South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-21

come to think OF it.
She opened the door, and saw, not
Mrs. Graham's husband. nor vet her son,
but girl, whose face looked as If she
might be about Kitty's own age, whose
shoulders and waist told the same story;
but whose lower limbs were curiously
misshapen and shrunken--no larger, in
fact, than those Of mere child. The
face was pretty, winning face.not at all
sad. Short, thick brown hair curled
round it, and big, brown eyes, full Of
good-humor, met Kitty's curions
glance.
Il am Tom.' the same musical voice
which made Kitty think of birds war
ble-said, in a tone Of explanation. Il
can't get up to open the door because,
don't you see, l can't walk
And w!y-what-Tom"
Kitty struggled desperately With the
question she had begun TO ask, and Tom
kindly helped her out
Why am Tom, do you mean when
it's a boys name or why cant walk?
I'm Tom because my father called me
Tomasina. after his mother, and we can't
afford such long names in this house /;
and can't walk because pulled ket>
tie of boiling water over on myself when
| was years old, and the only wonder
is that I'm alive at all. | was left you
see, in room by myself, while mother
was busy somewhere else, and when
she heard me scream, and came TO me,
she pulled me out from under the ket-
tie and saved the upper half Of me all
right
oh, how dreadful " Kitty cried, with
the quick tears rushing to her eyes.
1t must have almost killed your moth
err
Yes that's what makes her so still
and sober. She never laughs out, she
never frets either; aud oh how good
she is TO me-
Kitty glanced around the room, which
seemed 30 her so bare. 1t WAS spotless-
ly clean, and Toms chair was soft and
comfor.able-as, indeed a chair ought
to be which must be sat in from mora
ing till night. Opposite TO it were q
few pictures on the wall-engravings
taken from books and magazines, and
given, probsbly,to Mrs. Graham by some
Of her lady customers. Within easy
reach was little stand, or which stood
a rose hush in pot, d basket Outright.
colored worsteds. while book or two
laid beside them.
And do you never go out?' cried
Kitty, forgetting her errand in her sym
pathy. forgetting too that Luke and his
impatient horse were waiting below.
Not lately. Mother used to take me
down into the street sometimes but
I'm not very dull, even when she's
gone. Yo0 wouldn't guess how many
things | see from my window and then
make worsted mats & tides, and moth
er cells them and then | sing
Kitty stepped to the window to see
what range of vision it offered, and Ter
eye fell on Luke. She recalled her bu-
siness.
Il came to see If I could get Your
mother to sew two or three day for me
this week
Tom was alert and business like at
once.
Let me see she said to-day is Tues.
day and she drew toward her Il little
book, and looked il over. Tomorrow is
engaged. but you could have Thursday
Friday and Saturday, if you want 50
much. Please write your name against
them.
Kitty pulled Off her pretty gray glove
and wrote her name and address with
the little toy-pcncil at the end Of her
chatelaine and then she turned TO go,
but it was Toms turn to question.
Please said the sweet. fresh voice.
which seemed 40 like the clear carol Of q
bird, would you mind telling how old
you are I'm is myself
And so am TO- said Kitty.
And You have a father and mother
both, haven't your.
Yes indeed said Kitty.
oh, I've only mother, but she is good
as two. Must you 90, now? And ]
wonder if shall ever see You again"
Yes you will Gee me again answered
Kitty, chccrily and then moved by n
sudden impulse Of her kind, frank young
heart. She bent over and touched her
lips TO The bright, bonny face Of the poor
girl whO must SO prisoner there forever,
and yet who kept this right cheerful
ness all the time.
'Dh mama. I've had n lesson cried
Kitty bursting into her mothers room
like q fresh wind, and Tom has taught
70 TO INC and he isn't he at all-shc's a
girl just my age, and she can't walk not
"a step since she was years old
An then Kitty told all the sad. ten
der little story, and got 90 crying over
Is herself. and made her mother cry, too.
before she got through.
After dinner she sa' half the evening
in n brown study. Finally she came
out Of 30. and began talking i'm her u
sual impulsivc manner.
Cant we have them'here TO Tbanks-
giving mama? There's not q single prct.
~ thing in that house except Tom her
self. and the rosebush; and everything
did look 50 bare, and clean, and poverty.
stricken.
Before bedtime Kitty had IL all plan.