Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-02

will give you something to eat, and
little wine will warm you up"
ooh, no, sir" and the child shrank
further back into the big chair.
You will tell me your name, at
least!'
" Yes, 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, STRIP
"Angry" why in the world should /
be angry with your"
Il 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 his little thin
hands, red with cold, out toward the
glowing fire, and said:
81 work in the dive house now. and
get a good deal of money! dollar a
week"
Mr.. Leonard could hardly help laugh
ing. The wine he had offered the child
cost more than that.
L come past this big window every
night on nay way home. / shan't come
again, though, because we're going to
move away. | like to look in here be-
cause it is so warm and pleasant, and be-
cause you are sitting here and have eyes
just like my fathers"
"What strange child" Mr.. Leonard
was thinking.
"He was SO handsome and tall" went
on the little fellow, looking back into
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 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 mother cried all the time
he was gone When he came back he
struck 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 said he
was sick. He used to scream and fight
if any one went near him. 1t was the
red wine that made him 50, mother said.
And then one night he died, and there
was grand funeral. After that mother
packed up our clothes, and went to live
where she could earn some money. We
have only got two little rooms, now.
Mother sews on machine. Sometimes
she cries all night, I guess"
He had been talking very fast, but
stopped suddenly.
Mr.. Leonard moved uneasily.
"This is what you wanted to tell me %
Yes, sir. Every time | come by the
window and see you sitting here, you
make me thing of my father, and I won
dered if you had any little boy at home,
and how he and his mother would feel if
you should die 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
gentleman was crying, too. He could
not see the big brown eyes, for his head
was dropping upon his breast.
I'm going now, sir. Mother will
have my supper all ready, and be fright
ened if [ don't come" And before Mr.
Leonard reused from his painful reverie,
the child had slipped from the warm,
I CHEEKY room, and was running down
the dark street, home to his waiting
mother.
In all the years to come, Arthur Leon
ard and Eddie Boynton, man and boy,
may never meet again. The room In
| luxurious clubhouse is deserted; the fire
is out, the room is dark, the heavy cur
tain drawn at the big window; but in a
beautiful home the brown eyes look
lovingly at a sweet woman, and to the
rosy boy that hangs, about his neck, the
father whispers, GOOD bless you, my
child, and keep us from the destruction
of the red wine"