The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-03-29

I Beeh HdppF, LOT ali bney were so poor,
until mother died.
90 Then Istopped with Deacon Staples
n spell; he said he wanted to try me-
But they were going to bind me out to
him, and so | ran away"
q" None to blame, nuther," interposed
Prudence, with a great deal of empha-
sis. I've seen old Staples, down to
Prescott. He's that mean he skin a
mouse for the h de and taller''
"Ivc been trying along for chance
to work, - continued the boy, smiling
family. He was very near to tears
now, but he hcld them back sturdiIy.
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
word, buf1eted by fortune. drifting here
o 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.
It's going to rain said Miss Abb
gail You needn' 90 tonight; you may
s.eep n the stable LOFT
Barry tn nked her.
The storm broke with great violence.
And while Miss Abigail listened to the
sh rp peals Of thunder and the pouring
OF the rain against the windows she
thought 0 the lonely little wavfarer in
the stable loft W tn new, strange throb
Of pity. Morning came, merry with
bird song and glistening with myriads
OF rain drops Prudence was up be-
times. but early as it was, she heard
the sound of an TX in the wood shed;
and when she Openel the door Barry
smiled at her from his post by the chop
ping block
81 don think paid enough for nv
supper eat such a lot he said, so
I've split some kindlin9s, and Tll milk
Tor you this morning you want me to-. "
Prudence brought the milk pail with
out a word. But when she had prepared
Miss Abiga I 5 morning mea, she made
ready good, subs antial breakfast for
Barry, also. When he had eaten it he
took up his hat crown.
- Go out the way YOU come in" said
Prudence, or else you IL bring bad
luck"
barry gave little incredulous laugh,
but he went out to the porch NJ IS
Alb gail was there taking deeO breaths
of the fresh air, and she babe him a
kind g Good morning. as he went off
the step and down the path again be-
tween the Ii acs, exuberant in growth
but meager in bloom.
Il wonder why my lilacs do not
flower more freely" This Miss Abb
gail said to Prudence who had followed
to the door.
g Dunno answered Prudence
Barry he I'd, and turned. Il guess
If bppanSa Won laoyya tho oil hlO.Sgo,,,z
on" he sa q, hesitatingly Mother
II ed to say L must pick the blossoms off
one year, if l 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.
''Yes," assented Prudence, 'he's a
clever nOugh little chap-for a boy.'
ITO think of his knowing about the
lilacs," continued Miss Abigail, medi-
tatively. u must cut off all the flow
ers this spring.
An he got as good a mess o milk
from the heifer as l could ha' done nv
self with a well hand" Prudence went
on.
Yes, he would have been handy
about milking and getting the wood for
you" said Miss Abigail.
" An bringin' the letters from the
post-o.1ice > proceeded Pruden e. g Its
good piece er to the village in
muddy walkin'."
So it is, said Miss Abigail. She
ga ed reflect yely along the road which
wound, serpentine, to the little ha1nlet
mile away. Barry was climbing the
hill, II ere, piGful, lonely speck in the
distance bn n e.
atom in the great body of humanity.
Miss q bigaiTs eyes filled.
We might have kept him." she
"Tain't too late yito' put in Pru-
dence.
The two women looked into each
others eyes.
IF you could make him hear,'' be-
gan NJ SIS Abigail
For answer Prudence strobe to the
road, and sent a long, quavering cry
after Barry.
8 B-o-o-yn'
But the little figure they were watch
ing plodded steadily on.
"Gimme the o tin horn out er the
kitchen, Miss Abigail" called Pru
dence, elcitedly. - Quick -"
Miss Abigail, staid spinster that she
was, without a thought of the
righteousness of the proceeding, ran to
the kitchen, snatched the horn from its
nail, and ran out with it to Prudence.
And Prudence put it to her lips and
blew blast so long, so loud, that it
star led the birds into silence, and set
the echoes ringing from hillside to hill
side.
He en- hear that if he en- hear any,
thing she muttered.
He did. He stopped. Prudence flour
ished the horn in frantic excitement
There was a moment of suspense; and
then Prudence turned to Miss ABIGAIL
standing by the gate.
e's a-comin' back she said.
When Barry, breathless with the haste
he had made reached the cottage. Miss
Abigail was waiting on the porch.
I'VE made up our minds to keep
you, said she, $50 long as You don't
give too much trouble"
80, thank you, ma amt cried Bar
ry. Indeed, I'll try to please YOU"
| am sure lie has sue eeded; for the
ilacs have been in bloom three times
since that morning, and he is with Miss
Abigail yet, growing tall and strong
and manly rs he years 90 by. He t lis
the bit OF farm, which had so long
lain Unimproved and in winter attends
school at the village where he is in g :
cellent repute. He is, withal, so faith
full and helpful and kind that Prudence
is fain to apOthegmatize the horn after
this fashion:
HarnsOme is as harnsome does; an
you re deservin' OF bed o. velvet, old
horn, for the good deed YOU done that
day. "-4dd Carleton Stodddrd, ia Good
Cheer
The methods of General Booth of
the Salvation army, are illustrated by
the following performance, which took
place recently at Plymouth, Eng and