The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-22
THE LOST BOYS.
A True Story Of the Adventures Of Little
Harfie and Percy.

~ IFuo STORY Oh Vno Auvcheur0s - A~ASS~~
Harfle and Percy
Harfe and Percy were two little
boys that lived in large city just
across the river from New York.
Though only five and three years
old, they sometimes did very strange
things. and once gave their mother
great fright. After breakfast one
morning, they were playing on the
stone walk in front of their house. but
they kept getting little farther OF,
first to see this sight and then that. un-
til they were many blocks away. Their
mother was so busy in the house SHE
did not miss them until about ten
O'Clock, when she looked all over the
large house, and called up and down
the street, but she could not find them.
She then went to the police station,
and told the man in charge Of her miss
ing boys, their ages and how they
were dressed. But though many of the
men with brass buttons and
clubs were hunting for the little runa-
ways, eleven, twelve, one, two, three,
four and five o'clock went by, and they
could learn nothing about them. The
father and mother and brothers and
sisters were almost wild with fears.
What if some gypsies had carried them
off, or they had been stolen like little
Charlie Ross, or they had gone to the
river and were drowned! But l can
not tell you how very badly they felt.
and the many fears they had during
this long, sad day, that seemed like
weeks or even months to them, it was
so awful.
About five o'clock. as the mother
stopped walking the floor and went to
look out of the window, who should
she see coming up the steps, whistling
as happy as could be, but little Harfe.
"But where is dear little brotherp'
asked the mother, rs she clasped Har-
tie in her arms.
81 don't know, mamma; l haven't
seen him this good while; he wouldn't
come with me- But I'll find HIM il
you don't cry So" said Harfie, for the
first time thinking something very bad
had been done.
The mother and Harfie started at
once, and as he led the way through
street after street and alley after alley,
the mother felt sure she should never
find her baby boy. At last they met 8
stout. busting lrishwoman who said
!'Indade, ma am, have you lost boy
j met one not long since, crying like
his heart would break, but couldn't
git him to come in, the poor little
dear!'
"Herc's where we played all day
mamma" said Hartie, stopping il
front OF long, dingy looking feed
store, land left him here" But tn,
mother learned of the clern that he haC
gone some two hours, going from there
towards the river.
'Oh-h" thought the mother, a.
she stood looking at the blue river
IF my baby is dlowned!' just thel
dirty, ragged little boy stepped up tt
her, and said: pat and Mike has jus
gone to the station with boy the,
found. it's right down this street fou
blocks, ma'am." " l.t
You can not know how happy thes
words made the mother feel, and hov
good this dirty, ragged little boy locke,
to her, and after giving him some pen
MES and thanking him she went as fas
rs she could to the station. But the,
had Just sent him home in charge o
the boys who found him.
1t was quite late and dark whel
Hartie and his mother reached home
but they could see a crowd of boy
around the steps and hear them quar-
rel over the reward for half bloc
away.
''Here's your boy, ma'am. 1 foun
HIM" came from some twenty boys a
once.
But the first thing the mother di
was to take little Percy in her arm
and kiss him; then she gave Pat an
Mike each a dollar, and all the boy
went off.
You never saw such tired, dirty littl
fellows in your life as the mothe
bathed and put to bed that night, an
as they saw how pale she looked, an
heard her cry as she held and kisse
them, and told them how sad she ha
been all day, they said: Don't cry Sc
mamma; we won't neUer do so an
more"
And am glad to tell you they neve
id.-ChriStion at Work.