Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-06-28

4 80 N.'sii'SA ~ hipoHcu taDie, snOulQ DrlDB 10
ner remembrancotth the child who had SC
earlS put off the mortal for the immor-
I.ai? Presently, when the boy had fin.
ished his repast. he laid his knife and
lork aeross his plate with mcthodical
precision which it pleased Miss Abigail
70 see; and then he glanced from Pru-
dence, standing near With her arms
aklmbo, to Miss Abigail.
Thank you for my supper" said he.
Maybe I'd best be getting along. You
don't want boy to work, do you O.
A boy--to work." echoed Prudence.
"Dld ever."
| "No we don't" said Miss Abigail
shortly. And-then it was strange enough
that she could not help thinking again OF
tnat frail little life which had hlighted in
the bud so long before.
" dow far are you going?" ehe asked.
don't know, ma'am.
And where have you come from %
proceeded Miss Asibail.
Trescott, ma'am., Mother died there
three mol tbs ago." There was patht tic
quaver in his voice.
! And then with little questioning, he
told bis simple story. His name was
Barry Olmstead, and he was twelve years
old. He had lived i'll Trescott a long
| time-he and his mother: they were very
poor but they kept little home togeth
er. His mother had taken in sewing.
and he had worked for the neighboriug
farmer Somers, and gone TO school " in
ters. And he had been happy, for all
they were so poor until-mother died.
"lhen Istopped with Deacon Staples
nspell; he said he wantedto Try me. But
they were going to bind me out to him,
aud SO lrsp away"
"None 10 blame, nuther," interposed
Prudence, with great deal Of emphasis.
Give seen old Staples, down to Trescott.
Hes that mean he'd skin Il mouse for his
hue and tallow!"
"l've been trying along for chance
to work." continued the boy, smiling
family. He was very near to tears now,
| but be ireld them back sturdily. "But
there don't any body seem TO want ne.
Miss Abigail was moved more than she
would have cared TO own by this recital.
Even to her, who had lived for herself
SO long, there was something iudesclib
ably pitiful in the thought of this little
wandcrer, battling alone with the world,
buffeted by fortnnc, drifting here or
there, as chance might dictate. 1t had
grown dark now-tho lamps had long
slnce been lighted; and there wero nut.
terings of distant thunder in the air.
Its going u rain, said Miss Abb
gail You needn't go to. night; you
may sleep in The stable loft.
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great violence.
| nd wi, iln ai,.s, A - u
sharp pcals of thunder and to the pour.
ing of the rain against the windows she
thought OF the lonely little ayfarer in
the stable loft wit new, strange throb
of pity. Morning came, merry with
bird song and glist4ning with myriads
otraindrops. Prudence was up betimes,
but, early as it was, she heard the sound
of an axe i'll the wooashed, ard when
she opened the door Barry smiled at her
from bis post by the choppng block.
don't link paid enough for my
supper eat such lot," he said, $50
Eve split some bindiugs, aud I'll milk
for you this morning if you want ME
| to-"
Prudence brought the milk pail, with
out word. But when she had pre-.
pared Miss Abigail's morning meal, she
made ready good substantial breakfast
for Barry also. When be had eaten it
he took up bis hat crown.
I" Go out the way you came in" said
Prudence, or else you'll bring bad
| luck"
Barry gave n little incrcdulous laugh,
but he went out TO the porch. Miss
Abigail was there taking deep breatbs of
the fresh air, and she bade him a kind
good morning" rs he went off the
steps and down the path again between
the lilncs, exuberant in growth but
meagre in bloom.
Wonder why my lilacs do not flower
more freely" Miss Abigail said to Pru.
dencs who bad followed to the door.
dunno" answered Prudence.
Barry heard, and turned. "I guess
it's because you leave the old blossoms
on" he said hesitatingly. Smother
used to say l must pick the blossoms off
one year, ii want any next"
And then he went out of the gate,
closing it carefully after him, and along
the moist, brown highway. "That is
very uncommon boy" said Miss Abigail,
looking after him with serious eyes.
Yes assented Prudence, "he's
clever 'nough little chap for boy"
F" TO think of his knowing about the
tlacs," continued Miss Abigail medita
| lively. g [ must cut off the flowers this
spring."
''Au' he got as good a mess of milk
from the heitcr as | could ha' done NY
self with a we'll hand, Prudence went
on. ~
eyes, be would have been handy
about milking and getting wood for
you," said Miss Abigail.
can bringin' the letters from the
postotfice," proceeded Prudence. "It's
good piece over to the village in muddy
walkin'."
$50 it is, said Miss Abigail. She
gazed reflectively along the road which
wound, serpentine, to the. little hamlet
a mile away. Barry was climbing the
hill, II mere, pitifuI, lonely speck in the
distance, as lie was n mere insignificant
atom in the great body of humanity.
Miss Abigail's eyes filled.
"We might have kept him." she
"Tain't too late yit! put in Pru-
dencc.
The two women looked into each 9TH
er's eyes.
"lf you could make him hear" be-
gan Miss Abigail.
For answer Prudence strobe to the
road, and sent long, quavering cry af.
ter Barry.
BIO o-o-y!"
But the little figure they were watch
ing plodded steadily on.
Gimme the old tiu horn outer the
kitchen, Miss Abigail! "called Prudence
excitedly.
"Quick!"
Miss Abigail. stall spinster that she
was, without a Thought of the ludicrous-
ness of the proceeding, ran to the kit
chen, snatched the horn from its nail and
ran out with it to Prudence. And Pru-
dence put it to her lips and blew blast
80 long, SO loud, thatit started the birds
into silence, and set the echoes ringing