Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-10-25

NV hats your name!" | asked. But
was not prepared for the change whicl
this question produced. His face flushet
up, and every tear burst out of his eyes, al
he said
''My name is Willie Bell, but they cal
me Little Jinks' now. That's why rar
away from the Home But pitched in
to them before left-not for that. but fol
something else And the recollection
fierce pleasure.
''Oh, SO you ran away from the Home.
I suppose your mother was pretty poor
Willie-not well otf-eh:''
''That's it, sir,'' he cried. with a sudden
intelligence flashing out of his tearfi,
eyes.
''That's how she died-I'm sure of it
because she hadn't enough to eat. tried
to save her by stealing the purse after !
ran away from the 'Home;' but when
got home. she couldn't eat. and she died
without knowing what | had done. DO
you think they'll tell her in heaven that |
stole it:''
He appeared so anxious for negative
that was forced to say:
Il don't think they will. Willie, because
that would be sure to make her unhappy
wouldn't it?"
This brought fresh burst of sobbing.
and then he said:
Il hope I'll be hanged. l 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'm trying not 10 cry-I
made it up before | came that wouldn't
cry-but, somehow, l can't help it. 1t
seems very hard that God should take
mother away. for loved her so, and I'm
such small boy.'
could not get out an answer, and no.
body else seemed ready to speak. l pick
ed up tic purse and mOtioned him to fol-
lnW me into another room. and there poor
Willie told me his mothers history. and
sad. sad history it was.
1t WAS the old story---a garret. pinching
want, and a hard struggle for bare life,
which finally drove the mother to delicate
health. and the boy to one of the Homes
of London.
But here poor Willie's troubles increas-
ed. The boys of the Home crowded
around the strange little arrival. and dub
bed him Little Jinks.;' No rudeness or
unllindness was meant: it was their GUS
tom. 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 passed off well enough.
He made one or two acquaintances, and at
night. when all were asleep, and the cold
moonlight stole into the dormitOry, he had
a good cry. keeping his head mufiled up in
the bedclothes to stifle the sound.
But fresh griefs were in store for him.
In an evil hour he had cOnfided to some of
his new acquaintances some particulars of
his own life and history; and the next
day. when he found them torturing one of
their number, a mute named Johnnie. he
Mortified them by firing up, knocking
down one of them, releasing the sufferer,
and daring them to touch him again.
An excited circle instantly formed about
him.
''What is it?'' cried one, elbowing his
way through.
Its Jinks, the beggar, the starved brat,''
spitefully answered the tloored boy. gath
ering himself up and wiping the blood
from his nose. ''Why couldn't he stay in
his hole, and not come among gentle
men: -
''What's he done?'
'.Stuck up for Johnnie?''
''Oh, my! Ha! hat and the jeering
laugh ran round all.
IL don't care what you say" chokingly
returned Jinks, blushing to the ears, and
then turning dangerously white. ''Yon're
a pack Of cruel brutes.''
''Ha! ha!'' laughed the boys. "What
pity his mother isn't here.''
''Don't speak of my mother. 1 warn
you don't. said Jinks, with his eyes flash
ing.
"Ho! no! Do you hear him! His
mothers a beggar, too"
'sOf course she is. He told me so, and
my uncle threw a farthing on the street one
day. Ho! hO''
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 bloodhound. They fought
long and fiercely. and small as he was
Jinks seemed to be getting the best of it,
when one of the assistant masters sudden
ly appeared on the scene and put an end to
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
carried the day.
Jinks and Johnnie We're taken in and
caned till every bone in their bodies ached,
and then shut up in separate rooms on the
ground floor, with lunch of dry bread
and mug Of water each.
Poor Jinks thought it high time now to
make his escape from place where he was
so miserable, and get back to his mother.
In getting through the window he fell to
the ground. and was considerably shaken.
Before he could raise to his feet his terror
was increased by policeman cOllaring him
on the spot.
"Oh, sir" he managed to gasp out. I'm
only Little Jinks-you won't stop me?
They beat me all over for nothing. l did
not mind that, but they called my mother
a beggar, and I'm running away from
them. Oh, DO let me go. Mother will be
glad if you let mc off, indeed!"
The policeman looked down at the little
atom with his torn shirt and stains OF
blood coming through his pitiful face, and
wildly pleading eyes. He did not shake
him, nor grasp him roughly. No, he took
the boy in his arms. He tried to speak to
him, but for long time the words stuck
in his throat, and when he did get them