River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-06-20
FOR HIS SAKE.


Dock, there landed among them gen
tleman who had been absent from Eng
land nine years. All that while he had
passed under the burning suns OF India.
He had suffered as soldiers do. He had
taught as soldiers fight He had met
the soldiers tate of scars and wounds,
and one of them had invalided him home
to England.
1t was the first time he trod her shores
for nine years, as we have said. and for
the First time in any year he was going
to see his son, the little boy born after
he left home, and whose birth had been
his mothers death.
Captain Penryn had only been mar
ried year when h G was ordered abroad
with his regiment. Six months from that
day letter had reached him, telling
him his wife was dead. The letter was
written by an old nurse, the only friend
who had been with her. 1t ended thus:
1.-THE baby, as fine child as / ever
saw, is thriving. I've done nv best for
it. It's mothers last wish was / should
keep it, and perhaps sir, as some one
must, you'd as leave | as any other. /
shant be unreasonable in my charges,
and I'm very fond of him already.
With my duty to you in this dreadful
trouble, your servant. ANN GOLDEN"
The poor broken-hearted man almost
sank under the awful news He had
loved his wife passionately, and when
the baby was old enough to travel she
would have come to him in India, brav-
ing its terrible climate and the life of a
soldiers wife aboard, because they could
not live apart. Now he did not want a
little baby on his hands, and he wrote to
Ann as soon as he could command him.
self TO do so, appointing her his nurse.
Every quarter since that time he had
sent MONEY to her for the child's board
and clothes. A receipt was always return
ed with her duty, and the young gentle
nan was doing well; ? and this was all he
knew of his Ellen's boy--the child of a
love that had been as strong as it was
tender.
Now that his foot was upon England s
shores again the and meeting was very near
Captain Penryn felt new thrills of fa-
ther-love through his soldiers heart and
longed for his boys presence.
6 He would take him to HIMSELF he
said. They would live together, shar-
ing each others joys and sorrows. He
would make man of the boy--not a
soldier, for he knew the trials of sol
dier's life too well; but something very
honorable and creditable. He should be
proud OF him, and he hoped alb, how he
hoped that Ellen's child would have
ElIen's face"
"My beautiful girl, !" he said to him.
self, with the tears standing in his eyes,
"how little thought of this hour when
kissed her good byel''
And then his heart grew even warmer
to the pledge of their mutual love.
He had the address that Mrs. Golden
had given him in his pocket. He glanced
at it now to refresh his memory as to the
number. A plain respectable street in
one of London's suburbs; he remembered
it we'll
''But my boy shall see better things
now that am here he said to himself
II am not rich, but l can deny myself
many things to make him happy. VIII
he love me, I wonder?"
Then he thought how his own heart
had been won by toys and sweetmeats,
and coming to stop where the former
were sold, paused before the gay window,
and began TO make mental choice be-
tween red and gilt stage coach and
horses and train of bright ue.carriages.
He had discarded both for box of
scarlet-coated soldiers, when suddenly he
felt tug at his eoat-tail, and turning
round, he found grimy little hand half
in. half out of his pocket. He caught it
at once, with his handkerchief in it, and
gripped it tight.
He was a soldier, and to soldier the
keeping of law and rule is great thing.
To give the little thief TO policeman
and appear against hin the next day, was
his first thought: but as the creature
stood there, shaking and whining, the
fact of his diminutive size struck the cap
tain forcibly. He preeeived his youth,
which was extreme, and he saw that, be-
sides being young and small, and wan,
and dirty, and ragged, 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, sir9' he
growled slowly, STOPPING down to look
into the boys eyes.
I'm 20 hook it," said the boy with
perfect candor. g Oh, please let me bel
Oh, please let me go Oh, please, sir, /
won't do it no more never, oh, pleased"
I've mind TO have you sent TO Jail"
said the captain
No, please, sir!' said the waif.
g Please. STRIP
Who taught you to steal?" asked the
captain.
The boy made no answer. Grimy tears
were pouring from his eyes,
Answer me- said the captain.
sSIfI don't steal, / don't get no vlctuals,'',
said the boy, land my stomach is hoIler
feel it misterl-it's as holler as drum
She's been begin to-day, and we'll have
stew. won't have none # | don't fetch
nothin'. Oh .
"Who is she?n asked the captain.
my mother" said the boy.
s.I've been hungry myself said the
captain. thinking of . certain Indian
prison experience. at isn't pleasant
'sThen he thought of his own boy.
..God knows ought to be tender to the
little one, f,r the sake of Nellie's child"
he said softly; then aloud ''LaddIe, IN
not send you to prison"
'Thankee, sir, said the urchin.
Sand III give you breakfast said
the captain.
The dirty elf executed a sort of joy
ouswar- dance.
do you know WIZ I forgive you2"
said the captain.
The child shook his head.
Il have a little boy" said the captain.
.He's very different from you, poor child
lie would not steal anything. He washes
himself Ny lad. you must wash your
self as soon as you find water. But
couldn't think of his being hungry, and
for his sake cant bear to see other little |
fellows hungry, It's for his sake that |
jon't call constable and tell him all |
about il. Remember that. and try to be |