Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-04-04

lorn-looking boy of about twelve wears
of age, looking exceedingly ebony" and
half starved, sure enough. He pulle d
off his apology for a cap when Miss
Peppard opened the door, but said never
word until the Old lady asked him. in
a mild voice-she never spoke unkindly
to dirt and rags; "Well, my boy, what
do You WANT
Then you lost your pocket-book yiS-
terday?' ne blurted out.
Yes, said she eagerly That is, il
was stolen from me: for felt il III my
pocket Il moment before | missed it..
Do you know the Their
I'm him, was the answer: and he
raised pair of dark eyes, that looked
like the eyes of 4 hunted animal to her
face.
My consciencew exclaimed the old
lady, and fell into n chair that stood
near, while Peteona darted out and
seized him, shouting: "Golly! got 20
wish mighty soon dis time, Miss Pep
par. Run for de constable. I'll hold
him. Could hold dozen like him or
two or free
LET hlm alone, Ona," said her mis-
tress, while the boy stood without max
ing the slightest resistance.
"Ain't he to be drug to dc lookup ~
asked Ona, with Il toss of her turbaned
head.
"Wait till we hear what he has to
say" said Miss Peppard. Then turn
ing to the boy, she asked as mildly as
ever: COZ course YOU haven't brought
me back
Yes | have" interrupted he. Here
It's. money and all, 'cept what had to
take to fetch me out here. found
your name in it on card, and where
YOU lived.
i" But bless you" exclaimed the old
lady, more and more surprised, what
made you take it if you were going 10
bring it back Come into the kitchen
and tell ne all about it. Ona, give
him drink of milk"
by de Lor' Harry" said Ona, roll
ing up her eyes until nothing but the
whites we're visible, "nebber hear Of
such ting long Us | lib-gibbm' hull
sale robbers drinks of milk i'll my clean
Kitchen An l sha'n't do it. Spect
robbers gifts thirsty as well MS odder
folks, dough-" And she handed him
the milk, which he drank eagerly.
"Now go on said Miss Peppard.
f Why did you steal my pocket book?
and why, having stolen it, did you bring
1t back? Are you n thief
Spose-I-am," he stammered;
"but l don't want to be no more. |
wouldn't a took it year ago, when my
mother was alive; but she died, and
father he went to prison soon after
for beatin' another man; and | hadn't
no friends; and it's hard gittin along
when your mothers dead, and you
hain't no friends, and your fathers in
prison"
"Tain't soft, dat's de fac" said Pete
ona gravely.
so fell in with u gang of bad fell
lers, but never stole nothin' but things
to eat till Yesterday. came out of the
House of Refuge two weeks ago"
House Of Refused" exclaimed Pete
ona, holding up her hands. AN
asettin' in my clean kitchen, on my
clean oil.clofl Wotnex'2'
Il was there for breakin winder
and sassin' a cop said the boy, with a
show Of indignation, "and nothin' else,
though they did try to make me out II
regular bad un." And then he went on,
under the influence of Miss Peppard' s
steady gaze: "And the fellers said | was
a softly not to have the game As well as
the name, and SO | went into that store
cause | seen lot of folks there, and
stole your pocket-book. And"-drop-
ping his eyes and his voi3e-"there was
u picter of little baby i'll it"
"My sister Polly's child!' cried Miss
Peppard, her wrinkled cheeks begin
Ming to glow.
Her onliest child-'cept FIVE" said
Peteona.
"And it looks like" continued the
boy, bursting into tears-"it looks like
-my-little-sister."
"Your little sister," repeated Miss
Peppard, her own eyes filled with tears.
is she-with her mother?"
$50 to be hoped she be-" said Ona,
with sniff, cor some odder place whar
she'll be washed. Her brudder's dirty
NUT for hull family"
oDe III pace Ten lllles VI
more from here" said the boy, with a
woman who used to know mother.
Mother give her fifty dollars just afore
she died. She managed to save it and
hide it from father somehow, to keep
Dolly till my aunt in California colfld
send for her; but my aunts dead too,
and Pm 'fraid Dolly'll have to go to the
Orphan Asylum after all Father dol't
care notnin' bout her. Bit if she does,
if Pm good boy, can go to see her;
but if I'm thief And when / saw
that picture / said ipM be good. II
seemed as though the baby was alookin'
at me and wantin' me to kiss her. No.
body ever kissed me but her and my
mother. Here's your pocket book"
Miss Peppard took it from his hand,
opened it, found its contents as he had
described them, and then sat for full
I'VE minutes in deep thought.
you want TO be good, honest boy,
she said at last, $50 as TO be credit in
stead Of shame to your baby sister 2"
"Yes," answered the boy.
"Its mostly yes, ntadn,, in desc parts, 7
corrected Ona.
oIIall III try Won y sold Miss Pan