Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-13
LITTLE CHARLIE.

Not a pleasant place TO die in, and per-
haps it was just As well that poor Ph9be
Wells, in her restless delirium, fancied
herself back in the sweetscented orchard
1t home.
Meanwhile a child OF four years old,
with his round face besmeared with dirt,
and his fiaxen curls tightly matted to-
gether with neglect. sat coiled up in
window-seat, playing with headless
wooden-horse and singing softly to him
self. What did little Charlie know Of
death?
"Sure, It's wanderin' she is" said one
Of the women who were sitting in the
| room; "and enough to tire the patience
Of the blessed saints themselves, sitting
here. There's the bit OF letter she
began to write and hadn't strength to
finish. What shall we do with itf'
Burn 1t, shortly returns a wrinkled
old hag, who was already busy In turning
| over the slender S ore of linen in the
worn hair-trunk to find something fit
ting for a shroud ~ its no use to any
body now. an she can't spake reasonable
as to where it is to go. Yes, yes, honey,
| | know" as Phpbe stretched out her
| attenuated hands with wistful cry Of,
"Charle-youll take Charlie home"
Sure, an it's that we will" said the
old woman chuckling. We've got
nothin' else to do, my fine lady, an
! lots O. money to spare, excursioning
round the country! Lie still, dear!
But still she cried, "Charlie-Charlie!"
! and the younger woman lifted the little
! creature, still clinging to his wooden
! horse, on TO the bed. Charlie opened
| his blue eyes and began to cry.
Mamma, what makes you look so
stranger"
She drew him so close down to her
with a shudGering sigh, his checks
against hers, his tangled curls ming
ling with her dishevelled black tresses.
"Oh, my baby, l cannot go and leave
| you'll cannot L"
The death-rattle In her throat inter
rupted all further attempts at speech.
There were one or two incoherent muir
muring sounds-that was all-and so
| poor PhPbe Wells died.
They took little Charlie away Devil
iered and terrified, and dispatched
| someone for the "pauper'S coffin, "
which was to enfold the poor creatures
| last remains.
"Sho's got no friends" said Mrs.
Dennis, ian it's but fair, afthcr all the
.rouble we've had, Norah Macarty, we
should divide the little she's left"
"It's me ought to have tho bits o
clothes an things, said Norah jeslously.
"a You never came a-cjgh her till last
two days"
"wcll, an It's no moro than fair,
Norah, dear" said the Irishwoman
smoothly; AN you goin' to be mar,
ried in a month. You kapc the clothes,
an welcome, and Ill have tho bit OF
boy; he's just the child l want fol
begin, since they took poor little Ear
ney O'Toolc away, worse luck TO EN-
| al N CT
til be tho worse for ycz. Did ye want
taste o Mother Dennls's strap
| Charlie followed his rough guide
frightened into trembling silence.
Poor little creature! it was well tina
&c WAS not old enough to realise the ter
ible fate now opening before him.
% cz wouldn't bHlav it, an him 81
young" said Mrs. Dennis triumphailtiy
but hos tho best litter in NIL tn
children! Soc here, Mike Dooley, tw,
; haGGk echCrs an u snuG-box, let oloh
the two apples from TIE podLlcra st,...>
an an ash-box half full of iligan
pupcr-rasS. Give him drop o yer beer
Mike, an we shall have baked potatie
an pigs'-trotters for your supper
darlnt p
This was one of Charities lucky days
Sometimes he came home, blue Will
cold, pennyless, and without booty o
any kind; and then Mrs. Dennis wa
as liberal in the use of the strap, an
what is called 1.-The rough side of he
tongue" as she was in her rewards.
I'll run away when I'm big enough
resolved the littleSsix-year-old hero
many night as he lay on his straw
pallet. with half-a-dozen other pun
wretches as miserable as himself
watching the peaceful stars shinin
through the rafters overhead.
L" Mrs. Dennis says my mamma
name was Bridget Lanigan, but
wasn't; IL was Phpbe! She told IN
80 once; and l had a wooden-hors
to play with, and l used to say m
prayers at night. can't remembe
EN- now; and Pat Keelan says they'r
all -and-and-"
So little Charlie dropped off to SLEEP
as forlorn little wretch as nigh
brooded over with her peaceful pre-
tecting wings of starry darkness.
But Charley did not run away. 1
the first place, there was nowhere t
run to, and Charlie ~xs sufficient of
conservative to remain quietly whc
he was sure of shelter and daily brea
to eat; not always that, however, unles
Mrs. Dennis was in good humor.
Then, child as he was, he felt hlmse
to be a sort OF pariah in the QUITE
world his tiny hand against every man.
and every mans against him.
!. Such was the state of affairs, one d,
n cember night, when our little hero cam
&c wailing home with purple cheeks an
r. chilled fingers and toes, concious that
u had nothing to plead why he should II,
q, be sent supperless to bed,
Is But, to his establishment, Mrs. Dem
3 was all motherly af!ability, and Mil
y Dooley himself took him between h
knees in front of the blazing fire, an
helped to chafc his hands.
n Mike, in general, being as brutal
. ruflian us ever came in contact with II
to law, Charlie could not imagine what
all meant.
Its two old maids of 'cm livin' a
;. alone" said Mrs. Dennis, resumirg II
n conversation where it had been brok.
y of at Charles entrance; land there's
:: closet full of old plate, am Nora
. says-Norah cleaned them, yez kEov
the staircase windy, openin' on Il
| back street, would let a sood-sized ca
in between the bars, and where e,
can go our Charlie can. Wouldn't y,
II like that. Charlie dear, to help crack
crib"
Charlie stared vacantly into the fir
and munched his crust OF stale breat
+ IAN yeil have 10 do will be to cree
y | in nj layli,rIt bayE bopax-