The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-02-28


were thin and poor.
lie rose. took the boy by the hand and
led him to the CRATE fire which was dane
ing on the heaTth-a big jolly fire, which
seemed trying to ligL, up TIE room and
make the chandelier notice how big and
bright it was.
Mr.. Leonard did not seem to think it
queer tor poor little boy with patched
clothes TO sit in one oil the crimson satin
arm chairs big enough for throne. lie
drew up one for himself opposite.
"Arc Won hnngry7" he asked. al will
give you something to cat, aud a little
wine will warm YOU up"
"oh, no, sir" and the child shrank fur.
Their hack into the biz chair.
"Iou will tell me your name, at least"
"Yes, sir Ny name is Eddie Boy nton;
and am ten years old
"Ah."
Mr.. Leonard wac smiling now, az he
saw the boys courage coming back.
you will not be angry with me, sir?'
Angry why in the world should be
angry With you!
Il didn't kaow but you might. sir fl
said what wanted to.
Never fear, Eddie; I am anxious to
know what You have to tell me-
The little boy stretched out his email
thin hands, red with cold, toward the
glowing fire, and said:
IL work in the dye-house now, and get
n good deal OF money! dollar q week. !"
Mr. Leonard could hardly help laughs
ing. The wine lac offered the child cost
more than that,
IL come PAST this Zig window every
night on my way home. Rshan't come
again, though, because we are 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.
lie was so handsome and tall, went
on the little fellow, looking back into
the freight "He wore nice clothes, too,
like yours and VIC lived in a great big
house, most Sc big rs this. used to sit
next to him at the table, and he gave me
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 hand
some. Que day he went away for lony
/ time, AMI mother cried all the while he
Was CONC. Wien &c came back ho
floor. screamed, because thought he
/ wac dead. The black man who drove
the horscs, came upstairs and helped
Wother TO get him to bel. She said he
was sick. lie used to scream aLd fight il
any one went near him. 1t wac the red
! wine that msde him SO, mother said
Aud thea one night &c died, and there
was great funeral After that mother
packed up our clothes, and went 10 live
where she couldg.t some money We've
got only two rooms now. Mother sews
on a machine. Sometimes she cries all
night, guess"
lie had been talking very fast, but
stopped suddenly.
Mr.. Leonard moved upeasiiy
This was what yon wanted 10 tell
me?' .-.
"Ies, sir Every time I come BY the
window and see you sitting here. you
make me think Of my father, and won-
dersd ifyou had any little boy at home,
and how he and his mother would feel if
you should die because OF the red wine"
and then the tears came, and Eddie Boyn-
ton 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 home, now, sir. Mother
will have my supper all ready and be
frightened if don't come" and before
n leonard reused from his painful
reverie, the child had slipped from the
warm, cherry room, and was running
down the dark street, home to his wait,
ing mother
In all the years to come, Arthur Leon.
ard and Eddie Boynlon, man and bow,
may never meet again. The room 10 the
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 low
ingly at a sweet woman, and to the rosy
boy who hangs about his neck the father
whispers God bless YOU, my child, and
keep us from the destruction OF the red
wine.
A maiden lady said to her little neph>
sw: "Now, Johnny, you 60 to bed early,