Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-12-21
farthing on the street one day

IauSn out, lOr tnOugn ne lowered
up tall ard strong, "Jinks" had
flashed through the air like a
bloodhound and grabbed his throat.
They fought long and fiercely, and,
small as he was, "JInks" seemed
to be getting the best of it, when
the assistant masters suddenly ap.
peared on the scene, and put an
end to the struggle.
And now "JinkO" experienced
the danger of going against the
majority. The small boy and he
gave the true version of the sto.
ry; the other boys, one and all,
gave quite different one; and the
majority carried the day.
"Jinks" and Johnnie were car.
ried in and caned till every bone
in their bodies ached, and then
shut up in different little rooms
on the ground floor, with a hunch
of dry bread and a mug Of water
each.
Poor "Jinks' thought it now
high time TO make his escape
from a place where he was SO mis-
cradle, and get back to his moth
er. In getting through the win
dow of the room in which he was
confined he fell to the ground, ,and
was considerably shaken. Before
he could rise to his feet his terror
was increased by a policeman ar
irving on the spot.
"Oh, sir" he managed to gasp
out, "I'm only little Jinks,' you
won't stop me? They beat me
all over for nothing. But did
not mind that; but they caNed
my mother beggar; and I'm run
ming away from them. Oh, do let
me gol Mother will be glad if
you let me of, sic will, indeed"
The policeman looked down at
the little atom, with his torn shirt
aud stains of blood coming through
and his pitifuI face and wildly
pleading eyes. He didn't shake
him or grasp him roughly. No,
he took the boy up in his arms
lie tried to speak to him, but for
long the words stuck in his throat,
and when he did get them out
they were strangely husky, and
not at all harsh or unkind.
"Poor little fellow!'
The unexpected words went
straight to little "Jinks IS" heart.
If the man had kickel him, he
would have been stone; but the
kind words drew from him a con,
vulsive sob, and must have set
his brain reelipg, for the heXt
thing he was conscious of was the
policeman putting a sort of fiery
stuff into his mouth out of flask,
and telling him to keep up
good heart, Cor he wouldn't let
anybody touch him.
They were friends in a mo
ment.
1t ended, however, by the
kind policeman carrying little
"Jinks" to his mother; and the
poor woman when she heard the
account, received him with open
arms and there lie remained with
her until the day Of her death,
and the day indeed, on which he
stole the purse to keep her from
starving.
When he brought the stolen
purse in he found bis mother dy-
ing. But the following conver
sation took place between them:
"Who gave it to you?' she
managed to ask, and then tear
full, guilty remorse began to gnaw
at little "Jinks' heart.
"a woman down there" he
got out. "But could you not get
up and walk about, mother?
You would look better then, and
perhaps you could eat.
mo, Willie dear. I'm afraid
Little "Jinks" seemed to see
the words that were coming, and
a great wall burst from him as he
placed his little hand on her
mouth.
"Oh- mother, don't say that, or
III die!" he wildly cried. "Iil
run for a doctor, oh, how fast | Il
go! and You'll be we'll TO morrow,
won't your
But she only strained him clos
er 10 her breast.
"Pray after me, Willie" she
family whispered; and then, chok-
ing with grief, and burning with u
sense Of guilt, he repeated after
her a little prayer, that God
would look after poor little boy
who would soon have no mother,
and raise him up a great many