Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-10-16

door, could not see. In that momen
Charles slid around. He was almost gon
not quite, though.
Miss Lawrence turned just in time Il
seize him and throw him kicking ant
struggling. into the nearest seat. Sh
was thoroughly angry at his persisten
wickedness, and flung the boy down will
the feeling that he was entitled 10 no fur
ther consideration from her
Isl, lhere :" she exclaimed, and W,
will have you fastened, like any othe
thief"
Cruel words they were-regretted a
soon as spoken-but the boy did no
seem TO hear them. His eyes were fixeC
with glare Of terror upon the balloon
which was slowly shrinking away, piercec
by some pin-point. As it shriseled NJ
into an unsightly rag he flung himself
with despairing scream, upon the foo'
beside it. and lay there moaning and
grieving like dog beside some article
once worn by It's dead master
As for Miss Lawrence, she was rather
glad of this unlooked-fo escape from her
difficulty.
Ray she said, "a will get YOU a
new balloon, sirce this one was de-
s,royed partly through my fault. The
school is dismissed. Charles will re-
main
The boy sa, quiet, unheeding the jeers
or the contemptuous glances Of the Others
as they passed out, and staring hlankly
straight ahead of him, like one who bad
just seen last hope go out. The teach
er watched his face, so stony, so unchild-
like, long after the last young footsteps
had battered out Of hearing. At last she
said
Charles, did not suppose you
cared so much for playthiugs that you
would take those which did not belong
to you"
Il don't" answered the boy, dogged-
ly. Why don't you let me 60 now :
There ain, no,hin to stay for. You've
smashed it, and that's the very worst
thing ye could 10 to me-
You may 60 presently; but why do
you speak so to me | did not keep YOU
here for punishment. You forget that
| have the toy to pay for, unless you can
help me"
"Well, ] can't then" he rejoined des-
Il haven't got penny in the
world. If | had had or could a earned
one do you think Id touched his old bal
loon"
:" But why should you, anyway" Miss
Lawrence urged; it was not anything
you needed"
Wasn't it," he cried, furiously. !
never needed anything so much in all
my life, and if there's another to be
prigged in this town tonight ! am the
fellow that does it, and you may help
yourself" ."
why Charles ~ exclaimed the aston
ished lady; are you crazy: What is the
matter: Tell me all about it, she added
almost terrified by the strange
conduct OF the boy.
"Wha, is the use." he muttered, with
a sullen, suspicious glance. You could
not help, and if you could, you wouldn't.
Nobody cares for poor folks like us.
What if we do get sick and die /: It's
no matter. And as for feelins, who
ever thought of our having any: Feel
ms is for folks that dress in silks and
sa,ins of o the money they cheat US out
Of"
Charles" observed Miss Lawrence,
gently, {" am sure | don't know what
makes you talk SO strangely, but am
very sorry for you, and il you will tell
me what all this means will help you,
if can. Isn't that fair.'
"Yes. ma am" replied the boy. slow
ly, after long, wistful gaze into the
troubled and gentle eyes of the teacher !;
" Ill tell ye. though there no,hin' you
can do, as | know on. You see, my lit
tie brother Len has been sick long time
and ge,tin' thinner, till he's jest as poor
and pale as ghost. It's mostly the
poor food be has and the hard times, the
Doctor said, and he finally told mother
there wasn't no use Of his comm any
longer; so he don't. and poor little Len
has got so weak he can't sit up any more,
but jest has to lie still all day long, with
nothin' to pass the time away or make
the time easier, only when some Of US
hold him up TO the window few min
utes at time. He can't bear it long,
but i, seems to please him. Well, the
other day, as was doin' SO. boy came
along with one of those things. and it
took the poor little fellows eye, so it
seemed he must have one. But mother
told him she couldn't get it. cause she
hadn't bit of money. and then be didn't
say another word. but just turned his
poor head over on the pillow, when he
thought nobody was loOkin' and cried all
to himself.
"rve been tryin' ever since to get
somethin's to do. so could buy him one,
but nobody would give me any work.
He was SO bad this mornin'. mother said
she was afraid he wouldn't last but a
day or two. He's out of his mind good
deal, and then he talks mostly about the
pretty red moon, and he is going to climb
up into the sky and get it. l thought
maybe he would die easier to have it,
and when ! saw Ray Burgess with one
in his hand l made up my mind to get if
| could. 1t wasn't real, downright
stealing for me to take it from him real
ly it wasn't, Miss Lawrence. Only Just
taking little Of what belongs to US
father spends most every cent he earns
at Mr.. Burgess's drink shop, though mo-
ther has begged Mr.. Burgess on her
knees not to sell to him. We'd be com.
Portable and decent as anybody if We