The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-04
A True Story.

| A True Story. q b.
It was growing dark in the city
streets. Men and women hurried
along, as if eager to reach comfortable
homes; the horses seemed to pull the
heavy wagons with more willingness
than usual, as if they too knew that
the days work was over, and enioyed
the prospect of rest. The lamplighters
were going their rounds, and trying to
make up for the lost daylight. Little
CHILDREN were safe and warm at 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 with rapt
face. The picture which he looked at
was 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 a 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. II 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. He had
stepped from the street into the hall;
then. without stopping to knock he. had
opened the great door which led into
the gentleman's room. On the thres-
hold OF the saloon he stopped, fright.
ened at what he had done.
"What is it my little man?''
I Mr.. Arthur Leonard had a 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 a great
while.
''You came to beg, I suppose, and
the gentleman's hand went readily in
to is'pocket.
''Oh, no, sir, I never thought of
that. I wanted-I mean-please sir,
will 60 now
He moved back awkardly, but MIR.
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. He drew up one for him.
self opposite.
care you hungry ?" be asked. II
will give you something to eat, and a
| little wine will warm you up
"Oh, no, SIR" and the child shrank
| further back into the big chair.
You will tell. me your name, at
least?"
eyes, sir. My name is Eddie Boyn-
ton, and am ten years DID,
'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 I
be angry with you?''
81 didn't know but you might, sir, if
said what wanted to-
"Never fear, Eddie I 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
II work in the dye house, now, and
get good deal of money-a dollar a
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. I shan't
come again, though, because we
are going to move away. I like to
look in here because it is so warm and
PLEASANT, and because you ;lre 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. I used
to sit next to him at the table, and he
gave me that to drink pointing to
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