The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-07-17

But my boy shall see better
things, now that / am here" he said
to himself al am not rich, but /
can deny myself many things to
make him happy. Will he love me,
! wonder?"
Then he thought how his own
heart had been won by toys and
sweatmeats and coming to a stop
where the former sold, paused before
the gay window, and began to make
a mental choice between red and
gilt stage coach and horses and
train of bright blue carriages. He
had discarded both for box of scar
let coated soldiers, when suddenly he
felt a tug at his coat tail, and turning
round, he found a grimy little hand
half III and half out of his pocket.
He caught it at once, with his hand
kerchief in it, and gripped it tight.
He was soldier, and to a soldier
the keeping of law and rule is
great thing To give the little theft
to policeman and appear against
him the next day, was his first
thought; but as the creature stood
there, shaking and whining, the fact
of his diminutive size struck the
captain forcibly. He perceived his
youth, which was extreme, and he
saw that, besides being young and
small, and wan, and dirty, and rag
ged, he was deformed. His queer
little shoulders were heaped up to
his ears, and his hands were like
talons, so long and bony were they.
The captain held the wrist of this
mannikin firmly still, but not angrily.
What did you mean by that,
sir?" he growled slowly, STOPPING
down to look into the boys eyes.
"I'm to hook it," said the boy with
perfect candor. "Oh, please let me
be- Oh, please let me go! Oh,
please, sir, l won't do it no more
never, oh, pleaser'
give a mind to have you sent to
jail !" said the captain.
"No, please, sir " said the waif
"Please, sir!"
Who taught you to steal ?" asked
the captain.
The boy made no answer. Grimy
tears were pouring from his eyes.
; "a YlSyssssal. 4 lid the canaan.
I "s III don't steal, / don't get no
victuals," said the boy, and my
stomach is as holler-feel it, mister
its as holler as drum She's been
beggin' to-day, and we'll have stew
I won't have none if l don't fetch
nothin'. OH
| Who is she?" asked the captain
My mother said the boy
"Pve been hungry myself" sale
the captain, thinking of certain
Indian prison experience. at ISM
pleasant" a
Then he thought of his own boy.
"God knows I ought to be tendel
to the little one, for the sake o
Nellie's child" he said softly; thel
aloud" Laddie, I'll not send you t.
prison." -1
Thankee, sir" said the urchin.
and I'll give you a breakfast,
said the captain.
The dirty elf executed sort o
joyous war-dance.
"Do you know why forgive you?
said the captain.
The child shook his head.
81 have a little bow said tn,
captain. "He's very different from
you, poor child! He would no
steal anything. He washes himself
My lad, you must wash yourself a
soon as you find water. But
couldn't think of his being hungry
and for his sake | can't bear to SCI
other little fellows hungry. It's for
his sake that l don't call constable
and tell him all about it. Remembe,
that, and try to be like-like my lit
tie fellow, poor laddie, clean anC
| good. Don't steal try to get work
VIII you promise ?"
The waif said Eyes sir" of course
Then the captain led him into ;
cheap eating house, and watched hin
eat until his little stomach was NJ
longer holler"
You little wretch p he thought
as he looked at him. off / could SEE
my boy and him together now, what
a contrast"
And he fancied his boy round an6
white and pink, and fair of hair, like
his poor lost Ellen, and 1 know he
said he would pity this poor fellow
and be kind to him.
The meal was over. The captain
paid for it, and then drew the boy be.
tween his knees and lectured him.
To be good was to be happy. Hon
1. 1.