrs. Bouton turned
away her eyes from her child. Fetch
food" she motioned with her lips to her
husband and he was gone in moment.
There was silence in the room till his
return, both women brooding over the
child. At last he came, laden with all
that he had been able to seize in raid
and followed by boy bearing Il steam
ing can of soup.
With "a flood of tears Mrs. Fanshaw
held out her hand to the woman who had
been the cause of her husbands ruin,
saying: "God bless you for having come
in time to save him; he is like my own.
forgive you for his sake" And the two
women embraced and kissed each other
by the side of the child's poverty-strick-
en- bed.
The sun rose bright and clear on Christ
mas Day. About noon Henry Bouton
carried weak little Johnny in his strong
arms to warm, CHEEKY lodging in a
healthy neighborhood Most of the
family had moved some hours before, SO
as to be ready to receive him, and the
child looked around with amaZement
when he had been softly laid on the lit
tie white bed in the corner. Mrs. Bou-
ton had decked the room with greens, a
cosy fire was cracking out its welcome,
a kettle was singing on the fire, and the
table was spread for the dinner that was
already sending out savOry whitfs from
Che adjoining kitchen. Mrs. Fanshaw
was there, already beginning TO smile
and beam again, surrounded by her chill
dren in warm winter dresses, and Mrs
Bouton waiting on them all. Johnny's
ideas were vague as to the relationship
in which she stood to him, but he had NO
objection to find a second mother in the
loving woman who watched and petted
him so ter rderly.
Presently in came Mr.. Fanshaw, who
had been forbidden to make his appear.
ance earlier, and his astonishment was q
sight worth seeing. An armchair had
been drawn up to the fireplace, and
Henry Bouton's CHEEKY voice invited
him INTO it. AS he was about to sit
down he found bundle lying on the
seat, but he almost let it drop again
when he saw what it contained. OF all
things in the world, a bran-new con.
ductor's uniform! Yes, you are honor
ably reinstated, and promoted to con.
ductorship," Henry Bouton was saying
when he recovered from his stupefaction
81 wish you joy, I'm sure"
Now, little woman, let's have din
ner." They had dinner, and such din
nerl There was turkey, of course, and
roast beef, and sausages, and mince pies,
and plum pudding and all the delicacies
that were ever thought of. The very
spirit of Christmas seemed to shine out
of Henry Bouton's eyes, and to illumine
upon fun, and he was not a man to be
| daunted.
| Bless you! the stories that he told, the
| jokes that he made, the absurdities that
he perpetrated at that dinner would fill
volume, and then the children began
first to laugh, and when the magnificent
apparition of the pudding, spouting fire
with all its might, burst upon them, q
genuine shout of baby glee came from
the youngest, which rejoiced its mothers
ears, and of which he was as proud as
could be. The Boutons were in hurry
They had taken rooms in the same house
and meant to live there.
| And there they live to this day, a thriv.
ing, happy, prosperous lot of people as
one would wish to see.-LOutS H0odrd, IN
LOcke's National Monthly.
A I e Al. ~