The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-24

who, though three or four years OLD,
looked not more than one and could
not stand yet; so poor. little deformed
Jimmy had to sit on the stones to get a
few cents to keep them from starving.
When the baby slept, 10 would steal
out and pick up a few sticks, If she
could, for small fire. And she also
had to carry Jimmy back and forth, for
he could walk but few steps at time.
Oh! what tale of misery! What did
do? Well, going down those rickety
stairs, l pondered on what to do; how
to find that careless or wicked guardian
and bring him to an account.
1 could think of but one way-the
newspapers. So. I hurried off to the
office of a large daily, and told my pitt
full story, enlisted the sympathy of the
kind bearted editor, and the next paper
brought out the whole story.
An hour or two after the paper was
out a red faced, hbnest-looking work
man walked into the Office and asked to
see the man who wrote about the starry
ing children. He was taken into the
editors room, where he announced HIM
self as the guardian of those children,
and said he came in to explain.
81 hope you can explain" said the
editor: "for 1 must say it looks very
strange, the poor little ones starving,
and owning property enough, as l I'M
derstand, to take care OF them"
deed, sir, and that's true. It's a
tidy bit of property, and brings in
about five hundred dollars year. 1
have been paying four hundred of it to
Mrs. Wilson to take care of them and
the other hundred 1 put in the bank for
them, against they were old enough to
need schooling, as was their fathers
wish. Mr.. Wilson has come regularly
for the money, and, of course, 1 thought
they were all right, as usual"
but it was very careless of your
began the editor.
81 know it," he interrupted. "But
Mrs. Wilson was mother to them :
and I'm so busy-a carpenter am-and
never get minute to look after them.
l never knew Mrs. Wilson was dead.
That idle brute of man, suppose,
didn't tell me, lest I should take the
children away-as of course, l shall
to-day"
"Where shall you put them ?" asked
the editor. THAT baby needs a doc
tors care, besides good food and nurs-
ing; and the boy, too-if, indeed, it
isn't too late"
I'm monstrous sorry, Mister" said
the honest carpenter, his face growing
even redder, in his excitement. Il
wouldn't had John Walkers babies
suffer for anything. It's my fault, and
and 1 know it. 1 was too easy like.
But I'm going now to take them to my
own house, though its full and running
over, till can find the right place for
them"
Don't keep the poor things long in
house full of children" said the edi-
tor, as the man started for the door.
They're too weak and miserable"
"No, L won't" said the carpenter.
"My old woman wouldn't favor that
plan minute"
Well, the next day 1 hunted up those
starving babies again; and where do
you suppose l found them? The con-
science stricken guardian had found a
colored woman who had been a house
servant all her life, and who was born
nurse. besides being a warm-hearted
woman. The four hundred a year was
a fortune to her, and there in two pleas
ant rooms near the guardians own
house, where he could always see to
them, l found the children comfortably
established. Jimmy lay smiling hap
PLY on little bed in the corner; the
hungry baby, well fed, for once, sleep
ing quietly in a cradle, and 10, in new
calico dress, helping the pleasant faced
old Aunty spread an abundant though
plain meal.
wish you could have seen Jimmy's
face when | gave him the flowers l had
brought him, and told him I hoped |
should never see him sitting on the
bare stones again.
"But I'm right glad 1 did that time, "
said he, quietly; for, if it hadn't been
for you and that editor man, I'd "a been
there yet. ~. Y. Independent.