Milford chronicle., 1883-03-09

- wasn't t there a bit of cheese left from
tea?" asked Miss Abigail.
Prudence thought there was, and while
she was fetching it from the cellar the
boy gave himself healthy scrubbiug al
the pump coming in from his ablutions
fresh and ruddy as a rose. He was very
hungry; there was do boubt of that He
looked at Miss Abigail with a deprecating
smile as Prudence carried off the bread
plate for a third replenishing.
"I'm 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 pricks in life's
path. How strange that the sight of
this little warrant, satisfying his craving
at her kitchen table, should bring to her
remembrance the child who had so early
put off the mortal for the immortal
Presently, when the boy had finished
his repast, he laid his knife and fork
across his plate with methodicnl pre-
cisiOn which it pleased Miss Abigail to
see; and then he glanced from Pru-
dence, standing near her with arms
akimbo, to Miss Abigail.
"Thank you for my supper, said he
''AIaybe I'd best be getting along. You
don't want boy to work, 10 you ?"
"a boy-to work !" echoed Prudence.
''Did I ever r
"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.
"How far are you going p she asked.
81 don't know, ma'am."
"And where have you come from ?"
proceeded Miss Abigail.
"Trescott, maam Mother died there
three months ago.
There was a pathetic quaver in his
voice.
And then, with little questioning, he
told his simple story. His name was
Barry Olmstead, and he was twelve
years old.
He had lived in Trescott long time
he aud his mother; they were very poor,
but they had kept little home together.
His mother had taken in sewing, and he |
had worked for the neighboring farmers
summers, and gone to school winters.
And he had been happy, for all they
were so poor, until-mother died.
"Then stopped with Deacon Staples
a spell; he said he wanted to try me.
But they were going to bind me out to
him, and SO I ran away"
'None to blame, nuther," interposed
Prudence with great deal of emphasis.
'T've seen old Staples, down to Tres
colt He's that mean he'd skin a mouse
for the hide and taller p
"I've been trying along for chance to
work, D" continued the boy, smiling
iaintly. He was very near to tears now,
out he held them back sturdily. "But
here don't anybody seem to want me. "
Miss Abigail was moved more than she t
would have cared to own by this recital. t
even to her, who had lived for self so
ong, there was something indesenbably ,
,itiful in the thought of this little wand /
rer battling alone with the world. buf- q
eted by fortune, drifting here or there,
S chance might dictate. 1t had grown
ark now-the lamps had long since
een lighted; and there were mutter-
lgs Of distant thunder in the air.
"It's going to rain, said Miss Abigail. )
You needn't go tonight; you may p
leep in the stable loft. S
Barry thanked her. c
The storm broke with great violence. '
nd while Miss Abigail listened to the IL
harp peals Of thunder and the pouring O
the rain against the windows she n
lought Of the lonely little wayfarer in "
le stable loft with a new strange throb d
pity. Morning came, merry with II
ird song and glistening with myriads of tc
Prudence was up betimes. IL
ut, early as it was, she heard the sound W
an ak in the woodshed and when 1t
le opened the door Barry smiled at her W
ON his post by the chopping block II
Il don't think 1 paid enough for my fl'
ipper-I eat such lot, " he said, $50 et
We split some kindlings, and I'll milk nj
r you this morning if you want me to. " vi
Prudence brought the milk pail with III
It a word. But when she had pre- co
red Miss Abigail's momi, g meal, she ma
ide ready good substantial breakfast re
, Barry also When he had eaten it IN
took up his hat crown. or
" Go out the way You come in, " said In
"'r else you'll bring bad od
*. SCI
Barry gave a little incredulous laugh th'
t he went ont to the porch. Miss gu
igail was there taking deep breaths Of XII
, fresh air, and she bade him kind
Iood morning" as he went of the step
I down the path again between the gy
cs, exuberant in growth but meagre phi
bloom. Ii,
4 wonder why my lilacs do not flower Oh,
re freely q This Miss Abigail said to co,
ldence, who had followed to the in
u ma
I dunno, answered Prudence. son
Barry heard and turned "I guess it's 81
ause You leave the old blossoms on, - sne
said, hesitatingly. Mother used to mo
/ must pick the blossoms off one ine
T, if wanted any next 10,