The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-22

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| exact genealogy of Skiggs' little boy.
The fact is, il would be hard TO trace it,
since III his tenderest years--say Iour or
observation-disclosures senior adopted him
| OF he streets.
| He was then in the care Of hideous
old beggar, afflicted with blindness at
stated times; aud the old beggar having
fallen in d lit, and the child, by his grief,
but more particularly by has bright dark
eyes and pretty face, appealing strongly
to Sklggs' sympathies, ne took MIN home
to give MIN decent shelter at least Tor
one night.
| "Cut the bread thick, Nancy, cut it
very thick" said SKiggs, out OF the full
ness OF his generous heart. "Don't
/ skimp; none o. the seventh miss it,"
''but. SIX ggs, where are you going to
put himS' asked his wife; ''there's three
TO a bed noW-and my sakes, all that
bread gone? What little bearP
''Cut him another slice, Nancy, and
cut it little thicker" Skiggs respond
ed, unbuttoning his green baiZe jacket,
that his noble neart might have room to
swell in, "the little feller must a. been
| starving"
| "But, Skiggs. where will we put him?'
querled the anxious wife, dividing The
| ioai with-it must be told-a little less
alacrity than before, for she knew an
other LOAF would COST just sixpence to a
| fafthlng, and slXpence were scarce.
| "We'il put him-With another coat,o
said Skiggs, musingly, surveying the
| small bundle OF rags; show lucky it is
| that Jlmmy's outgroWn his before it's
| too
"Goodness, skiggs, you can't think OF
| adopting hlml" cried Mrs. Skiggs, turn
| ing pale with dismay. Seven children
and one in arms, Skiggs. You are only
going to keep hIn to-night"
"Six times three make eighteen, and
| two over is twenty" murmured Skiggs.
absentiy, his eyes fastened on the
cracked ceiling. "Nancy, John Potter
Is uead."
"Jonn Potter deadw exclaimed Nan
cy. "WhapIl become OF Sallyw
"Weil, Sally's got plenty o. friends,n
said oklggs. now seating himself, and
| fixing his glance upon the small crea-
| ture, VINO had eaten his second slice
| almost as yoraciOusly as the first. and
now stood wIstfulIy eyelng the LOAF. ssbuG
I'm gone up, bless your s0ul."
"Gone upW mutLered MRS. Skiggs.
helplessly.
"Yes, into $40 instead of S14. At the
close oil this month our house says to me
his place Oh business WAS always sour
mouse" ''h0id out your hand, Mr.. j.
SkIggs, Sr.| Here's your $SJl Think
OF that for -four, Mrs. Skiggs. Nancy
cut the boy another sllce."
TAe knife went through the loaf with
swliLer motion this Lime, and Mrs.
Sklggs, coming out OF her trance, turned
Lhe boys lace TO the Light. Like ali great
minds, she was calm ana seli-contalned
under this exciting news. Her heart
might throb almost to burs ling as she
thought OF that blue and yellow snawl
she had been signing for so many Years.
to say nothing OF the leather she was
deter mined to buy the first time she
went out shopping, but not even Skiggs
should know it. lnsLeau OF going luIo
ecstacies, she controlled her emotions
and merely said:
''He's got black eyes, amt he, Skiggs p
~ es, Nancy, anu not BLACK eye in
the family except when little Tom ri s
thrashed. l say, Nancy, if that was one
Of ours"
"What~
''And we was laid snugly under the
cold ground, and no relations and no
lflenas 10 take him, only scaly beggar
who shams blind, anu beats and abuses
nim. Now, suppose il was Tom, and
some gOod-nearted fellow came along
anu gave him home-and we could
know lLW
Yes, out SklggS"
"Of say we knew 'stead of that. he
goes anu carries him to The poorhouse
and lets him grow up d pauper, with no.
Dody TO teacn MIN selirespect, and 40
boys, TO play Wlth--Naney, e. me y
nan'kercherl''
Mrs. -skggs was silent befo.e this
moving picture, for mother never loved
SIX sturdy, homely boys better than she
loved the brood Wno slept three III a bed
upstairs, shusly tucked in by her hanus.
every sunburAed, trecked face kissed
tenderly before they slept.
She made no furLher objections. but
took her old shawl and made up a couch
IN Ine corner, and alter she had washed
the wondering little face, she kissed ID.
II was 50 pretty. That was tae sign and
seal OF adoption.
''He's almost as handsome as little
Angie" she said, as The Child. refreshed
and wondering at his clean, while bed
clothes. sank d TO sleep.
Angie was the baby, one year old. an
the only girl Nature, in denying come Ii.
ness TO The D0y 3, had made IL all up In
that lace OF lnleS and roses. The
child was perfectly beautiful. Not a spot
marred the suft Whlteuess of her BABY
skin. The long stunning curls hung in |
splendor to her pretty, dimpled /
ana nothing was too good or
too fair for the iairy-like creature.
Well, twelve years passed into the |
great eternity. Skiggs has slept under |
the DAISIES ever since little Angie was |
ten years old. The six boys are work |
ing on In their homeiy way, not very
but good and honest.
Alter skiggs' death, the little waif un. |
able to bear tue great loss, unwilling to /
burden the poor widow, disappeared
one days Nobody knew where he went.
ami the widow was 30 full OF trouble. so /
anxious to provide tor her growing lami. /
ly, that though he'had become almost /
as dear to her as her own children, she1
mad not time to mourn his absence, or to |
make inquiries for MIN.
The buys were some of them out to /
trades, the others made their7liying as |
cash boys, or at work in offices. the
mother herself took In sewing. Angie 4
was the eniy idle creature In the house.
NJ ..l... xls.k krl.. -