Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-28

pump, coming in from his ablutions fresh
and ruddy as rose. He was very hungry
there was no doubt of that. He looked at
Miss Abigail with a deprecating smile as
Prudence carried off the bread plate for a
third replenishing.
"Pm 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
before, ere his tender feet began to feel the
thorns in life's path. How strange that
the sight of this little vagrant, satisfying
his craving at her kitchen table, should
bring to her remembrance the child who had
so early put off the mortal for the immor-
tai. Presently, when the boy had finished
his repast, he laid his knife across the plate
with a methodical precision which it pleas
ed Miss Abigail to see, and then he glanced
from Prudence, standing near with arms
akimbo, to Miss Abigail.
"Thank you for my supper" said he.
"May be I'd best be getting along. You
don't want boy to work. do you"
"A boy-to work' echoed Prudence.
IN oMo we edo; 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:" she asked.
~ don't know, ma'am."
"And where have you come from ~ pro-
ceeded Miss Abigail.
"Trescott, ma'am. 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
they had kept little home together. His
mother had taken in sewing, and he had
worked for the neighboring farmers sum-
mers, and gone to school winters. And he
had been happy, for all they were so poor,
until-mother died.
"Then I 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 | ran away"
"None to blame, nuther," interposed Pru-
dence, with great deal Of emphasis. "Pve
seen old Staples, down to Trescott. He's
that mean he'd skin mouse for the hide
and tallerw
"I've been trying along for a chance to
work." continued the boy, smiling faintly y:
He was very near to tears now, but he held
them Dack SCurully. ''buG Illeie uOll y alS
body 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 self so long,
there was something indescribably pitiful
in the thought of this little Wanderer bat
tling alone with the world, buffeted by for
tune, drifting here and thereas 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 Abigail.
"You needn't 60 tonight; you may sleep
in the stable loft"
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great violence.
And while Miss Abigail listened to the sharp
peals of thunder and the pouring of the rain
against the windows she thought OF the
lonely little wayfarer in the stable loft with
a new, strange throb of pity. Morning
came, merry With bird song and glistening
with myriads of rain drops. Prudence was
up betimes, 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 sup
perl eat such a 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 without
word. But when she had prepared Miss
Abigails morning meal, she made ready a
good substantial breakfast for Barry, also.
When he had eaten it he took up his hat.
"Go out the way you came in," said Pru-
duce, ''r else you'll bring bad luck"
Barry gave little incredulOus laugh, but
there taking deep breaths of the fresh air,
and she babe him kind "Good morning."
as he went off the steps and down the path
again, between the lilacs, eXuberant in
growth but meagre in bloom.
81 wonder why my lilacs do not flower
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 be-
cause you leave the old blossoms On," he
said, hesitatingly. "Mother used to say |
must pick the blossoms off one year, if
want any next"
And then he went out Of the gate, closing
it carefully behind him, and along the moist,
brown highway.
wThatis a very uncommon boy" said Miss
Abigail, looking after him with serious eyes.
EYES," assented Prudence, "he's clever
'nough little chap-for a boy"
"ro think of his knowing about the IL
Iacs," continued Miss Abigail, meditatively
81 must cut off all the flowers this spring"
"An' he got as good Il mess of milk from
the hefer as could ha' done myself with Il
well hand" Prudence went on.
eyes, he would have been handy about
milking and getting the wood for you, " said
Miss Abigail.
"An' bringin' the letters from the post-of
fce," proceeded Prudence. "It's good
piece over to the village in muddy weather. y
$50 it is," said Miss Abigail. She gazed,
refectively along the road, which wound
serpentine, to the little hamlet a mile away
Barry was climbing the hill, mere, pititul
lonely speck, in the distance, as he was &
mere insignificant atom in the great body
of humanity. Miss Abigail's eyes filled.
1--WE might have kept him." she said.
'"rain't too late yit!' put in Prudence.
| The two women looked into each other's
eyes.
eff you could make him hear" began
Miss Abigail.
For answer, Prudence strobe to the road
and senta long, quavering cry after Barry
"B-o-o-y !"
But the little figure they were watching
plodded steadily on.
"Gimme the old tin horll outer the kitch
en-, Miss Abigail" called Prudence, excited
ly, "quick."
Miss Abigail, staid spinster that she was
without a thought of the ludicrousness O
the proceeding, ran to the kitchen, snatchet
the horn from it's nail, and ran out with it tt
Prudence And Prudence put it to her lip:
and blew blast so long, so loud, that i
startled the birds into silence, and set the
echoes ringing from hillside to hillside.
"He eli hear that if he en- hear any
thing," she muttered.
He did He stopped. Prudence flourish
ed the horn in frantic excitement. There