Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-12-20

| sorry Maggie scolded but never
mind, she don't mean half she says
I'll have to go back now, for shes
/, calling; but ii you'll come some
day when mamma il home, she'll
give you work. And here''-patting
her hand into her coat pocket and
bringing out silver piece papa
/, l'gave it 10 me last night and l want
! you To take IL and buy yourself a
shovel.'
Such vision of childish lowell
ness-the little face flushed, the big
brown eyes beaming with sympa-
thy, looking out from frame work
of golden curls! Jack was dazed
for 4 moment, and took mechanic
ally the twenty-five cents she held
out to him.
II don't like to take your money"
he said at last; "you will want to
use it yourself"
i May shook her curly head. "No,
| won't; papa will give me more to-
night, and
/ Here the calls, "Miss May! Miss
i MayW grew nearer and nearer, and
/ before the sentence was finished the
nurse had reached them, seized the
little girl angrily by the hand, and
led her away.
Jack watched her until they en-
tered the house, and then turned
his attention to the silver piece. 1t
| wouldn't buy the coveted shovel,
! but somehow il seemed to put new
heart into him, and that was worth
more than the money.
i flor cfNr,an flx,Ifhar..fSnn 1xns
ded to try his fortune once more
and turned into another street.
Presently he reached d small wood
en- house, and soon struck bargain
with plump old lady, who stood
at the window and watched him all
the time. 1t was pretty hard work,
for Jack was little fellow, and he
had to rest good many times; but
at last II wAs done, and he felt fully
rewarded as he handed back the
shovel, and received in return u
bright silver dime.
Success brings success the neigh;
boring sidewalk was ready for him
at the same price, but ii was pitch
dark, and long after the time ap
pointed to meet Polly before he fin
ished, He was almost afraid she
had not waited for him; but yes,
there she was, close to the window,
looking for him eagerly in the crowd
OF passers-by. Polly had to take
the money in her own hands and
count il over several times before
she could realize he had earned so
Aiuch IN one day. Very small her
earnings sseemed-onIy five cents
4, l,lxy tRNn Nf
but she too had had days adven-
ture, and this Is what she told Jack
as they walked along.
Scarcely any one needed the little
girls voice. She had become so
discouraged as the afternoon wore
OF that she had almost decided
to give up and go home. While
she was waiting on the curb-stone
for break in the steady stream OF
vehicles to cross over, she heard n
cry, and turning sawa child stand
ing, AS il confused by the crowd,
sobbing bitterly. She was without
hat or sacque, snjvering with cold,
her long fair Understanding in the
wind, and except that occasionally
Il gentleman on his way home from
business looked at her curiously,
and said, "A lost child" seemed
unnoticed by the careless throng.
At length tall grim-lOOking lady
stopped and asked the cause OF her
tears. .A
"My doggy ran out the door,"
sobbed she, "and | went after him
to catch him, but he went too fast,
and now he's lost, and | can't find |
~ f,.Il
ed fresh flood of tears.
''And where Is your hOme" "
But the child WAS too frightened
and confused to give any idea she |
only knew she lived in houseSby |
n park. and nothing more definite |
Ould be drawn from her.
"Humph" said the lady "some
neglected baby given over to the
care of nurses see nothing. for IL |
but 10 put her in the charge Of the |
nearest policeman" q.
This seemed to strike the little |
girl with fresh terror. and she broke /
out into wild cries of distress al |
am not naughty; / will not go
with policeman !" and darting |
out into the street, would certainly
have been trampled down by the
horses il Polly had not caught her.
Polly took off her shawl and |
wrapped it around the shivering
child. She was too tired for ques-
tiOns, so Polly made up her mind
to take her home and get her moth
er'S advice as to whatit was best to |
do. She lifted her in her arms, and |
staggered across the street but the
burden was heavy, and the walk to
the tenement-house long, so it was
quite dark before she reached there.
Mrs. Carr, the children's mother,
was kind-hearted English woman,
who had once filled very different
station in life, and she received the
little girl tenderly, and bade Polly
go out and find Jack that he might
give the notice at the different police
stations at once.
81 had better see her myself |
first," said Jack, as they climbed
the tenement stair, for it had taken
Polly some time 10 tell the. story,
"There are always so many lost
children, and they will want to
know how she looks. Did she tell
you her name ?'
"She says il is Fleming" answer
ed Polly, land she is SO pretty, with
curly hair, and such nice clothes
all white from head to foot. My!
guess her mother must be rich"
Jack opened the door. Their
mother met them with a caution TO
be quiet-the little guest had fallen
asleep. They passed into the ad-
joining room, and there, reposing
on an old ragged sofa, Jack saw his
little friend of the morning! Mrs.
Carr and Polly were at loss to un-
derstand his cry of pleasure, much
less Nays look OF recognition as
she slowly opened her eyes.
"It is the snow boy ~ she cried. l.
with delight. "You know where
live; and oh, you wiIftake me back
again to my own papa and mann
ma W ~ -. .-..s.
Jack was very tired and hungry,
but he did not wait for the bowl OF
bread and milk which his mother
had put on the table for him. Ma
king the necessary explanations as
speedily as possible, he rushed down
stairs, and in the direction of Mr..
Fleming's house. With very diff
ferent feelings from those OF the
morning ne ascended this time the
broad sfeps which led to the door
way, and sent word that he had
news of the missing child The