The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1880-01-14
eff / help you will you try to be

" Why not?' ...f l
"'Cause can't. 'Taint in me. Every
body says So" -r -.t7-.s- .s
"But can't you try?" q. ,..s...s..
q dunno" ....,......... ......a-
If | should help you. You would be
willing to try to please me?" .s ...r
9es'm-I should certain" ....,
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of water
and soft sponge, and with tender hand
she washed the boys head and face.
Then with scissors she clipped away
the hair from the wound-curling, hand
some hair--and found it not a bad
wound. She brought a 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 bad faee-not an evil face.
Shutting out the rags and dirt, it was
really a handsome face. fs 4H
What's your name. my boyp" -l.t 40
Hammer Jim, ma'am; and some
times Ragged JIM" ... e.
Il mean, how were you christened? ?n
"Which'm?"
Don't you know what name your
parents gave your"
"Oh-ye-es. It's down on the 'seers'
book, mum. as James Ammerton."
"Well, James, the hurt on your head
is not a bad one, and if you are careful
not to rub off the plaster it will very
soon heal up. Are you hungry?"
Please, ma'am, l haven't eatnothing
to-day"
Mrs. Walsh brought out some bread
and butter, and cup of milk, and al
lowed the boy to sit there in the wash
room and eat. And while he ate she
watched him narrowly, scanning every
feature. Surely, if the science of physi-
ognomy, which her husband studied so
much, and with such faith, was reliable,
this boy ought to have grand capacities.
Once more, shutting out the rags and
filth, and only observing the hair. now
glossy and waving, from her dextrous
manipulations, over shapely head,
and marking the face with its eyes of
lustrous gray, and the mouth like a
cupid's bow, and the chin strong with
out being unseemly-seeing this with
out the dregs, the boy was handsome.
Mrs. Walsh, thinking of the little
mounds in the churchyard, prayed God
that she might be a happy mother; and
if boy was to bless her maternity she
could not ask that he should be hand
somer than she believed she could make
this boy.
Jim finished eating and stood up.
James" said the little woman-for
she was little woman. and perfect
picture of loveble and loving little
woman" James, when you are hungry
and have nothing to eat, if you will
come to this door | will feed you.
don't want you to 60 hungry" .i
81 should like to come. ma am
And if l feed you when you're hun
cry. vii. you not try to be good for ms
sakeP"
The boy hung his head and consid-
cred. Some might have wondered that
he did not answer at once, AS grateful
boy ought; but Mrs. Walsh was deeper
than that The lad was considering
how he must answer safely and truly.
eff they'd let me be good, ma'am,
but they WON'T he said, at length.
"Will you try all you camp"
''Yes'm, Til try all can"
Mrs. Walsh gave the lad small par
eel Of food in a paper, and patted his
curly head. The boy had not shed a
tear since the pain of the wound had
been assuaged. Some might have thought
that he was not grateful; but the little
woman could see the gratitude in the
deeper light of his eyes. The old crust
was not broken enough yet for tears.
Afterward Mrs. Walsh told her hus-
band what she had done, and he laughed
at her.
"Do you think, Mary, that your kind
ness can help that ragged waif?" -..
Il do not think it will hurt him
Silas."
1t was not the first time Mrs. Walsh
had delivered answers to the eruditt
doctor which effectually stopped discus
sion.
After that Jim came often to the door
and was fed and he became cleaner
and more orderly with each succeeding
visit. At length Mrs. Walsh was in
formed that friend was going away
into far Western country to take uI
land, and make frontier farm. The
thought occurred to her that this NIGH
be good opportunity for james Am
merton. She saw her friend, ane
bG9uSsAt buzz Sas jim Ji9me te toy 3piSpatiee~ TN
emigrant adventurer. And she heare
from her friend year later that III
liked the bov very much. Two year
later the emigrant wrote that jim wa
e a treasure. And Mrs. Walsh showe'
Q the letter to her husband, and he smile
: and kissed his little wife. and said Ii
was glad. e
And he had another source OF giao
c ness. Upon her bosom his little VII
o bore a robust, healthy boy-thelr o"
son-who gave promise of lie and nal
d piness in the time to come.
le The years sped on and James An
y merton dropped out from the ilte TN
ID Mary Walsh knew. The last she hea'
I'd was five wears after he went away iro
" Ensworth. ami Jim had then start'
or the golden mountains on MS o"
g. account. to commence IN earnest u
I'd own life battle.
". Rut there was a Joy and pride in t
d. little woman's life which held It's pia
and grew and strengthened. Her be
ad whom they called Philip, grew to o.
,rt youth of great promise-a bright, kir
to hearted, good boy. whom eyerybo
MT loved; and none loved him more til
he did his parents. In fact, they w
in shiped him; or, at least, his mott
ct- did. At the age of seventeen I'm
nv Walsh entered college, and at the age
led twenty -one graduated with honor;
:, L. L.. .. .,,,d q auere study had taxed