Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-06-27

morally certain that the Tightly Alderney
heifer, used only to women-kind, would
be much more likely to spread pair OF
bovine wings and fly away than to allow
| herself TO be MIXED by boy.
| 6 He can't do it!' she said to Miss Abb
gail, who presently brought her knittir g
work into the kitchen. The helter'll
send him sky hight
But he could and he did Soon he APP
peared In the doorway, his pail brim-
ming with snowy foam.
"You didn't think L could ?" said the
by, smiling brightly.
"No, | didn't" admitted Prudence,
and straightway, in her establishment,
she added to his fare a segment of rhu-
barb pie.
"Wasn't there a bit Of cheese leftfrOm
tea ?" asked Miss Abigail
Prudence thought there was, and
while she was fetching it from the Gel
lar he gave himself healthy scrubbing
at the pump, coming in from his ablu
tons fresh and ruddy as rose. He was
very hungry; there was no doubt of
that. He looked at Miss Abigail with a
deprecating smile as Prudence carried
off the bread plate for third replenish-
ing.
81 am pretty hungry" said he.
"This is the first bite I've had since
morning, and it tastes good.
To be sure it did. Miss Abigail
thought of little brother, who died
years and years before, ere his tender
feet began to feel the prick in life's
path. How strange that the sight of
this little vagrant, satisfying his crav-
ing at her kitchen table, should bring to
her remembrance the child who had so
early put off the mortal for the immor-
tai? Presently, when the boy had fin
ished his repast, he laid his knife and
fork across his plate with a methodical
precision which it pleased Miss Abigail
to see; and then he glanced from Pru-
dence, standing near with her arms
akimbo, to Miss Abigail.
"Thank you for my supper" said he.
"Maybe I'd best be getting along. You
don't want a boy to work, do you ?"
GA boy-to work" echoed Prudence.
"DId [ ever!'
"No we DON'T" said Miss Abigail
shortly. And-then it was strange enough
that she could not help thinking again of
that frail little life which had blighted in
the bud so long before.
Sc dow far are you going ?" she asked.
81 don't know, ma'am."
"And where have you come from %
proceeded Miss Agiball
"Trescott, ma'am. Mother died there
three months ago." There was pathetic
quaver in his voice.
And then with little questioning, he
told his simple story. His name was
| bO
old. Ee had lived in Prescott a long
time-he and his mother; they were very
poor, but they kept little home togeth-
er. His mother had taken in sewing,
and be had worked for the neighboring
farmer Somers, and gone to school win
tiers. And he had been happy, for all
they were so poor until-mother died.
"Ihen l stopped with Deacon Staples
spell; he said he wantedto try me- But
they were going to bind me out to him,
and SO ran away"
None to blame, nuther," interposed
Prudence, with great deal Of emphasis.
GIVE seen old Staples, down to Prescott.
He's that mean he'dskln a mouse for his
hide and tallow"
GIVE been trying along for a chance
to work, continued the boy, smiling
family. He was very near to tears HOW,
but he held them back sturdily. "But
there don't anybody seem to want me-"
Miss Abigail was moved more than she
would have cared to own by this recital.
Even to her, who had lived for herself
so long, there was something iudescrib.
| ably pitiful in the thought of this little
wanderer, battling alone with the world,
bufeted by fortune, drifting here or
there, as chance might dictate. 1t had
grown dark now-the lamps had long
since been lighted; and there were NUT
terings of distant thunder in the air.
'It's going to rain, " said Miss Abb
gail. {" You needn't 60 tonight; you
may sleep in the stable loft.
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great violence.
And while Miss Abigail listened to the
! sharp peals of thunder and to the pour
| ing of the rain against the windows she
thought of the lonely little wayfarer ia
/ the stable loft wit a new, strange throb
| Of pity. Morning came, merry with
! bird song and glistening with myriads
Of raindrops. Prudence was up betimes,
| but, early as it was, she heard the sound
of an axe in the woodshed, ard when
she opened the door Barry smiled at her
from MS pest by the chopping block.
Z" 1 don't think paid enough for my
support eat such lot," he said, $50
I've split some bindings, and I'll milk
for you this morning if you Wart me
to-"
Prudence brought the milk pail, with
out a word But when she had pre-
pared Miss Abigails morning meal, she
made ready a good substantial breakfast
for Barry also. When he had eaten it
he took up his hat crown.
s. Go out the way you came in, . said
Prudence, "'r else you'll bring bad
luck"
Barry gave little incredulous laugh,
but ne went out to the porch. Miss
Abigail was there taking deep breaths of
the fresh air. and she babe him kind
"good morning" as he went off the
steps and down the path again between
the ilacs, exuberant in growth but
meagre in bloom.