The daily gazette., 1880-02-10

CURED uoWn Oh tne lounge ID AuI
Ruth's pleasant room too much excl
ted by the novelty of her position t,
sleep-too comfortable to do anything
but hug her wooden treasure ant
stare, first at the pretty surroundings
then at the kind face at the fireside.
Suddenly she raised herself on her el
bow. 1E'-I
a"Dick said he hearp there was nan,
gels that lived somew'eres an tool
care of folks. Be you one ?" y.l..... =
"No, no, my child,' said Aunt Ruth
gently; ~ am only Aunt Ruth. Go 70
Sleep"
ayes, I'M. But l do wish Dick was
valentine. It's very cold into this
box"
Aunt Ruth and Dinah sat late into
night hastily fashiening warm gar rnents
for the little one, and considered them-
selves we'll repaid by the delight with
which they were donned in the morn
ing. 'Jl b, s9ams J..
While happy. little "Drat-you-Babp
was taking her breakfast by the side of
the kitchen stove q shadow darkened the
window, and the little girl, looking up,
exclaimed, joyfully:
go, there's my Dickl'
Dinah opened the door and bade him
"come long in" giving him a jerk to
facilitate his movements. He shambled
bashfully in,and in moment the child's
arms were around his neck, and her face,
pretty In Its unwonted CLEANLINESS, nes-
tied against his black check, while she
poured out torrent Of eager exclama-
tions Of satisfaction at being "wallen-
tine"
When she at last released him Dinah
took him by his shoulders and seated
him firmly in q chair, To-
"N0w," said she, "you's Just O goin'to
set there till you spain this whole range
ment 10 me and Missus. AM you Jest
lay out to tell the trufe, the whole truie,
an noffin' but the trufe all the way
through-that is If ye kin. Niggas is
mostly mighty unsartlnl''
When Amt Ruth came down she
found her "wallentine" bringer sitting
by the fire with little Bah at her aide,
her two hands tightly held in one Of his
own, aud supreme satisfaction at the
success Of his odd scheme shining in ev-
cry feature of his honest face. Her eyes
filled as she stoon in the door moment
unnoticed by the children, but she was
not given TO demonstrations and made
no comment.
And then Dick rose In his place still
holding both the little hands.
Il hain't got much to tell, ma'am.
I'm only Dick, the bootblack, an this
yer little girl found one night last
week. Me and Joe Rafferty, had been
to place where they had some picters
an things the man called pandoram-
mer, an when we come out twas late
and we was cold an we run all the way
to the box. The box is big box down
by Higby's warehouse, an we sleep
into it. An we found this little Bah
a curled up into it asleep. Joe he was
agoin' to bounce her, but when he
seen how little she was he didn't He
jest yanked his coat off an put it over
her and some old carpet, too, an we
did cover her up elegant, an she slep'
till mornin' she told us she hadn't no
place to stay, an we reckoned to take
care of her our own selves after that.
Joe an me got her crackers and milk
an things when we could, an we made
believe she was our housekeeper. Joe
swep' the crossin's an one day team
knocked him down an killed him all
Of sudden. This here Bah she cried
SO, an was SO lonesome after Joe that
allowed it was better 30 try an find
her home if / could. seen folks a
sendin' valentines for presents, an l
thought some one orter like little
girl better than picter. l seen you
on the street, ma'am, the day you
gave the lame man some money, an l |
followed along to see where you lived,
IN when you went up the steps you
seen me, an you smiled out of your
,yes so good that l most knowedyou |
De kind to little girl what hadn't no
body but me. She's real cute, ma am.
seen you once, too" added he to Di- |
nah, who stood with dish towel in |
land, gravely weighing his words. 81 |
vas blackin' a feller's boots on the
market the day you boxed that chaps
'ars for dragging the dog over the
tones in the gutter. Didn't he run,
hough, when you let him go P''
81 'clar fort" said Dinah; "he's
elm the trufe 'Peard like l felt he
night be liable the minnet l sot eyes
IN him."
Dick made no comment on Dinah's |
hange of base, but looked earnestly |
nto Aunt Ruth's face. As she said
nothing he repeated timidly, with a
title quaver in his voice:
"She hain't got no mother nor mo-
,ody in the world, only me, a'am;
m she's real cute p
'Dick," said Aunt Ruth, quietly, IT |
hould think thee would rather find a |
lome for thyself than to take so much |
rouble for strange little girl"
"Ma'am," said Dick, gravely, 81 heard
! preacher-man on the street one day |
elm about good feller-that wanteo
he little children took care of, an that |
ie said into some book or other Che had
t, an read out of it), when you do it
o them you do it to me, an I'll remem-
,er and be good to you some time fer it,"
When we found Bah a-curled up in the
,ox looking SO little an SO helpless,
hought it meant for us to take care of
Ter, an' poor Joe, he reckoned SO,
oo."
81 think I'll keep my valentine, Dick"
AUNT Ruth said, with smile. 81
lever heard of sending back valentine
believe. And think will send one
ny self, too. Thee may carry it for me
o Friend Bradley's office, on Harlem
treet, Dick" ...i,e.
The note was written in q fair, up
light hand, In few concise words: