The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-01-12
RETRIBvTION,

Longing eyes at the big cakes and rows
OF tempting pies; at last hattening his
little nose against the glass as if to be
nearer the beautiful viands was more
satisfying. There was something in his
| appearance which was 80 different from
the ordinary little street boy that first
stopped and looked, then addressed
him with
" Are you hungry, little boy?"
He then turned quickly, gave little
| nod, and said laconically
"Awful u
"Well, suppose we go in there and
! get something to eat ?" \.
The child's face frightened; then he
hesitated and said, obviously:
Maybe mamma wouldn't like me
to-"
,"Where is your mammap How came
you here alone ?"
"She's home, sick. I've runned
away;" and he looked up in my face
with big, brown eyes in which there was
@ sparkle Of mischief.
Run away, have you? L am afraid
that is very naughty; won't your NAM
"Oh, she's sick, she's awful sick And
L amt had anything to eat to-day"
ASNO Jou OIOIlSEB duu SISTERS T.
The little face sobered at once as he
said:
"No, only Eloise, and she's gone
away, and papa's gone away, and man
ma says maybe ehe's going away, and
she don't know whatn come of me-"
"Who is Eloise? Your sister?"
"Yes'm."
"Where has she gomez Won't she
come back2"
"No, she amt never coming back
they put her in little black box and
took her to heaven, and mamma cried
she said she wouldn't never come back
again, and I haven't anybody to play
with now."
"Eloise !" The name had struck O.
chord in my heart which awakened
painful memories, and while the little
fellow was talking my mind had strayed
back to years ago, and @ vision of
beautiful false friend rose before my
eyes. Suddenly I asked the child his
| name.
edwin Alexander Anderson"
For an instant felt faint and sick,
happy wife and mother though now
am. That name brought back to mo
time Of wretchedness never to be forgot
ten, and almost felt like turning away
|
| fate. But, thank Heaven the impulse
was only for o moment; I knew now
why those brown eyes thrilled me SO
but with the impulse to turn away came
"a whisper from my good angel EDO
good to those who despitefully use you"
And, seeing the little fellow still looked
longingly at the cakes, took him in,
gave him some buns and glass of milk,
and bag Of cookies to take home; but
he could not 60 alone probably, if, as
he said, he had run away; SO asked
him where he lived, and if he knew the
way home.
eve lives now in No. 10 Pine street,
but dunno where 'tis."
I was not at all sure of the locality
myself, 30 Failing an omnibus / re-
quested to be carried to my destination;
| and then the awkwardness of meeting
his father flashed across me, till recol.
lected he had said "Papa's gone away"
"Where has your papa gomez"
Hes gone TO the dogs"
!he answer was certainly startling.
and notwithstanding, or perhaps in con
sequence of my nervousness, smiled,
and felt in my throat q mingled incli-
nation to laugh and cry. Then said
seriously:
What do yon mean2 Who told you
that?"
"Oh, I heard a man tell the doctor 80
when he came to see Eloise, and found
it in the big map-book mamma let me
have to muse me-"
"FounG what? ?"
elsie of Dogs that's where he's gone.
guess he amt coming back" A little
pause, then in low, frightened tone,
"he's awful cross he made mamma cry,
he did"
I felt guilty OF learning family secrets,
so turned away from that subject and
said:
"Is your mother very ill2'
"Oh, she's dseadrul sick She coughs
and coughs, and spits up lots Of red
spits it's awful | "
Poor Eloise, the brilliant beauty, was
indeed dying looked down at the lit
tie boy in his shabby clothes, and re