Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1879-08-21

sobblng ceased.
sit down, my boy
He sat down.
If l will help you, will you try to
be good?'
4 can't be good
why not?'
cause l cant. 'Taint in me. Ev-
erybody says So
But can you not try?
4 dunno
If l should help you, you would be
willing to try, to please me%
Yes, ma AMI should certain.
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of wa
ter and soft sponge, and with tender
hand she washed the boys lead and
face. Then with a pair Of scissors,
she clipped away the hair from the
wound-curling, handsome hair-and
found it not bad one She brought
piece Of Sticking plaster, which she
fixed upon it, and then she brushed
the hair back from the full brow, and
looked into the boys face-not a bad
face-not an evil face. Shutting out
the rags and dirt, it was really a
handsome face.
What is your name, my boy !?
Hammer Jim, ma'am; and some
times Ragged jim
4 mean, how were you christencd?
(Which :?
Don't you know what name your
parents gave you ?
'O-ye es. 1t is down on the 'seors
books, mum, as james Ammerton.
We'll, James, the hurt on your
head is not bad onc, and if You are
careful not to rub off the plaster it
will very soon Aeal up. Are you
hungry
please, ma am, I have not eat any.
thing to-day.
Mrs. Walsh brought out some
bread and butter, and cup Of milk
and allowed the boy to sit there in
the wash room and eat. And while
he ate she watched him narrowly
scanning every feature. Surely, il
the science Of physiognomy, which
her husband studied so much, and
with such faith, was reliable, this boy
ought to have grand capacities. Once
more, shutting ont the rags and the
filth, and only observing the hair,now
glossy and waving, from her dexter
ons manipulations, over shapeIy
head, and marking the face, with it;
ewes Of lustrous gray, and the perfect
nose, and the mouth like a Cupid
bow, and the chin strong, without be
ing unseemly-seeing this without
tAe dregs. the boy was handsome -
Mrs. Walsh. thinking Of the little
mounds in the church yard, prayed
God that she might be happy mother
and if a boy was to bless her mater.
nifty she could not ask that he should
be handsomer than she belieYed she
could make this boy.
Jim finished eating and stood mp.
James, said the little woman--fol
she was little woman, and q perfect
picture of loving and loveable lit.
tie woman, James when you are nun,
grv, and have nothing to eat, if vor
will come to this door I will feed you.
l do not want you to so hungry.
Il should like to come ma am.
And if I feed you when You arc
hungry, will you not try to be good
for my sake p
The boy hung his head, and consid-
cred. Some might have wondered
that he did net answer at once, as q
grateful boy ought, but Mrs. Walsl
saw deeper than that. The lad was
considering how he might answer
safely and truthfully.
IF they would let me be good
ma am, but they WON'T he said, al
length.
will you try all you can?
Yes 'm,- | will try all I can.
Mrs. Walsh gave the lad small
parcel of food in a paper, and patter
his curly head. TIE boy had not yo
shed tear since the pain of the
wound had been assuaged. Some
might have thought that he was not
grateful; but the little woman could
sec the gratitude in the deeper lish
of the eye. The old crust was no
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