Milford chronicle., 1883-04-06
Jacks Mission.
BY KAEE KIRK.

"There amt no use crying, Ted. we
must try again, that's all. "
"But I'm so tired" whimpered Ted.
digging his knuckles into his eyes.
Som tired, responded Jack in a
voice full of tears which he bravely re-
pressed. Lets go over there and try
our luck again. III play for We, but I
can't sing. 1t hurts me here placing
his hand on his chest.
They crossed the street to spot
where group of men where standing
Jacks hands, numb with cold, could
scarcely hold the squeaky violin, while
Ted's feet shuftled clumsily on the side
walk in a vain attempt to keep time to
the dismal music. Warmly-olad men
and women hurried by, never deigning
to glance at the young minstrels. Doubt
less many of them, when seated at their
warm iresides, would shed tears of pitv
over graphic newspaper account of
two homeless boys standing in the win
try twilight, the thermometer at zero |
striving to earn sufficient to induce their
souls to abidea while longer in their fam
ished bodies; yet on this particular even
ing not one OF the hundred pedestrians
paused to look at the little fellows. Even
the lean, hungry dog that had been
searching III the gutter for bone. skunk
away, as if finding it unpleasant to
come in contact with misery greater
than his own.
"'Tain't no use, Jack, said Ted.
'people won't take the trouble to find a
penny for us when its.so cold"
Jack nodded a doleful assent to the {
words, tucked the violin under his arm.
and the two walked away in listless L
manner. They wandered on for some t
-ime and finally stopped before a house
md gazed with longing eyes into the
basement dining-room where family of c
hree persons were seated at the table. t,
"Oh, my it looks nice in there.
whispered Ted. 'Look, Jack. they've h
;ot turkey an sweet pertaters Wish y
ye had some. See that girl with the b
eller hair an white frock Amt she
urty?" Ii
Eyes, replied his companion YEARLY. hi
Some folks have good times and others to
ont. I've been watching the dog by 81
he fire. I suppose he'll get nice din ki
er too. D." in
At that moment servant pulled down
lie shade. di
"What did she do that for?" com fel
ained Ted. "We didn't do no harm
st peepin' at them "t
As the lads turned regretfully away. he
icy were accosted by forlorn-looking
'ecimen of manhood, who, like them br,
Ives, shivered with the cold. gin
"Why are you on the street a night hei
re this, youngsters? Why don't you bel
home p he asked. the
Sc Cause we amt got no home, re-
led Ted. wa
" Poor lads I thought 1 was the wit
ly homeless wayfarer abroad this bit
night. Haven't you any parents ?" itel
g Never had any. Had a NANNY my
ce, but she's dead Jack never had you
body" eau
g Then you are not brothers ?" rev,
No" replied Jack, speaking with Da
iculty. When 1 was baby nv abs
her gave me to Ted's mother and yea
'mised to take care of me. but he went pea
and we never heard from him. Guess form
S dead too. Oh. Ted r. he cried sud chill
ly, graspiRg his companions hand. g
feel so bad I-can't- stand-up who
fain
Perishing with cold and hunger y his
tered the tramp compassionately. q
old on a minute and I will see if 1 envi
beg hot drink for you tern
fitting the boy in his arms he knocked seer
he door. hear
Will You give me a cup of tea and beril
1t for this child, who is dying from inter
and want of nourishmentP" he asked God
he servant who answered the sum mise
s. undo
Who is it, Mary ?" called voice. an
] the dining room. will.