Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-08

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that would be sure 10 make her unhappy
wouldn't it2'
This brought a flesh burst Of sobbing and
then he said
81 hope I'll be hanged. / want TO die
now. It's no use living without mother,
and everybody else is cruel. There's no.
body to put their arms around me when |
am hungry. I-I-Tm trying not TO cry
made ii all up before came that l would
MT cry-but somehow I can't help ii. II
seems very hard that God should take her
away, for l loved her so, and I'm such
small boy"
| / could not get out an answer, and no.
body else seemed ready TO speak. l picked
up the purse and motloned him to follow
me into another room, and there poor Will
lie told me his mothers history, and q sad,
sad history 1t was.
II was the old story-a garret, plnching
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 Willes troubles increased.
| The boys of the "IIome" crowded around
the strange little arrival, and dubbed him
"Little Jinks." No rudeness or unkind-
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 day pass
ed all well euough-he made one or two
acquaintance, and at night, when all were
asleep, and the cold moonlight stole into
the dormitory, he had good cry, keeping
| his head mufiled in the bedclothes to stifle
the sound.
| But fresh troubles were in store for him.
In an evil hour he had coniided to some of
his new acqaintances some particulars of
his own life and history; and the next day,
when he found them torturing one Of their
number, mute named Johnnie, he horri-
fed them. releasing the sufferer, and dar-
ing them to touch him again.
An excited circle instantly formed around
him.
"What is it?" cried Que, elbowing.
"Ips JInks, the beggar, the starved brat"
| spitefully answered the noored boy, gath
erlng himself up and wiping the blood
from his nose. "Why couldn't he stay In
his hole and not come in among gentle.
men2"
"Whars he doneY'
"Stuck up for Johnnie"
"Ob, my Ha ba ha I" and the jeer-
ing laugh ran round all.
II don't care what you say" chokingly
returned Jnks, blushng to the ears, and
then turning dangerously white. "You're
pack OF cruel brutesv
"Ha! hal ha ~ laughed the boys
"What pity his mother isn't here. Ho
no hor'
"Dou't speak of my mother; l warn you,
don't I" said Jinks, with a strange flashing
Of the eyes.
"Ho! boi hol Do you hear himS His
mother is beggar, too"
"Of course she is. He told me so, and
my uncle threw her farlhing on the street
one day. Ho! hop
The last speaker didn't get his laugh out,
for though he lowered up tall and strong,
Jinks had flashed through the air at his
throat like a bloodhound. They fought
long and fercely, and small as he was
Jinks seemed to he getting the best Of it,
when one OF the assistant masters sudden
ly appeared on the scene and put an end 10
| the struggle.
And now Jinks experienced the danger
of going against the majority. The small
boy and himself gave the true version of
the story; the other boys, one and all gave
| quite different one, and the majority car
ried the day.
Jinks end Johnnie were taken in aud
caned till every bone in their body ached,
and then shut up in separate little rooms
on the ground floor with a lunch OF dry
bread and a mug of water each.
Poor Jinks thought it high time TO make
his escape from place where he was mis-
cradle, and get back 10 his mother. In
getting through the window of the room
in which he was confined he fell TO the
ground and was considerably sh AIKEN. Be-
fore he could rise to his feet. his terror was
decreased by a policeman arriving on the
spot.
"oh, sir" he managed 10 gasp out, "Pm
only little Jlnks, you won't stop me2 They
beat me all over for nothing. But didn't
mind that, but they called my mother
beggsr, aud I'm running away from them.
Mother will be glad if you will let me OIL,
| indeed?"
The policeman looked down at the little
blood coming through, his pitiful face and
wildly pleading eyes. He didn't shake
him or grasp him roughly. No, he took
the boy up in his arms. He tried 10 speak
TO him, but for long time the words stuck
in his throat, and when he did get them
out they were strangely husky, and not at
all ha rsh or unkind.
"Poor little fellowP
The unexpected words went straight to
"Little Jinks' heart. If the man had
kicked him, he would have been stone
but the kind words drew from him a con-
vusive sob, and must have sent his brain
reeling, for the next thing he was conscious
OF was the policemen putting sort OF fiery
stuff into his mouth out of flask, and tell
ing him to keep upa good heart for he
wouldn't let anybody touch him.
They were friends in a moment.
1t ended, however, by the kind police
mau carrying Little Jinks" to his moth
er; and the poor woman, when she heard
the account, received him with open arms,
and there he remained with her until the
day of her death, and the day, indeed, on
which he stole the purse TO keep her from
starving.
When he brought the stolen purse in, he
found his mother dying. But the follow
ing conversation took place between them
"Who gave it to your" she managed TO
ask, and then guilty, fearful remorse be-
gan TO gnaw at Little Jinks'" heart.