Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-05-30

! L.. u oesl pe getting along. 1o
ioii /. want boy to work, do you?''
"A boy-to work,'' echoed Prudence
''Did ever,', ''' : ''eii'e
NO we DON'T" said Miss Abigail
shortly. And then-it was strano
enough that she could not help tllinkin
f'Sl %Galn Oh that frail little life which ha
oiisIited IN the bud so long before.
now tar are you going?n she asked
L don't know, a'am.''
And where have YOU come from?'
proceeded Miss Abigail.
Trescott, ma 'am. Mother died tber
three months ago" There was a patheti
quaver in his voice.
ANA then, with little questioning, he
1oid ms simple story. His name wa
barry Olmstead, and lac was twelv,
years old. He had lived in Trescott +;
long time-he and his mother: they wer,
very poor, but they had kept a littl,
nome together. His mother had takeI
III sewing, and he had worked for tn,
lielghDormg farmers summers. and gon,
TO school winters. And he had beer
happy, for all they were So poor. unit
mother died.
Then | stopped with Deacon Staple.
"a spell; he said he wanted to try me
but they We're gong to bind me out t,
hlm, and so l ran away
None to blame, nuther," interposed
Prudence, with a great deal of emphasis
I've seen old Staples. down to Trescott.
Hes that mean he'd skin a mouse for the
hide and taller.''
i've been trying along for a chance
to work, y continued the bov. smiling
famtly. He was very near to tears now.
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
sell so long, there was something indie
Scribably pitiful in the thought of this
little wanderer battling alone with the
world, buffeted 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
mutterings of distant thunder in the
air.
Its going to rain, said Miss Abb
gail. You needn't go 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 the pouring
of the rain against the windows she
thought of the lonely little wayfarer i'll
the stable loft with anew, strange throb
of pity. Morning came, merry with
bird song and glistening with myriadS
of rain drops. Prudence was up betimes,
but, early as it was, she heard the sound
of an AK in the wood-shed; and when she
opened the door Barry smiled at her
from his post by the chOpping-block.
Il don't think | paid enough for my
SUPPER eat such lot, - he said, $50
I've split some kindlings, and I'll milk
for you this morning if you want me to. -
Prudence brought the milk-pail with
out word. But when she had prepared
Miss Abigail's morning meal, she made
ready good substantial breakfast for
Barry, also. When he had eaten it he
took up his hat crown.
''GO out the way you came in, " said
Prudence, ''r else you'll bring bad
luck"
Barry gave little incredulous laugh,
but he went out to the porch. Miss
Abigail was there taking deep breaths
of the fresh air, and she babe him a
kind "Good morning" as he went off
the step and down the path again be-
tween the lilacs, eXuberaGt III growth
but meager in bloom.
II wonder why my lilacs do not flower
more freely" This Miss Abigail said
to Prudence, who had followed to the
door.
Il dunno" answered Prudence.
Barry heard and turned. Il guess
it's because you leave the old blossoms
on he said, hesitatingly. Mother
used to say | must pick the blossoms off
one year. if | wanted any next"
And then he went out of the gate,
closing it carefully behind him, and
along the moist, brown highway.
..That is "A very uncommon boy" said
Miss Abigail, looking after him with
serious eyes.
sYes,'' assented Prudence ''he's a
clever 'nough little chap-for a boy.'
'sTo think of his knowing about the
lilacs," continued Miss Abigail medita-
tively. 81 must cut off all the flowers
this spring."
cam he got as good mess o. milk
from the heifer as | could ha' done my
self with a well hand" Prudence went
on.
Eyes. he would have been handy
about milking and getting the wood for
you.- said Miss Abigail.
ssAn' bringin' the letters from the
post-office,' y proceeded Prudence. Its
a GOOD piece over to the village i'll muddy
walkin'."
$50 it is said Miss Abigail. She
qazed refectively along the road which
wound, serpentine, to the little hamlet
A mile away. Barry was climbing the
hill a mere, pitiful, lonely speck, i'll the
distance. as he was mere insignificant
atom in the great body of humanity.
Miss Abigail 5 eyes filled.
1--WE might have kept him, she said.
"Tain't too late yit!'' put i'll Pru-
dence.
The two women looked into each
others eyes.
...If YOU could make him hear, began
Miss Abigail.
For answer Prudence strobe to the
road. and sent long, quayering cry
after Barry.
"B o-o-yl''
But the little figure they were watch
ino plodded steadily on.
s.Gimme the old tin horn ont 'er the
kitchen. Miss Abigail" called Prudence,
excitedly, ''quiek. "
Miss Abigail, staid spinster that she
was without a thought of the eiudlcrous-
ness ness of the proceeding, ran to the
titcben. srlatched the horn from Its nall;
and ran out with it TO Prudence. And
Prudence put it to her lips and blew q
HAST ! St so long, so loud, that it startled
the birds into silence, and set the eechoes
,.;nging from hillside to hillside
..Ue c'n hear that if he en- hear any
fling. y she muttered.
T lie did. He stopped. Prudence flour
;sbed tbe horn in frantic excitement
There was moment of suspense; ana
L