The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-01

MS nedIVi mat ne nau warmed and led!
All! it was very bitter. Perhaps not
even his beautiful Miss May would care
to remember him.
So he did not go near her. Autumn
came on apace. One dreary November
DAY, when he could find nothing to do,
he turned homeward, weary and heart
sick. All, if there was only a CHEEKY voice
to welcome him!
Some one stood by his door, a lady in
dainty attire. Some one caught his arm,
and cried:
go Tim, I'm so glad that you have
comet | have been waiting almost an
hour. Tim, I've found little Jerry, and
he is dying, but he asks for you con-
stantly. Come right away. Don't lose
a moment"
jerry" in a sort of dazed way as if he
but half understood. Little Jerry
my pardner? 0 Miss May-no, you can't
mean it-dying?"
" Yes. Hurry, Tim. I've waited 50
long already"
They walked down the stars and
sCudded through the street to horse car
1t seemed to Tim that they rode an hour
Then they alighted, and a short walk
brought them to decent-looking tene-
ment-hOuse. Up one flight of stairs, and
the door opened.
" Is it Tm?" asked weak voice.
Tim threw himself on his knees by the
bedside, and kissed the sweet, wan face
with the tenderness of a mother. For
some minutes only sobs were heard.
You told him, Miss May"
Ono, Jerry. We hurried so there was
no chance. But l will tell HIM every
word"
go Tim, you didn't think was thief?
1t broke my heart to go. 1t was father
He got out some way and had been watch
ing us. He came that night when we were
so happy counting our money, but he
didn't dare offer to take me away then.
The next morning he walked in with Il
paper, which he said was warrant for
me, and that if dared to say a word
he'd send me to the Refuge. | picked
up my things-I was so afraid of him
and then he wanted the money, and swore
if didn't get it he'd kill me l told
him wouldn't; so he tied my hands and
bound my mouth, lest I should scream,
and then he hunted everywhere; and oh,
Tim, he found it! He took me right out
of the city with him to vile den, where
they wanted to make a thief of me-"
go Jerry, dear, don't talk; it takes
away all your strength. God knows l
could never have hard thought of you
now" and Tim broke down.
Just little. | couldn't get back to
you. They watched me, and beat me
until l was sore and stiff; and there |
st,.yed until only afortnight ago, when one
night | gave them the slip. ] wanted to
come back and tell you how it was, but
the way was so far, and | was SO tired!
Then fell down in the street and
good woman picked me up and brought
me in here, where it's SO nice and clean,
Tim, and such nice place to die III
And then | don't seem to remember much
until yesterday, when Miss May came in,
and this morning, when she brought ef
father. And then | wanted to see you, to
tell you-Tim, if you could hold me in
your arms again! Miss May said l would
find nanny in heaven; that God cared
for poor little boys. Does He, Tim? |
like you to tell me. And will He come
and let me be your partner again? Is it
very far? Kiss me, Tim. You know
now l wasn't a thief. Miss May sang
something yesterday about opening the
starry gates"
Al the portals Jesus waits;
All the heavenly host begin
Open wide the starry gates,
Let the little traveller in"
sang the sweet voice over the tremendous
sob.
Closer chung the thin arms, and the
cool cheek was pressed against Tins,
hot with burning tears. The little hands
that had kept their house tidy and pre-
pared the simple meals lay limp and use
less. The eyes could not see any more,
but the lips smiled and murmured few
incoherent words, soft, sweet-and then
an awesome silence. The little waif
jerry had gone over the river.
go Miss May" cried Tim, "they will
take him in-won't they? For you see,
the poor little chap didn't have square
chance in this world! He's been kicked
and cutted about, and had to 90 on
crutches an been half starved many
time, but he wouldn't lie and steal for
all that. He ought to be happy some
where's. O Jerry! Jerry! | loved you so!
And you was true to the last"
"They will take him in" Miss Nav
says, with solemn tenderness. And
presently she unclasps the arms that
wound around Jerry's neck, lays the poor
hands straight, and leads Tim over by
the window. He looks at her with dumb,
questioning eyes, as if he would fain
have her fathOm the mystery that he
knows 50 little about. She brushes away
some tears! but o. what can she say to
comfort him? For Jerry was all he had.
Presently Tim comes back and kisses
the cold lips and stares at the cold
beauty overspreading the wan face.
80 Miss May" he cries, "do YOU
suppose | could ever earn enough to pay
for his being buried in some couatry
place, where there'd be a few flowers
and tree growing over him? Id work
all my life long. For he'd like it so. /
cant bear to think of having him car
ried away"
mo" she says, with SILVER, 81 will
see about it, Tim" Then she gives
few orders to the women, and goes away,
leaving Tim with his "pardner."
DIR. May shook his head at his daugh
ter at first, and said it was folly; but two
days after he had MIN buried in pretty
rural cemetery, with white marble slab