The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-06-23
Poor Jimmy.
BY OLIVE THORNE'

One morning l was walking down
c. Street, which at that hour was
full of tinelydressed ladies and bright
little children, when l came upon so
woeful sight that l stopped as though
was struck. A poor, little white
faced boy, with deformed back, no
taller than healthy child of five years
old, but looking much older in his
pinched and wan face. He was sitting
on the bare stones. his thin little legs
drawn up with cold, and basket, con-
tanning half dozen miserable apples,
beside him. He made not the least eff
fort to attract the attention of the gay
passers; but his white little hands were
meekly clasped on his knee, and his
eyes fixed on the crowd with hopeless,
staring look, as though his bewildered
mind was struggling with the problem
why so many were warm, well-fed, and
happy, and he was so wretched.
Poor child" l said, going up to
him; for could not help it, though /
have not much sympathy with common
street-beggars. Can | do anything
for you?'
"You can buy an apple" he said,
quietly, hardly looking at me, though
he took up his basket, as he spoke.
you shouldn't sit on the cold
stones, said I. 1T is very bad foryou "
Il cant stand up he said. simply.
"But it's shame that you should be
out this cold day, anyway" said !
warmly. "You do1sfook able to sit
up" ~
He flushed up. II have to. Joe
can't leave Baby, and somebody must
But where are your parents? Have
you no one to care for you, poor
child 2"
His dark, sad eyes looked SQUARED,
at me now and his poor little moutl
quivered, as he replied:
Joe takes care Of me. Father ant
mother are dead. Mrs. Wilson used Il
take care of US; but she's dead too
And where do you live?" I askeC
next, for / could not bear the sight O
that unfortunate child, who ought to b,
in hospital, sitting on the cold stones
He told me where he lived, and, aftei
giving him some pennies, / went di-
rectly there. With some trouble.
found ia wretched room. so poor ant
uncomfortable that shall not describe
it to you. And found 10, a ragged
pleasant-faced girl, about twelve year
old, taking loving care of the mos
wretched, puny, fretiul boy you eve
saw.
From 10 I learned their story. Thei
parents were respectable, well-to-dt
people, and they had always lived il
comfort till these parents died, abou
three years ago, and left them com
Portable home and some other property
The man who took care of their prop
erty their guardian) had given then
into the hands of Mrs. Wilson, kin,
friend, who had taken good care o
them; and every few months 10 said
Mrs. Wilson used to go and get none,
from the man who had the house.
But about year ago their kline
friend died, and left them in the hands
of her husband, an idle, drink lovin:
man, who cared only for the money ane
nothing for them. Ee had sold mos
of the furniture, moved them into thi
wretched room. threatened to do some
thing awful to them if they com
planned, and abandoned them. VIVA
they could pick up and what had beer
given tothem by kind-hsarted though
very poor neighbors was all they hat
had since, now these many months.
But who 10 your guardian p ask
Cd. 10 didn't know. She knew Meth
Or his name nor how to find him; and
besides, she was afraid OF Mr.. Wilson