The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-05-18

taken in sewing and he had worked for
neighboring farmers summers and gone
to school winters. And he had been
happy, for all they were so poor, until
mother died.
"Then l stopped with Dea Staples
spell; he said he wanted to try me. But
they were going to bind me out to him,
so run away
"None to blame, nuther,' interposed
Prudence, with great deal of emphasis.
'I've seen old Staples down to Trescott.
He's that mean that he'd skin mouse
for the hide and taller
1--WE been trying along for a chance
to work, continued the boy, smiling
family. lie was very near to tears now,
but he held them back sturdily. 'But
there don't anybody seem to want me. y
Miss Abigail was moved more than
she would have cared to own by this
recital. Even to her, who had lived
for self so long, there was something
indescribably pitiful in the thought of
this little wanderer battling along with
the world, buffetted by fortune, drift
ing here or there, as chance might die
tate
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 raiu," said Miss
Abigail. "You needn't go to night;
you may sleep in the stable loft
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great violence
And while Abigail listened to the sharp
peal of thunder, and the pouring of the
rain against the windows, she thought
of the lonely little wayfarer in the sta
BILE loft with new, strange throb of
| pity.
Morning came, merry with bird-song,
and glistening with myrads OF rain
drops. Prudence was up be,imes, but
early as it was, she heard the sound of
an axe in the wood shed and when she
opened the door Barry smiled at her
from his post by the chopping block.
81 don't think | paid enough for my
supper-I 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 prepar-
ed Miss Abigail's morning meal size
made ready good substantial break
fast for Barry also. When he had eat
en- it he took up his hat crown
SEQ out the way you come in," said
Prudence, "'relse you'll bring back 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 bade him a
kind good morning as he went off the
step and down the path again between
the lilacs, exuberant in growth but
meagre in bloom.
81 wonder why my hlacs do not flow
er more freely This Miss Abigail said
to Prudence, who had followed to the
door.
81 dunno" answered Prudence.
Barry heard and turned. 81 guess it's
because you leave the old blossoms on, u
he said, hesitatingly. "My mother
used to say must pick the blossoms
off one year, if | wanted any the next.
And then he went ont of the gate,
closing it carefully behind him, and
along the moist brown highway.
"That is very uncommon boy,
said Miss Abigail, looking after hin
with serious eyes.
"ies," assented Prudence, shes 9
cIeaver 'nough little chap-for a boy
"To think of his knowing about the
lilacs," continued Miss Abigail, medita
lively, Il must cut off all the flowers
this spring"
"And he got as good a mess of mill
from the heifer as could have don,
myself with II well hand" Prudenc,
went on.
"Yes, he would have been hand,
about milking and getting the wood fo
you,' said Miss Abigail.
AN bringin' the letters from tn,
post Office, proceeded Prudence. "It'
a good piece over to the village, il
muddy walkin','
$50 it is said Miss Abigail. Sh
gazed rehectively along the road whicl
wound, serpentine, to the little hamle
a mile away. Barry was climbing tn,
hill, mere, pitiful, lonely insignificant
atom in the great body of humanity
Miss Abigails eyes filed.
"We might have kept him" she said
"Tain't any too late yit!" put il
Prudence.
The two women looked in each other
eyes,
"lf you could make him hear" bega
Miss Abigail
For answer Prudence strobe to tn
road, and sent a long, quavering or
after Barry.
"Bo-o-o-y"
But the little figure they were watcl
ing plodded steadily on,
"Gimme the old tin horn outer III
kitchen, Miss Abigailr called Pru
dence, excitedly. "Quick!'
Miss Abigail, staid spinster that sh
was, without thought of the ludicrou,
ness of the proceeding, ran to the kitcl
en-, snatched the horn from its nail an
ran ont with it to Prudence And Pr
dence put it to her lips and blew bla,
so long and so loud that it startled til
birds into silence and sent the echoC
ringing from hillside to hillside.
"lle en- hear that if he On hear an,
thing she muttCred.
| lie did. He stopped Prudence ilou
lshed the horn in frantic excitemen
There was moment of suspense, an