The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-01-12

| tbao was IOICeu 10 say
g don't think they will, Willie, because
that would he sure to make her unhappy
wouldn' it ?"
This brought fresh burst of sobbing,
and then he said:
~ hope I'll he hanged. l want TO die
) now. It's no living without mother, and
everybody else is cruel. There's nobody
to put their arms around me when am
hungry. I-I-Pm trying not to cry
made it all up before l came that
wouldn't cry-but, somehow. I can't help
1t. 1t seems very hard that God should
take her away, for loved her 80, and I'm
such small boy"
c"uid Lot get out an answer, and no.
body else seemed ready to speak. pick
ell up the purse and motioned him to fol-
low me into another room, and there poor
Willie told me his mothers history, and
a sad, sad history it was.
1t was the old story-a garnet, pinching
want, and hard struggle for bare life.
which finally drove the mother into deli
cate health, and the boy into one of the
Homes " of London.
But here poor Willie's troubles increased
The boys of the Home crowded around
the strange little arrival, and dubbed him
| lAiltlC UluhS. NV TuiitHGSS Ut uUhlDu-
ness was meant it was their custom, and
he had to give up asking them to call him
| Willie, for" Little Jinks they would have
him and nothing else. The first Cay passed
well enough-he made one or two ac-
quaintances, and at night, when all were
asleep, and the cold moonlight stole into
the dormitory, he had good cry, keeping
his head muffled in the bedclolhes to sttle
the sound.
But fresh griefs were in store for him.
In an evil hour he mad confided to some
of his new acquaintanCes some particulars
Of his own life and history and next day,
when he found them torturIng one of their
number, mute named Johnnie, he horri-
fled them by firing up, knocking down one
of them, releasing the sufferer, and daring
them to touch him again.
An excited circle instantly formed round
him.
what is itg' cried one, elbowing in.
Its Jinks the beggar-the starved
brat spitefuly answered the tloured boy,
gathering himself up and wiping the blood
from his nose. "Why couldn't he stay in
his hole, and not come in among gentle
men p
whats he done?"
"Stuck up for Johnnie
"Oh, my Ha ha! ha" and the jeer-
ing laugh ran round all.
Il don't care what you say" chokngly |
returned Jinks' bushing to the ears, and |
then turning dangerously white. You're
pack of cruel brutes."
"Ha! ha! ha' laughed the boys. |
What pity lis mother isn't here. Ho
no hn"
"D"n't speak ofmy mother Iwarn you,
don't |" said "Jinks," with strange flash
ing of the eyes.
"Ho! no! no! Do you hear him. His
mothers beggar to-"
"Of course she is. He told ne so; and |
my uncle threw her iarthing on the street |
one day. Hol ho"-
The last speaker didn't get his laugh |
out, for though he lowered up tail and |
strong, links had flashed through the
air ut his throat like u bloodhound. They |
fought long and liercely, and small as he
was, links" seemed to be getting the |
best of it, when one of the assistant masters
suddenly appeared on the scene, and put
an end to the struggle.
And now Jinks" experienced the dan
ger of going down aginst the majority.
The small boy and himself gave the true
version of the story the other boys, one
and all, gave quite a different one; and
the majority carried the day.
"Jinksn and Johnnie were taken in and
caned till every bone in their bodies ached,
and then shut up in seperate little rooms
on the ground floor with bunch of dry
bread and mug Of water each.
Poor links thought it high time now
to make his escape from II place where he
was SO miserable, and get back to his
mother. In getting through the window
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 policeman
arriving on the spot.
"Oh, sir" he managed to gasp out,
I'm only Little Jinks,' you won't stop
me9 They beat me all over for nothing.
But didn't mind that but they called
my mother u beggur; and I'm running
away from them. Oh, do let me 90
Mother will be glad if you will let me off,
indeed !"
The policeman looked down at the lit
tie atom, with his torn shirt and stains of
blood coming through, his pitiiul lace and
wildly pleading eyes. He didn't shake
him or grasp him roughly. No, he took
the hoy up in his arms. He tried to speak
to him, but the words stuck in his throat,
and when he did get them out they were
strangely husky, and not at all harsh or
unkind.
"Pour little iellow!"
The unexpected words went straight to
Little Jnks'" heart. If the man had
kicked him, he would have been stone
L., az l. nd unIIo rnu frn,n Ian
vulsive sob, and must have set his brain
recliug, for thenext thing he was conscious
of was the policeman putting sort nf fiery
stuff INTO his mouth out of II flask. and tell
ing him TO keep up good heat, for he
wouldn't let anybody touch him.
They we're friends in moment.
1t ended, however, by the kind police
man Carrying Little Jinks" to his mother !; |
ind the poor woman, when she heard the
q c"unt, received him with open arms, and |
til re he remained with her until the day
of her death, and the day, indeed, on which |
he stole the purse to keep her from srarv
ing.
When he brought the stolen purse in,
he found his mother dying. But the fol- |
lowing conversation took place between
them.
"Who gave it to you 2" she managed to
ask. and then u fearful, guilty remurse be-
gan 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-l III afraid"
Little Jlnks " seemed to see the words
that were coming, and grea wall burst
frum him as he placed his little hand on
her mouth.
ooh, other, don't say that, or III die ~
he wildly cried "l'll run for Il doctor
oh, how fast III go land you'll be well