St. Landry democrat., 1883-07-07

u,
hoilered after him to tell him. But he
dldn' tstop, and while [ was looking al
it and seeing twas very handsome
one, TWO men ran.up and took hold ol
my arms. / says:
You le' go me, noW!'
But they says: Come along. nv
fine fellow, and they snatched the
pocket-book and went to hauling me
along. There was q crowd round me
in minute. | kicked and fouoht al
en-, but they held me tight, and they
slipped some iron things on my wrists.
and there | Was-ierked along that
way, and big lot Of bows holIerinp
after me! They took ne into a o,.ea}
building and locked me up, and I
/ didn know what twas for more'n the
| dead.
= lay down in a corner and won.
dered II Ed ever get out, and if I'd
ever see home again. wondered what
mother'd say it she could see me. I
wondered what they Were doing on the
! farm. After great while they took
| ME out.
Where you going to take me2' I
said.
SAot1 t1iS IstIs1 s1tt.
.. Then folks came and told how last
night I'd stole a pocket-5ook from a
lady, and they'd been tracking me ever
since. and just found me with the
pocket-book in my hands. I broke
right out, and told how the fellow'd
given it to me, but they made me stop
till they d examined lot O. witnesses.
and they ali said I'd stole it. Then
they let me tell how I'd slept all night
somewhere else, bit they wanted ms
to bring some one to say if it was SO.
and wouldn't believe me when I told
,em it was the solemn truth. just then
saw the gentleman standing in the
door that had seen me in his hammock.
| hoped he wouldn't see me, for was
afraid he'd come to see about getting
me ppaished. But he did see me, and
came up to me. He took button out
OF his pocket, and laid it against nv
coat. 1t had a bit of the coat hanginp
to it that | had tore out when / Jumped |
from the hammock, and it Just fitted in. |
This boy was in my grounds all |
night. he says. I was up preparing |
important papers, and waiting for toy
grams. saw him several times. t3 |
They asked him some more ques-
tons, and then the magistrate saws:
The prisoner is discharged
The gentleman took my arm, and
led me out. says to him:
- 'I'll never do it again, sir. What
you going to do to me?' He laughed,
and says:
Haven't You got astray, my boy?'
81 thonght I had the worst way.
you'd better believe! And I told him so,
and | told him all about it and he
thought I'd better go home. I'd given
my eyes to get there that moment, but
| hated to tell m ] had no money to
go on, SO told him as I come I d like
to try doing something, if I had a
chance. He took a long look at me,
and said perhaps that would be the
best, and said he write to nv father
He was a real good friend to me.
He talked lots to me, and got me a
situation. They told me they never
paid much to green hands. I slept I'M
der acounter and got enough to pay my
board ami a little over. | ran errands,
and swept and scrubbed floors, and
harder'n ever I'd done in my
lite My clothes got shabby, but [
saved up every cent.
.And on Thanksgiving day [ got a
holiday, and then told the boss had
no taste for the city. And I took the
early train for home.
'.Asi got off the cars to walk home a
rain came in from the other way, and I
Jaw a lanky-look;ng clap get of. I
iidn't know him at first, and then saw
was Eli.
Just gettin' homes'' said he.
Yes, said /.
paid Your Way?'
+.sYes.'
g You've done BETTER me- says he.
I've been as fur as Indanf. and I've
,een down with the chills-and- six
weeks, and some one wrote to father for
money to send me home.'
/" Where Ned says /.
'''Home. He started to walk back !
hat dav started West. Footed it all {
he seventy miles cept lifts he got!' {
ound father lust cutting up the horses
liter they'd got home from church. ] +
vent up to him and says I:
DO you want to hire bov, sir?'
He dropped the halter on the barn +
loot, and grabbed hold o. both nv
lands and looked into my eyes.
The Lord bless you, Sammy says f
e, we've all been looking for you.
ell-yes, do want q boy-if I can
ct one that has a taste for farming d
: l shouted out: I'm the boy!' and !
aen | rushed in and got my arms
round mothers neck, and nearly made a
er drop the great big turkey she was O
ISL getting out of the oven. I guess q
was some time before she or the little y
Ills knew whether they were laughing n
crying, and then father came in and a
II hadn't been a boy I'd hardly o
noWn either when I told 'em how {
'rry [ was I'd piyen ,em SO mucb !.