The Mineral argus., 1883-10-18

their smiling faces, thought no sweeter
greeting could come TO his young bride
on her wedding day and Uncle Jack,
giving a handful Of silver to the nearest
woman, said, in a voice that broke a lit
tle:-
"spend 1t among you; you are all Mar
gery's friends"
The Royal London circus, on its sum-
mer tour, was advertised to perform in
Bristol. The manager had previously
sent to that city Timothy Twycrass,
"world-renowned clown and lumber"
to find and to hire half a dozen little
girls. Timothy Twycrass hated the com
mission. Under the red and white
striped jacket beat a tender heart. This
heart had often ached for the neglected
children, who for one evening we're
transformed from the rags Of their
wretched garrett into the glory OF tilseled
fairies. The first performance in Bristol
was over; the dressing-maid was wash
ing from the children's cheeks the only
tint of rose which perhaps had ever
rested there. After this Sukey would
20 with them in a cab to their respec-
tive homes. "Isn't she a pretty little
dear2" said the maid to Timothy, wrap
ping a shawl around tie youngest of the
group. Timothy came nearer. His
hideOus costume and painted face did
not frighten the child, and she stretched
out her little arm to touch his belt Of
bells.
"Merciful h~eavensl" cried Timothy;
for there were bruises on the arm and
shoulder. The heart under tine red and
white stripes beat angrily, and the voice
SO used to uttsring lnane nothings
sounded strange as he asked an older
girl if this little child had a mother.
mo" she answered. Her don't be-
long to nobody. Missus treats her
dreadful, and then the master beats
missus. He's good to sis when he amt
drunk"
"Sis?" and Sukey looked inquiringly.
"Her amt got no name. Missus al
ways calls her Sis, Master calls her Lit
tie I'm"
"You can take the others home,
Sukey. / shall carry this baby" And
wrapping his travelling rug about the lit
tie waif, Timothy, ~forgetful of his attire,
strobe out into the night. A crowd lin
gered about the booths where the two
headed woman held a soiree and the
Albino children winked their very pink
eyes. Timothy made his way through
the people. 1t was but a few steps to
the old tenement-house from which the
child had been brought.
"Missu us" had never seen a clown, and
when Timothy threw open the door and
cried, do yOl call yourself a woman
she screamed Historically: What hare
/ done? Let me go!" But ~preceiving
the little girl, she realized that the
strange appearance was no ~avenging
hend and began to scold.
ffT hate tho child - aha aaid tfSha'a
naught. Her father was my brother,
He's dead now. Ifyou like her so well
you had better keep her. Ga along
with you bothl' The little cheek was
laid close against Timothy's face; a faint,
friehtened voice said, 81 will be good"
And the man knewas he drew his trem-
bling burden closer that he had taken
the child forever.
Timothy was dressed in his best and
stood at the door Of st. PauPsi rectory.
The world-renoWned clown and tum-
bier never felt so manly as when he en-
uered the minister sstudy and said: i've
a child WANTED christened. I'm going
TO furrin parts next week. I'd like II
done in England. | don't know how
much myself; but l want to bring heI
up right. I've mostly tumbled up"
linen ne loiu lu6 NAAAh . SUI NAScH
sciously telling his own Timothy was
awkward, and i'll at ease, but the few
words he said cane to the minister like
a strong chord ofmusic tenderly sustain
ing the sons Of little child.
Tomorrow will be Easter day. There
will be baptism at st. Pauls. Bring youl
little daughter at three,
Timothy bowed. He knew very little
about Easter, excepting that in the Eas
ter holidays the audiences we're always
large.
"What are you going 10 call herr
asked Sukey, as she dressed the child
in white and put on the little shoes and
stockings.
"Margery, for my mother" said Tim
othy.
Sukey went tot.be church with "Mill'
Elise Tiviani, the famous rope dancer
and the lovliest lady in the land"
They sat in one of tn front slips
Neither OF them had ever eeen a christ
ening before. Mile Elsie held the pray
er-book upside down. She had never
learned to read. Sukey said amen when
ever the minister's wife did; but limo
thy, who had in some way attainc
quite a hiRh degree of culture in reading