The true northerner., 1875-05-14
FROM THE WAYSIDE.
A Life-Sketch.

A Life-Sketch.
DIR. Silas Walsh one day sat in his
Office reading very interesting book.
1t was part of his business, this read
ing, for the book was of science within
the scope of his profession. He was
comparatively young man, and had the
reputation OF being an excellent physi-
clan. While he read some one rang his
office-bell. He laid aside his book, and
went to the door, and when he saw what
was upon the stepping-stone he was in
dignant.
1t was a ragged, dirty boy, known in
Ernsworth as +" Hammer Jim ragged
and dirty, and with the vileness of the
slum upon him-a boy vicious and pro-
fame, against whom every other boy in
town was warned-a boy who was called
a thief and villain, whom no effort of
the overseers had been able to reclaim,
and who seemed TO care for nothing but
to make people afraid of him. His true
name, as the overseers had il, was James
Ammerton. About his father nobody in
Ernsworth had ever known. His mother
had died an inmate of the or-House.
On the present occasion, Jim's face
was not only dirty, but it was bloody
and there was blood upon his glimed and
tattered garments.
Please, sir, won't you fix my head
I've got hurt.
"What kind of a hurt 2" asked the
doctor.
"Im afeared it's bad, sir, " said the
boy, sobbingly. Zone o Mr.. Dunn 8
men hit me with a rock. Oh :"
"What did he hit you for 2"
81 donno, sir.
"Yes, you do know. What did he
throw the stone at You forl"
"Why, sir, | was a-pick'n up an apple
under one of his trees"
DR.. Walsh would not touch the BOYS
head with his fingers. There was no
need of it. He could see that there was
only scalp-wound, and that the blood
had ceased to flow.
$50 home" he said, "and let your
folks wash your head, and put on a clean
bandage."
Please, sir, 1 hain't got no home,
and / hain't got no folks.
You stop somewhere, don't you z"
81 stop at the poor-'us when they
don't kick me out"
"Weu, my boy, you are not going to
die from this. Go and get somebody to
wash your head or, go and wash ii
yourself-and then tie your handker-
chief on. ;"
Please, sir, l hain't got no"
"Hold up, my boy. / haven't got
time to waste. You won't suffer if you
go as you are. ;"
And with this DIR. Silas Walsh closed
the door and returned to his book. He
had not meant to be unkind but, really,
he had not thought that there was any
need of professional service on his part
and, certainly, he did not want that bad
boy in his Office.
But DIR. Walsh had not been alone
cognizant of the boys visit. There had
been witness at an upper window. The
doctors wife had seen and heard. She
was woman. She was not strong, and
resolute, and dignifed, like her husband
Her heart was not only tender, but il
was used to aching. She had no chill
dren living but there were two little
mounds in the church-yard which told
her of angels in heaven that could call hel
Mother Acting upon her impulse, as
she was very apt to act, she slipped
down, and called the boy in, by the bacl
way, to the wash-room. He came in
rags, dirt and all, wondering what was
wanted. The sweet voice that had calleC
him had not frightened him. He cam,
in, and stood looking at Mary Walsh
and as he looked his sobbing ceased.
"Sit down, my boy"
He sat down.
"If will help you, will you try to b.
good 2"
/" / can't be good"
"Why not Z"
"Cause / can't. 'Taint in me. Every
body says so. 3"
but you can try"
CT donno."
eff should help you, you would b
willing to try, to please me 2"
4" Yes IN, / should, certain.
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of water
and a soft sponge, and with tender hanC
she washed the boys head and face
Then, with pair of scissors, she chppe,
away the hair from the wound-curling
handsome hair-and found it not ba,
one. She brought piece of sticking
plaster, which she fixed upon it, an,