Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-02
DEAR BOY.

FATHER had gone over TO the next
township % . committee meeting, and
had taken mother With him, So Dorcas
and had the whole care OF Mabel, o
pleasure that did not often fall 10 Us.
She was sitting in her little rocker, with
the white kitten IN her lap and one lit
tie red cheek pressed against my knee,
as she looked IN my face while | read.
DOrcas was sewing as usual, but more
interested IN the reading than Mabel
VINO could not understand a word
Doreas was twelve, aud had nevor read
Jane Eyre, aud was tired of telling
her the story In snaiches. We were
half through thu book. and as / read
10 the passage where she comes to ST.
Johns door, Dorc,ls laid her work
down % listen. ] had reached the eli
max where the old servant closes the
door upon her, and ST John appears
on the scene aud speaks as one having
authority.
AZ this supreme moment there came
q sudden, loud and peculiar knock at
the door, SO close ~ me that | inyolun-
tarily caught Mabel. while Dorcas
seized chair and stood in pugihstic
attitude. with face as white as snow.
/ was the first 80 rally-l am nineteen
FOR felt that the home was left in
my care. SO | reused up old Susan, who
was asleep in the Kitchen, and we
asked cautiously through the panels
who was there, but received no answer
but low moan, and felt sure it was
some one in distress, so | opened the
door. little bit at a time, and at last
looked out but conld see nothing.
"WhO or what spcaks7' asked, ter
riiied at the unexpected sound, and
incapable now of deriving from any
occurrence a hope of aid. form was
near--what form, the pitch.dark night
and my enfeebled vision prevented
me from distinguishing. With loui,
long knock the newcomer appealed 10
the door.
The wind whirled the dead leaves In
great heaps and siited them over the
dooEstep; there was monnd Of ahem
lying there, aud under il something
stirred Ny heart gave great bound.
y Firing the light Susan!
cold Susan brought the light, shading
II with her hand stopped. trembling
ail over. and touched something; II
gave a moan and sal up
II was only q boy. after all; poor,
sick, wasted, small boy, that seemed 10
be starving. we carried him into the
housa, aud fried 10 make him talk, but
he did not seem TO understand what
we said, and m0aned aud cried as IL in
great pain.
'tWhat shall We do with himr,
asked. IN despair. ~ do wish father
would come, he win have 70 stay al
night now, SO yOu may as well put him
IN the little room Susan. and make him
comfortable, poor little fellowl'
He was such pretty boy, even in
rags and sickness; he was so thin that
his bones actually seemed worn
through, aud his great black eyes stared
frightfully; he was too sick 20 hold his
head up, and Susan carried him into
the little corner room and undressed
him as she would u baby. while Mabel
stood by the door and said 'pitty boy, "
iuher small bird-like voice.
When father and mother came home
we met them at the door, and Dorcas
aud both tried TO tell the story at the
same time
"Wen,T said father, sternly, "as
understand il yOu have taken in a lazy
tramp, who, svhen weare all fast asleep,
wiz gst upRnd Jet his friends in TO rob
and murder
Mother had disappeared in tho bed
room. Now she came out and saidi
"lIeis very nl, indeed, Jephtha ID
would not surprise me II he died be-
fore morning, He Is burning up with
fever.
smallpox, most likely" observed
father.
'aIapBaits diphtl,erla,n cried moth.
er m alarm. "Oh, girlsl how oouldyouP
just think u Mabellp