Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-04
Tom.

UONdDlt LUlDR IL tOulu ITO NiutNhihi
hand upon. A poor old battered kite, that
some time last autumn, had lodged far W
in the tallest tree in the neighborhood, anC
had there rested peacefully ever since, be
lieving its labors at an end, was dragged
from its nest, and driven unpityingly before
the blast. Some feeble efforts it had made
to dodge into corners, lurking behind steps
and diving into areas; but not a bit of it
Down would swoop the wind, and off il
would go again.
At last, driven around one of the long
row of barrels, that stood, like wretched
sentinels, along the edge of the sidewalk, il
flew into the very arms of small boy, who
seated on the curb-stone, crouched down in
the barrels somewhat questionable shelter
Such very small boy He looked like
nothing in the world but little heap Of
rags and the rags was very thin, and the
small boy was very cold His nose, his ears
his hands, and his poor bare feet were blue
He was almost too cold too shiver certainly
too cold to notice the unfortunate kite,
which, as its enemy, the wind, approached
with a roar, seemed to cover close to him,
as if begging his protection. Round both
sides of the barrel at once came the wind,
shook hands right through poor little Tom,
and bowling with delight, rushed off with
its miserable victim.
"Tom that was all the name he had.
Who he was, or where he came from, no
one knew, except, perhaps, the wretched old
woman with whom he lived which meant
that she let him sleep upon pile OF rags on
the floor of her miserable room, and some
times gave him crust, and oftener a blow.
When she was drunk-and that was the
greater part of the time-Tom took to the
streets and by night she was very drunk.
The boy was perhaps some six years old !;
but as he covered down on the cold flag
stones, with his worn, pinched face and
dropping head he might have been a
hundred.
A carriage came rafting through the icy
street, and stopped close by him. The door
was pushed open, and two children half
tumbled out, and, leaving the door swing
ing, rushed up the steps. Tom watched
them stupidity, heard the quick, sharp ring
of the bell, caught glimpse of something
that looked very bright and warm, and then
it was dark again. He turned his eyes
toward the carriage, expecting it to drive
off again; but it still stood there. The
coachman sat upon the box like furry
monument. One of the horses struck the
stones sharply with his iron hoof, and cast
an inquiring glance around, but the monu-
ment sat unmoved.
Toms heavy eyes looked through the
open door into the carriage. Dark as it
was, he could see that it was lined with
something thick and warm. He raised his
head and glanced about him. If he were
inside there the wind could not touch him.
oh, if he only could get away from it one
minute He would slip out again the mo.
ment the house door opened. Unbending
his stiff little body, he crept nearer, hesi-
tated moment, and, as the wind came
round the corner with roar slipped swiftly
and noiselessly into the carriage. In the
further corner of the seat he curled himself
into little round heap, and lay, with beat
ing heart, listening to the wind as it
swept by.
1t was very quiet in his nest, and the soft
velvet was much warmer than the cold flag
stones, and he was very tired and very cold,
and in half minute he was fast asleep.
lie did not know when at last the house
door opened and a lady, gathering her cloak
close around her, came down the steps-did
not know even when the suddenly animated
monument descended from its pedestal and
stood solemnly by the open door until the
lady had stepped inside. But when it was
shut with a slam, and the coacbman, return
ing to his post drove rapidly away, the boys
eyes opened and fixed their frighted gaze
upon the lady's face. Preoccupied with her
own thoughts, she had not noticed the queer
bundle in the dark corner. But now, her
attention attracted by some slight movement
on his part, she turned her eyes slowly
toward him. and then, with suppressed
cry of surprise and alarm, laid her hand
nm ha Il 10 81 thA A..
and the roar of the wind prevented it reach
ing the ears of the coachman and Tom,
rapidly unwinding himself, and covering
down in the bottom Of the carriage, said,
with frightened sob
81 didn't mean no harm. | was awful
cold. Say, Just open the door, mssis, and
Ill jump out You needn't stop the kerr
ridge"
The lady, with her hand still on the door,
demanded;
GLOW did you get here ?"
"The door was open, and | clum," he an
swered. at was awful cold"
The lady took her hand from the door.
"Come nearer" she said. "Let me see your
face"
Tom drew his ragged sleeve across his
eyes, and looked up at her over his shoulder
They had turned into a brilliantly lighted
street, and she could see that the tangled
yellow hair was soft and fine, and that the
big, frightened eyes that raised themselves
to hers were not pickpockets eyes. With
sudden impulse she laid her gloved hand
lightly on the yellow head. "Where do you
live :" she asked.
Something in the voice and touch gave
him courage. "With Nanny SAL" he an
swered, Strengthening up-"me and some
other fellows. Sometimes we begs, some
times we take the barrels When we get
haul it amt so bad, but when we don't we
ketch it. She's drunk tonight, and she
drove us out"
She pushed the heavy hair back from his
forehead. as Nanny Sal your mother?"
she asked
"No !" cried the boy, almost fiercely and
then added sullenly, 81 amt got none"
Slowly the gloved hand passed back and
forth over the yellow hair. The lady's ewes
were looking far away the boys face was
like, so strangely like, another face.
care you hungry ?" she asked suddenly,
The wide-open gray eyes would have an
swered her without the quick sob and the
low Yes'm."
The carriage stopped, and the monument
again accomplishing descent, opened the
door, and stood staring in blank amaze
ment.
:" am not going in, john" said his mis-
tress. "Drive home again" And she added,
smiling, " This little boy crept in out of the
cold while the carriage was waiting. am
going to take him home. Drive back as
quickly as possible"
As the bewildered coaohman shut the
door and returned to his perch, the boy
made spring forward"
"Lemme out - he cried. al don't want
to go home. Lemme out il"
"Not your home," said the lady gently
"my home"
Tom stared at her in wonder, and. too
much overcome by the announcement TO re-
sist, let her lift him up on the seat beside
her.
"My home," she repeated, "where YOU
can get very warm, and have good dinner
and long long sleep, on soft bed. Will
you like that 2"
Tom drew long, slow breath, but did
not answer. IL was too wonderful He
one of Nanny SAILS boys-to go TO the la
dy's house where the children lived whom
he had seen go in that evening lie looked
up suddenly. "Were those children yours p
he asked. With sudden movement sh,
drew him very close to her, and then an
swered soitly;
"No, not mine. / had little boy once
like you, and he died"
When the carriage stopped again Ton
was last aleepi 80 fast asleep that the still
bewildered coachman carried him into Tn
bOuse and laid him nm a ha1 ,.-;.l. "A -. \.