The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-06-10
SKIGGS' LITTLE BOY.

suppose no one will be particularly Sc
we're upon me if | do not give the exact
genealogy of Skiggs' little boy. The fact
is, it would be hard to trace it, since III
his tenderest years-say four or there
abouts Skiggs senior adopted him OF the
streets.
He was then in the care Of a hidious old
beggar, afflicted with blindness al stated
times and the old beggar having fallen in
fit, and the child, by his grief, but more
particularly by his bright, dark eyes and
pretty face, appealing strongly to Skiggs
sympathies, he took him home to give him
decent shelter at least for one night.
Cut the bread thick, Nancy, cut it very
thick, said Skiggs out Of the fullness Of
his generous heart Don't skimp none
o. the seventh miss it..
But, Skiggs, where are you going to
put him ~ asked his wife there's three
to a bed now-and my sakes, all tina bread
gone What little bear"
Cut him another slice, Nancy, and cut
it little thicker" Skiggs responded, un.
buttoning his green balze jacket, that his
noble heart might have room to swell in,
''the little Teller must a been starving"
But, Skiggs, where will we put him 4
queried the anxious wife, dividing the loa
whit must be told-a little less alacrity
than before, for she knew another loa
would cost just Sixpence to farthing, anc
sixpences we're scarce.
"We1l put him-with another coat,
said Skiggs, musingly, surveying the snsl
bundle Of rags; chow lucky it is that Jun
my's out-grown his before it too
Goodness, Skiggs, you can't think o
adopting him" cried Mrs. Skiggs, turning
pale with dismay. "Seven children anC
one in arms Skiggs You are only going
to keep him tonight ~
six times three make eighteen, anC
two over is twenty" murmured Skiggs
sbsently, his eyes fastened on the cracked
ceiling Nancy, John Potter is dead"
John Potter deadr' exclaimed Nancy
''What1l become of Sally r.
well, Sallys got plenty o friends,
said Skiggs, now seating himself, and fix
ing his glance upon the small creature
who had eaten his second slice almost a!
vOraciously as the first, and now stood
wistfully cycling the loaf, "but I'm gon,
up, bless your soul.
''Gone up" muttered Mrs. Skiggs, help
lessly.
Eyes, into twenty dollars instead o
fourteen. At the close Of tins month oul
house says to me (his place Of business was
always "our house, "hold out your hand
Mr.. j. Skiggs, Sen. Here's your e-i-g -h-t-y
dollars = Think of that for -four, Mrs
SkiggS. Nancy, cut the boy another
slice
The knife went through the loaf with
swifter motion this time, and Mrs Skiggs,
coming ont of her trance, turned the boy
face to the light. Like all great minds,
she was calm and self-contained under this
exciting news. Her heart might throb al
most to busting as she thought of that blue
and yellow shawl she had been sighiDg for
so many years, to say nothing of the feath.
or she was determined 20 buy the first time
she went out shopping, but not even Skiggs
should know 1t. Instead of going into
ecstacies, she controlled her emotions and
merely said 49,
Hes got black eyes, amt he, Skiggs p
"Hes, Nancy, and not black eye in the
family, except when little Tom giGs thrash
ed. | say, Nancy, if that was one Of
ours"
"What r.
"And we was laid snugly under the cold
ground, and no relations and no friends to
take him, only . scaly beggAr who shams
blind, and beats and abuses him, Now,
suppose it was Tom and some good-heart.
ed fellow came along and gave him home
and we could know it r.
Eyes, but Skiggs"
''Or say we knew, stead Of that, he goes
and carries him to the poorhouse and lets
him prov up a pauper, with nobody to
teach him self-respect, and no boys to play
with-Nancy, gi me . han'kerchief'
Mrs. Skiggs was silent before this mov-
ing picture, for mother never loved six
sturdy, homely boys better than she loved
the brood who slept three in bed upstairs,
snugly tracked III by her hands, every sun
burned, freckled face kissed tenderly be.
fore they slept.
She made lao further objections, but
took her old shawl and made up couch in
the corner, and after she had washed the
wondering little face, she kiesed it, it was
so pretty. That was the sign and seal Of
adoption.
Hes almost a. handsome as little
Angie, she said as the child, refreshed
and wondering at his clean. white bed
clothes, sank of to sleep.
Angie was the baby, one year old, anc
the oRly girl. Nature, in denyikg come