The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-05-06
FROM THE WAYSIDE.

It was DR.. siIas Walsh who sat ORG
day in his Office reading very INTEREST,"
ing book. 1t was part of his business,
this reading, for the book was science
within the scope of his profession. he
was comparatively q young man, and
had the reputation of being an excel
lent phys clan. While he read some
one rang the bell. He laid aside mis-
book and went to the door, and when he
saw what was upon the stepping stone he
was indignant.
Itwas a raggel, dirty boy, known in
Ellsworth as "Hsmmer Jim'-ragged
and dirty, and with the vileness of the
slums upon hinl--a boy vicious and pro-
fame, against whom every other boy was
warned-a boy who was called thief and
a villain, whom no efforts of the overseers
had been able to reclaim, and who seem
ed to care for nothing but to make people
afraid of him. His true name, as the
overseers had it, was James Ammerton.
About his father no one in Ellsworth
had ever known. His mother had died
an inmate of the poorhouse.
On the present occasion, Jim's face
was not very dirty, but bloody; and
there was blood on his grimed and tat.
Please, sir, won't you fix my head
Pve got hurt"
What kind of hurt?" asked the
doctor.
Pm afeard it's bad, sir" sobbed the
boy. ODeo' Mr.. Dunn men hit me with
q rock. Oil"
What did he hit you for?n asked the
doctor.
d,;p,o 80
eyes. you do know. What did he
throw that stone at you forfo
Why. sir, was picking up an apple
under one of his trees"
Dr.. Walsh would not touch the boy
head with his fingers. There was no
need of it. He could see that there was
only a scalp wound, and that the blood
had ceased to flow.
$50 home" he said; "let your folks
wash your head and put on clean
bandage.''
Please, s'r. hain't gotno home, and
hain't got no folks" replied the boy.
"You stop somewhere, don't youG"
T" stop at the poor us when they don't
kick me out"
Well, boy, you are not going to die
from this. Go and get somebody to
wash your head, or go and wash it your
self and tie your handkerchief on"
Please, sir, hain't got no"
Hold up boy. I haven't got time te
waste. You won't suffer if you go a:
You are"
And with this DIR. Silas Walsh CLOSED
the door and returned to his book. II,
: had not meant to be uukind; but reall,
he had not thought there was any neet
of professional service on his part; ans
certainly he did want that bad boy il
his Office.
But DIR. Wash had not been alon,
cegnizant of the boys visit. There hat
been witness in an upper window. Th,
doctors wife had seen and heard. Sb,
was woman.
She was not strong and resolute ant
digni6ed like her husband. Her hear
was not only tender, but it was used t
aching. She had no children living; bu
there were two little mounds in tn
rh.-chvard which told her of angels il
heaven mat could call her mother! Act
ing upon her impulse, as she was YER
apt to act, she slipped down and calle
the boy in, by the back way, 20 III
wash-room. He came in, rags, dirt an
all, wandering what was wanted. TIL
sweet voice that had called him had NO
frightened him. He came in and stoo
looking at Mary Walsh, and as he locke
his sobbings ceased.
"Sit down, my boy"
He sat down.
"If | help you, will you try to h
good?"
can't be good. "
Why not2"
";Cause Ican't. 'Tain't in me. Ever,
body says So"
But can't you try?"
L dunno"
"If l should help you, you would /
willing to try to please me9"
Yes'm-I should, certain"
Mrs. Walsh brought basin of w
ter, soft sponge, and with tender han
she washed the boys head and fac
Then with a scissors she clipped ava
the hair from the wound-eurling, han,
scme hair--and found it not ba
wound. She brought piece of stickir
plaster, which she fixed upon it, an
then she brushed the hair back from IL
full brow and looked into the boys ia,