River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-04-05
A True Story.


were going their rounds, and trying to
make up for the lost daylight. Little
children were safe and warm ut home.
All but one, perhaps. A little boy
stood ON the deserted sidewalk, close
to a great window of plate glass,
through which he gaZed will rapt
face. The picture which he looked at
was a beautiful one. A great room
with pointed ceiling overhead, and a
chandelier which seemed to make real
sunshine. The walls were covered
with fine paintings. A marble table,
heaped with delicious food, stood near
the centre of the room. The bright
light struck through the great decan-
ter, and made big crimson stain on
the right hand of a gentleman who sat
at the table reading newspaper. A
large diamond ring on one finger
seemed to wink and blink at the little
boy outside. ~ wish he would look
up" the child Was thinking.
But though he waited and watched,
the man did not move for long time.
Then he flung the paper down, and
reached out the hand with the dia-
mond for wine glass, which he filled
and drank, never once looking towards
the window.
''Please, SIR"
That Was all the boy said. lie had
stepped from the street into the hall;
then without stopping to knock he had
opened the great door which led into
the gentleman room. On the TIRES
hold of the saloon he stopped, fright.
ened at what he had done.
''What is it my little mani"
Mr.. Arthur Leonard had pleasant
smile, which came easily to his hand
some face, although he looked into the
big brown eyes as if he saw something
there he had been looking for great
while.
s'You came to beg. suppose" and
the gentleman hand went readily in
to his pocket.
"Oh, no, sir, l never thought of
that. / wanted-I mean-please sir, l
will Onow.
He moved back awkardly, but Mr..
Leonard stopped him with a gesture.
The child's face interested him. His
manner, too, at first to eager, now so
embarrassed, had aroused his curiosity.
"You are cold," he said, noticing
that the child shivered and that his
garments were thin and poor.
He rose, took the boy by the hand
and led him to the CRATE fire which
was dancing on the hearth-a big,
jolly fire, which seemed trying to light
up the room and make the chandelier
notice how big and bright it was.
Mr.. Leonard did not seem to think
it queer for a poor little boy with
patched clothes to sit in one of the
crimson satin arm chairs big enough
for throne. lie drew up one for him.
self opposite.
care you hungry e. he asked. 81
will give you something to eat, and a
little wine will warm you up"
sob, no, SIR" and the child shrank
further back into the big chair.
"You viii tell me your name, at
least 2"
Eyes, sir. My name is Eddie Boyn-
ton, and am ten years old.
"Ah -
Mr.. Leonard was smiling now as he
saw the boys courage coming back.
"You will not be angry with me,
sir %
"Angry why in the world should l
be angry with you q
81 didn't know but you might, sill, if
| said what | wanted to"
"Neyer fear, Eddie am anxious to
know what you have to tell me"
The little boy stretched out his little
thin hands, red with cold, toward the
glowing fire, and said
81 work in the dye house, now, and
get good deal of money-a dollar a
week."
Mr.. Leonard could hardly help laugh
ing. The wine he had offered the
child cost more than that.
81 come past this big window every
night on my way home. | shan't
come again, though, because we
are going to move away. | like to
look in here because it is so warm and
pleasant, and because you are sitting
here, and have eyes just like my ia
theirs"
"What strange child" Mr.. Leonard
was thinking.
"He was so handsome and tall, !" the
little fellow went on, looking back in
to the freight. 'He wore nice clothes,
too, like yours; and we lived in a great
big house, most as big as this. used
to sit next to him at the table, and he
gave me that to drink" pointing to
the wine glass. ''Mother would cry
sometimes; but he would kiss her, and
tell her that good wine would make me
strong and handsome. One day he
went away for a long time, and moth
er cried all the time he was gone
When he came back he struck at her,
and then fell down on the floor.
screamed because | thought he was
dead. The black man who drove the
horses, came up stairs and helped
mother to get him to bed. She saidhe
was sick. He used to scream and fight
if anyone went near him. 1t was the
red wine that made him so, mother
said. And then one night he died, and
there was great funeral. After that
mother packed up our clothes, and
went to live where she could get some
money. We've only two little rooms
now. Mother sews on machine.
Sometimes she cries all night, |
guess"
He had been talking very fast. but
stopped suddenly.
Mr.. Leonard moved uneasily.
''This is what you wanted to tell
met"
s'Yes, sir. Every time | come by
the window and see you sitting here,
you make me think of my father, and
wondered if you had any little boy at
home, and how he and his mother
would feel if you should die because
of the red wine; and then the tears
came, and Eddie Boynton slid down
from the big chair, and stood beside
Mr.. Leonard, who had turned his face
away. Eddie wondered if the gentle
man was crying too. lie could not see
the big, brown eyes, for his head was
dropping upon his breast.
sim going home, now, SIR. Mother
will have my supper all ready and be
frightened if l don't come home, "