The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-29

A shower of early violets
Upon the open book.
Among the glittering helmets
felt their sweetness fall:
Then vanished in a moment
Crusader, knights and all!
st. Nicholas for September.
Kenneth, the Scotch Boy.
BY LESLIE THoRNE.
There, I've lost the boat" cried old MIR.
Pallett, in rage, as he stopped at the terry
gates, Just in time to see the putting little
boat steam out into the river. WAS there
ever luck like miner"
Now. as it happened, there would be an
other boat in five minutes, 60 that there
really was not much time lost But it was
sultry September day, and Mr.. Pallett had
run two blocks to catch this particlar boat,
SO that matters seemed much worse than
theg actually were. Mr.. Pallett set down
the basket of ripe Bartlett pears that he was
carving TO his married daughter in Brook
lyn, pulled out big checked silked handker
chief and wiped his steeming forehead-and
just then a small voice spoke up beside him:
please. sir, give me penny?'
mo. sparled Mr.. Pallett, scarcely stopping
to notice that the applicant was a small,
pale lad with nigh cheek bones and sandy
hair, and that his worn and tattered dress
was different from that commonly worn by
the New York boys of his age. Get out
What do you mean by sneaking around in
this fashion? 1 thought the police had put
an end to this sort of thing"
And then, the incoming ferry boat
headed toward the dock, he darted off, to be
sure OF his chance this time.
Bat he had no coin less than a silver
quarter. and while he was waiting for the
ferryman to give him back his change, the
small voice once more sounded in his ears.
please, sir
~ told you. non' shouted Nj Pallett.
81 -l~a k,,- I'D kE<z
boy. Full of fruit or something. You for :
got and left it standing out IN the street"
"Bless my soul, so 1 did," said Mr.. Pallett,
dropping seven copper cents all about the
floor in his surprise. YOU'RE a good boy
q very good boy. But I've no time to talk
here's two cents more Come on board the
boat with me, boy. while 1 hunt up little
change for you
The boy said nothing but followed Mr.
Paliett on board the ferry boat. The old
gentleman observed the wistful glance he
cast upon basket OF ginger cakes and lemon
snaps carried by an old woman who sat upon
the dock.
You're hungry aren't your" said Mr..
Pallett
"Yes, SIR" said the boy
'When did you have your breakfast
II haven't had any breakfast, Sill" said
the boy.
'Biess my SOUL, said Mr. Pailett. "Why
didn't you eat some of these psars?'
"They weren't mine, sir" said the boy.
simply.
Mr. Pallet united the lid of the basket.
and took out two of the yellowest and mel
lowest.
Here" said he, 'eat those!' And the
boy deVoured them rayenously.
Whats your name?' asked Mr.. Paiiett.
as he watched the lads eager enjoyment of
the delicious fruit
Kenneth Kali, SIR
''Oho," said Mr.. Pallett, laughing.
you're canny Scot, eh. And how came
you SO far away from the briks and braes of
your own country"
My people are all dead, SIR" SAID ken
meth, quietly. Il could na get anything TO
Go. And l could ma starve. So 1 took nay
fathers old pIpes-he were a rare one on the
bagpipes, strand 1 worked my way across
the ocean. L thought 1 could earn my living
with the pipes, SO tried it on the docks the
first night we came into port. But there wss
crowd got around me, and made game of
me-and policeman told me to move on
and in the confusion, somehow the bagpipes
got under a cab horses feet. and were
broken. So I've cen ~fived as could ever
since"
And do you expect to keep up this sort Of
thing very long?"
Pm in hopes I'll get work. sir" said
Kenneth, cheerily. Though I've tried at
many places and no good!"
"Humph" grunted Mr.. Pallett. "Whai
can yoH do?"
Anything, sir" the lad replied. simply
Would you like to live in the countryT
II would. SIR"
Mr.. Pallett hesitated. He needed quick
lively farm boy on his own place, and par
of his errand in the city to-day was to gel
one. But he remembered that the las
words his wife had called to him, as he wa.
starting away from the door, were:
BE very particular about references"
And what sort of reference could tbi
poor, solitary Scotch laddie possibly have2
al like his face, though" eaid Mr.. Pallet
to himself. Hes got good, honest blu
eye, and he's not afraid to meet your gaze
His story may all be false-but 1 rathe
think there's foundation of truth to 1t
See here. boy" he said aloud.
Were nearing land now. You can e.
back on this same boat. I'm going TO spenS
the day in Brooklyn, and shall be back a
the New York pier at O'Clock. l may b
able to hear of a job for you. II you reall,
want to work
''Oh, sir. do, indeed!'
Then be there at the gates at precisely
goodbye. Stop. moment-here's 10 cent
to buy a bowl Of soup for your dinner"
And he was out of sight, with the rest o
the crowd, before Kenneth Kali could than
him.
Twenty to one / shall never see hir
again." said Mr. Pallett to himself.
But in this he was mistaken. Almost th
minute his foot touched the New York pie
at o'clock that evening" he saw Kennel
Kali leaning against the gate post, patient
watching for him.
Kenneth took to the farm lie, as the %,
ing is, like q duck to water" He was read
and eager to do anything, from riding Il
big pillow horses to water and manufacturin
scarecrows out of straw and old clothes
brighten the birds away from the whit,
wheat, to washing up Mrs. Palletfs h
dishes for her, and weaving pretty lit
baskets out Of the willow sprigs that
gathered down by the brook side. Alive.
busy, always cheerful; mp before the daw
and wonderfully punctual in all his dutie
he seemed really anxious to deserve Il
good opinion of those around him, and
win their favor.
10 "a hin, InI{a9f eEcd M