Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-06-28

"I'm pretty hungry" he said. 9TH
is the first bite I've had since morning
and it tastes good"
To be sure it did. Miss Abiga
thought of little brother who die
years and years before, ere his tende
feet began to feel the pricks in life
path. How strange that the sight c
this little vagrant, satisfying his hun
ger at the kitchen table, should brin
to her remembrance the child who ha'
so early put off the mortal for the i'm
mortal. Presently, when the boy ha'
finished his repast, he laid his knife an,
fork across his plate with q methodica
precision which it pleased Miss Abigail
to see; and then he glanced from Pru
dence, standing near her with arm
akimbo, to Miss Abigail
''Thank you for my supper, said he
'Maybe Ia best be getting along
You don't want a boy to work, d.
youp"
'A-boy-to workw echoed Pru
dence. "Did you ever"
mo, we don'tv' said Miss Abigail
shortly. And then-it was enough
thatshe could not help thinking agar
of that frail life which had blighted il
the bud so long before.
''How far are you going?" she ask
ed.
81 don't know ma am"
"And where have you come fromP"
proceeded Miss Abigail.
"Trescott, ma'am. Mother died
there three months ago. There was
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 Prescott a
long time-he and his mother; they
were very poor, but they had kept a
little home together. His mother had
taken in sewing, and he had worked
for the neighboring farmers summers
and gone to school winters. And be
had been happy, for all they were so
poor, until mother died.
"Then / stopped with Deacon Staples
spell; he said he wanted to try me.
But they were going to bind me out to
him, so ran away"
"None to blame, nuther, 'interposed
Prudence with great deal of emphasis
"I've seen old Staples, down to Tres
colt. He's that mean he'd skin mouse
for the hide and taller!'
1--WE been trying along for chance
10 work." continued the boy, smil.
ing family. He was very near to
tears, now, but he held them back
''But there don't anybody
seem 10 want me-"
Miss Abigail was moved more than
She would have cared to own by his re-
cital. Even to her who had lived for
self SO long, there was something indie
scribably pitiful in the thought of this
little wanderer battling alone with the
world, buffeted by fortune, drifting here
OF there, as chance might dictate. 1t
had grown dark, now-the lamps had
long since been lighted; and there were
of distant thunder in the
air.
"It's going to rain,' said Miss Abb
gail; ''you needn't 90 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 new, strange
-hrob of pity. Morning came, merry
with bird songs, and glistening with
nyriads of raindrops. Prudence was
up, betimes, but, early as it was, she
heard the sound of an AK in the wood
she'd; and when she opened the door
Barry smiled at her from his post at the
,hopping block.
II don't think l paid enough for my
eat such lot" he said, $50
I've split some kindlings, and I'll milk
or you this morning if you want me
o.
Prudence brought the milk pail with
,ut a word. But when she had pre-
pared Miss Abigail's morning meal, she
made ready good, substantial break
asst for Barry, also. When he had eat
IN it, he took up his hat crown.
go out the way you came in" said
Prudence, cor else you'll bring bad
uck."
Barry gave little incredulous laugh,
)ut he went out to the porch. Miss
Abigail was there, taking deep breaths
If the fresh air, and she babe him
Kind good morning as he went off the
;tep and down the path again between
he lilacs, exuberapt in growth, but
neagre in bloom.
II wonder why lilacs do not flower
more freelyP" This Abigail said to
Prudence, who came to the door.
II dunno" answered Prudence.
Barry heard and turned. 81 guess
It's because you leave the old blossoms
on,'' he said, hesitatingly. "Mother
used to say / must pick the blossoms eff
one year if l wanted any the next"
And then he went out of the gate,
closing it carefully behind him, and
along the moist, brown highway.
THAT is very uncommon boy" said
Miss Abigail, looking after him with Sc
rious eyes.
yes" assented Prudence; ''he's a
clever enough little chap-for boy"
ITO think of his knowing about Ii
lacs!" continued Miss Abigail, medita-
lively. 81 must cut off the flowers this
SPRING"
''An' he got as good a mess O. milk
from the heifer as could ha' done my
self with well hand" Prudence went
on.
ayes, he would have been handy
about milking and getting the wood for
you," said Miss Abigail
''An' bringin' the letters from the
postof1ice," continued Prudence. "It's
a good piece over to the village in mud
dy walkin.'"
$50 it is said Miss Abigail. She
gazed refectively along the road which