Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-13
arriving on the spot.

"Oh, sir, he managed to gasp out, "I'm
only little 'Jinks, you won't stop me9-
They beat me all over for nothing. But
didn't mind that; but they called my
mother a beggar; and Pm running away
from them. Oh, do let me go! Mother
will be glad if You let me off, she will, in
deed!''
The policeman lookd down at the little
atom, with his torn shirt and stains OF
blood coming through, and his pitiful face
and wildly pleading eyes. He didn It shake
him or grasp him roughly. No, he took
the boy up in his arms. He tried to speak
to him, but for long time the words stuck
in his throat, and when he did get them
out they we're strangely husky, and not at
all harsh and unkind. ~
| s'Poor little fellow'
| The unexpected words went straight to
little "Jlnk's" heart. If the man had
kicked him he would have been stone: but
the kind words drew from him convul-
sive sob, and must have set his brain reel
ing, for the next thing he was conscious
of was the policeman putting sort OF
| fiery stuff into his mouth out of flask,
and telling him to keep up good heart,
for he wouldn't let anybody touch him.
They we're friends in moment.
It ended, however, by the kind police
man carrying little sinks" to his mother;
and the poor woman when she heard the
| account, received him with open arms, and
there he remained with her until the day
of her death, and the day, indeed, on
| which he stole the purse to keep her from
starving
When he brought the stolen purse In, he
found his mother dying. But the follow
ing conversation took place between them:
''Who gave it to you - she managed to
ask, and then a fearful, guilty remorse be-
gan to gnaw at little thinks y heart.
"a woman down there" he got out.
But could you not get up and walk about,
mother? You would look better then,
and perhaps you could eat.''
mo, Willie dear. Pm afraid"
Little "Jlnks'' seemed to see the words
that were coming, and great wall burst
from him as he placed his little hand on
her mouth.
ooh. mother, don't say that, or I'll
| die p he wildly cried. "Ill run for doc
tor, oh, how fast I'll go, and you IL be we'll
tomorrow, won't you ?''
But she only strained him closer to her
breast.
s'Pray after me, Willie," she family
whispered. and then, choking with grief,
and burning with sense of guilt, he re-
peated after her little prayer, that God
would look after poor little boy who
would soon have no mother. and raise him
up great many kind friends to look after
him, and be the same as a mother to him
and make him to grow up to be great
and good man.
| After saying the prayer, little ''Jinks''
had but one thought, how he could let his
mother die without confess1ng his crime.
Every moment it was at the tip of his
tongue, but then he thought the awful
news would strike her dead in his arms.
He let her sleep on while he watched her
breathing.
Toward morning she stirred slightly, and
| open ed her eyes.
''Kiss me, WILLIE" she said.
1t was only whisper, but he heard
every word.
Nov, put your arms round me-tighter
tighter
These we're her last words. Her breath
her eyelids dropped, Willie's screams
brought in some OF the neighbors.
They took him gently from the room,
and were kind and good to him. poor
though they we're; but when they told him
that his mother was away somewhere, and
would not be back for while, he had such
a wild burst of grief that they were afraid
of his slender life. But he was calm at
last, and then he insisted on going out, he
wouldn't tell where, but he would 60.
He slipped out when they were in the
next room. and found his way to Scotland
yard; and this ended his storys
didn't take him away to and lock him
in cell. No, took him home to my
wife, and then paid a visit to the banker.
After giving him his purse and it's con
tents entire and unbroken, I told him lit
tie ''Jinks' y story pretty much as 1 have
now put 1t before the reader. AS l have
already indicated, he was of that deriGed
class called soft hearted; and long before
I had finished, he was blowing his nose,
wiping his eyes; and, finally, crying and
sobbing like child. But when I stopped
him by asking if he wished to press the
case, he started right back in his chair
and looked perfectly fierce.
"Mr. Reynolds!'' he cried, s'do you take
me for monster? No." he added, after
| minute, 81 will not press it nor will I
let you press.i it. Do you hear me? 1 am
deterpined. 1 will see Willie-you'll let
me see him, won't you? [ think I shall
like Willie, and perhaps Willie might like
me. This is big house, too; he wouldn't
| fill up much space in it; and, besides, he'd
be somebody to talk to. Yes, I'll see Will
lie But Mr.. Reynolds, here stop! if you
say another word about pressing the
case,' as you call it, I'll kill you on the
spoil"
The DANGERS OF ToUGHENED GLASS.
Here is little incident, related BY Prof.
Richard, which recently occurred in b.
hernia, and which may give useful hint