Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-07

He was q soldier, and to a soldier the
keeping of law and rule is great thing.
To give the little thief to a policeman
and appear against him the next day,
was his first thought: but as the crea-
ture 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 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 an.
grily.
"What did you mean by that, sir9"
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, won't do it no more-never, oh,
please I"
"Pve 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 we're pouring from his eyes.
"Answer me-" said the captain.
eff I don't steal, I don't get no vic
tuals, said the boy, "and my stomach
is as holler-feel it, mister Its as
holler as a drum She's been beggin'
to-day, and we'll have stew. I won't
have none if I don't fetch nothin'.
Oh"
"Who is she ?" asked the captain.
"My mother" said the boy.
"I've been hungry myself, said the
captain, thinking of a certain Indian
prison experience. cit isn't pleasant"
Then he thought of his own boy.
"God knows I ought to be tender to
t le little one,- for the sake of Nellie's
child" he said softly; then aloud
"Laddie, I'll not send you to prison"
"Thankee, sir" said the urchin.
"And I'll give you breakfast" said
the captain.
The dirty elf executed sort of JOY
ous war-dance.
"Do You know why I forgive you p"
said the captain.
The child shook his head.
"I have little boy, said the cap
tain. "He's very different from you,
poor child He would not steal any
thing. He washes himself. My lad,
you must wash yourself as soon as you
find water. But couldn't think of his
being hungry, and for his sake 1 can't
bear to see other little fellows hungry.
It's for his sake that don't call con-
stable and tell him all about it. Re-
member that, and try to be like-like
my little fellow, poor laddie, clean and
good. Don't steal; try to get work.
Will you promise p
The waif said "yes sir" of course.
Then the captain led him into cheap
eating house, and watched him eat until
his little stomach was no longer "hol-
ler."
"You little wretch |" he thought, as he
looked at him. "If I could see my boy
and him together now, what contrast" !"
And he fancied his boy round and
white and pink, and fair of hair, like his
poor lost Ellen, and know he said that
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 between
his knees and lectured him. To be good
was to be happy. Honesty was the best
policy. Cleanliness came next to godli-
ness. These we're the heads of his dis
course.
Then he gave him half crown, and
bade him go and be good and clean.
And the boy was off like flash.
Thousands Just such as he in this
great city," sighed the good captain,
and he walked along. "Ah, mel
Then heiwent in search of Mrs. Ann
Golden and his own fair darling.
But Mrs. Golden was not so easily
found as he had hopedi There was o