Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-09-05

What weary afternoon; would it
never end? At last the sunlight slipped
off the threshold. The pupils soon fol-
lowed it. For moment she slackened
her watch, while the larger ones, being
in spelling class with their backs to the
door, could not see. In that moment
Charles slid round. He was almost gone
not quite, though.
Miss Lawrence turned Just In time to
seize him and throw him, kicking and
struggling, into the nearest seat. She
was thoroughly angry at his persistent
wiokedness, and flung the boy down
with the feeling that he was entitled to
no further consideration from her.
FFSit there " she exclaimed, "and
we will have you fastened like any other
thief"
Cruel words they were-reg tied as
soon as spOken-but the boy did not
seem to hear them. His eyes were fixed
with a glare of terror upon the balloon,
which was slowly shrinking away, pierre
ed by some pin-point AS it shriveled
up into an unsightly rag he flung HIM
self, with a despairing scream, upon the
floor beside it, and lay there moaning
and grieving like dog beside some arti-
Gle once worn by its dead master.
As for Miss Lawrence, she was rather
glad OF this unlooked-for escape from
her difficulty.
Cray" she said, "I will get you a
new balloon, since this one was destroy
ed partly through my fault. The school
is dismissed. Charles will remain
The boy sat quiet, uIheeding the jeers
on 4hn oEay orla &c 4ho ~
ers as they passed out, and staring
blankly straight ahead of him, like one
who had just seen a last hope go out. The
teacher watched his face, so stony, SO
unchildlike, long after the last young
footstep had battered out of hearing.
At last she said:
"Charles, did not suppose you cared
so much for playthings that you would
take those which did not belong to
you" ~ .
CT DON'T" answered the boy, logged
~. "Why don't you let me go now I?
There amt nothin' to stay for. You've
smashed it, and that's the very worst
thing you could do to me-.
"You may go 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, I can't them" he reioined,
desperately. CT haven't got a penny
in the world. If [ had had or could a
earned one do you think I'd touched
his old balloon!'
"But why should you, any way ?"
urged Miss Lawrence. cit wasn't
anything you needed"
"Wasn't it?" he cried, furiously. CT
never needed anything so much in all
my life, and if there's another to be
prigged in this town tonight I'm the
fellow that does it, and you may help
yourself. F"
"Why, Charles /" exclaimed the as
tonished lady; "are you crazy? What
is the matter? Tell me all about it,
she added, coaxingly, almost terrified
by the strange conduct of the boy.
whats the use ?" he muttered,
with suIIen, suspicious glance. You
couldn't 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
feelin's, who ever thought of our havin'
any? Feelin's is for folks that dress in
silks and satins off O. the money they
cheat us out of. "
"Charles, . observed Miss Lawrence,
gently, "I am sure I don't know what
makes you talk SO strangely, but am
very sorry for you, and if you will tell
me what all this means, I will help you
If can. Isn't that fair?"
81 &c Yes, ma'am," replied the boy,
slowly, after long, wistful gaze into the
troubled and gentle eyes of the teacher;
+" I'll tell ye, though there's nothin' you
can do, as l know on. You see, my lit
tie brother Len has been sick long
time and gettin' thinner and thinner till
he's jest as poor and pale as ghost. It's
mostly the poor food he has had 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 just has to lie still all day
long, with nothin to pass the time away
or make the time any easier, only when
some of US hold him up to the window a
few minutes at time. He can't bear
it long, butt seems to please him. Well,
the other day, as I was dom so, a boy
came along with one of them things, an
it took the poor little fellows eye, so it
seemed be must have one. But mother
told him she couldn't get it, cause she
hadn't bit of money, and then he 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"
"I've been tryin' ever since to get
somethin' to do, so I 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 day
or two. He's out of his mind a good
deal, and then he talks mostly about the
pretty red moon, and says he's going to
climb up into the sky and get it. I
thought maybe he'd die easier to have it,
and when L saw Ray Burgess with one
in his hand, I made up my mind to get
it if I could. It wasn't real, downright
stealing for me to take it from him;
really it wasn't, Miss Lawrence. Only
just takin' little of what belongs to us
for father spends most every cent he
earns at Mr.. Burgesss drink shop,
though mother has begged Mr.. Burgess
on her Bonded knees not to sell It to
him VUo,d b0 oOro forIa bIo ooJ looox4