The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-16
LACE.

oo 0o0 1DoES x3mx such hardened Iittle clnp as he ix
 "Thxt fs the tls4 tAsk need to so.r
 But what fl nbhodyli nke him r
 Then I'll bring him back"
 So said the -supexiuteudenf of one of the eax1iest companies of children sent out by the fresA air fund, and 90 it came that Jack joined the eager ii1le crowd drawn from the alleys and slums oi the graat city.
 He is tough oae," said the superin- tendent tO himseh, watching lack as he half carelsssly, half vilfurly ripped up one or two smaller boys in the rusk which came when they were leaving the steamboat in order to take the can.
 He don't look lie the riaht sort,- said one or two farmers.
 "If they were the right sort they wouldn't need our help said pleasant faced woman who sat in . spring wagon '' Put him in here, please. Come. my boy, win you 60 home with mef'
 lack climbed into the wagon, but made little answer to the hnc.y attempts to draw him into conversation. His eyes were nevqg raised toward her as he rode along in logged silence, and Mrs. Lynn began to conclude that she had taken hold of very hard case indeed.
 But it was quickly seen that there were some things which Jack loved. Before night he made friends with horses, COWS, chickens, ducks, geese and cats, and lying under a tree in rapt admiration of a pert jay, which chatted above him, had almost succeeded in coaxing i, 70 light on his finger.
 "Come with me, and I'll show you something more," said Mrs. Lynn, the next morning after breakfast. She put a pail of salt into his hand. and they walked up a little glen, then up a steep hill, when she called:
 Nan, nan, nan, nan, nan, nan come, nan come, my pretties come. come, my pretiies."
 A quiet little pattering was heard, and down along the path which led higher up Jack saw coming line of soft-looking white things.
 "What's their names" he cried, in great interest.
 "Sheep. There are a great many more up over the top of the hill. but they don't know me very well, SO they don't come. We must % further"
 Higher up they went to where sunny pasture sloped more gently down the other side, and there were hundreds of the pretty creatures nipping the short grass or lying under the trees They looked at the strangers with shy, genfle eyes, hut gathered near as Mrs. Lynn repeaaed her call
 Jack lsnghed and whooped and rolled on tho R.ound in the excess of his de- light at first frightening them away. Bu, he was soon in among then. winning them by his coaxing tones to taste the sak he held ont to them. The boys face seemed transformed a Mrs. Lynn got her full glance at his eyes, and wondered at them. They were large and clear and soft as be laid his hands lovingly on the heads of the half-grown lambs, and pres ently tenderiy vfted one which seemed a little lame.
 You may take that one to the house if you like said Mrs. Lynn, and will bind up its poor foot"
 He did 90, and when he carried 1t back to the flock he remained all day, only going to she house when called to dinner by the sound of the conch-shell. And every day afterward the most of his time was spent on the breezy hillside, perhaps taking in the beauties of valley and stream and woodland which lay be- low, but finding his fill of enjoyment in the sheep. He was little seen at the house, seeming not to care for any human society, bat he took long walks at his will, from which he once brought home a bird with broken wing, and again a stray starved kitten, both of which he carefully tended.
 "Hear him !" said Mrs. Lynn one day, when she had gone out into the meadow, where her husband was at work. believe he knows every sheep there"
 Jacks voice came ringing down the hill.
 "Hiho! hiho! hiho. hiho-o-o-o-o-o my beauties! Come, Daisy-face, come, Cloud-vhise, come. my TnPsy-toes and Hippesy-hop and Hobbldehoy. Hilla, hilly, ho? my Hop-and-skip and old Jump-the fence. Come with yer batter batter and yer wiggie-waggle, my beau ties, oh! Where be you, Flax and Flin- ders and Foam? Come here, my jolly boys, and kick up yer heels on the grass in the 1soro-o-Ofnng.n
 He ge4s of some such rigmarole whenever he g0es near them" she said :; " and I'm sure evogy sassP knows him" {"
 Jack staid iof mogah among his fieey 4D11n11 and when the time came for syfng e1Dd-bye 10 them, nobody vas near 6 koar hfm say il Hs af1owed Mrs. Lgm - shahp his hand as he stepped on boas& Gke na1n which was to bear him back ss ks homs, or rather his hcmeless- ness, bat with little response to her kind farewelIs.
 She had tried 90 faithfully to impress him with the idea that there are plenty in this wide world whose hearts the dear Lord has fillsd with the tenderest pity and love toward those whose paths seemed laid in shadoved places, that she felt keenly disappointed in fearing she might have entirely failed. However, she remembered with comfort that, just