Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-12

the wardrobes.n
Involuntary the soldiers lips relaxed
into a smile, and the boy struck in eagerly:
"She wos VERY good to me, wos old Mrs.
Wilson. She wos a very kind lady. Some
times she used to give me my tea"
And how long has she been deadY'
"Oh, a long time. l wos a little chap
then"
Ferrers smiled again. "You're not a very
big one now, my hoy. How old are your
Twelve. Going on thirteen, sir"
"AhI' Then, after a pause, "Can you
readY'
The brown head was vigorously shaken,
and the blue eyes stared widely at the ques-
ton.
"Or writer
The head was shaken again. mo; but 1
can do the snake trick and the wriggling
dodge-they're both VERY difficult, "
eagerly.
Ferrers laughed. Eyes, I know. I've
seen you do them both. Now here we are"
as the cab stopped at the door of the officers
quarters. Come with me-"
There were several officers, some in uni
form and some in plain clothes, standing
about the doorway, who stared in surprise
as Ferrers, followed by the little acrobat,
alighted from the cab.
"Why, Bottles" cried one of them, "what
are you up to nowW
"At it againF" asked another.
"Yes, at it again. I'll tell you all about it
by and by" said Bottles, g~ood-naturedly,
and disappeared with his strange com
panion.
"Why, it is young Houp-La rom the
circus" exclaimed Lacy. 'I'm going after
him-er-to see what it means.n
He found the favorite of the regiment,
which Boobies was to every man, from COM
handing officer down to the last-joined SUBJ
altern and most l~ately-enlisted recruit, sit
ting in & big chair before the fire watching
the boy, who was crouched all Of a heap on
the bearskin rug, luxuriating in the heat
and warm light Of the bright flames which
blazed halfway up the chimney.
Boobies looked up. "Ah, is that you,
Lacya Come in"
Lacy CLOSED the door, and pushed the
easiest chair he could find up to the fireside.
''Bootle5," he said solemnly, ''pwray, are
you going to establish q F~oundling-er-
Hospitals Because, if you are-you had
er-better take my advice and make it;
headquarters at Ferwrers Court wrather
than in Idlemins5er Barracks"
Boobies laughed outright.
"You mean young Houp-La, there. Oh,
he's all right; he's going under Terry's care.
Don't trouble about him; he'll be in no.
body's way, and Terry has been asking for
extra help ever so long"
"Where did you pick him upq' asked
Lacy.
Down at the circus. That brute Frisco
was teaching him a new trapeze trick, with
the aid of that" pointing to the long white
whip set up against the d~ressing-table;
''and 1 stopped him and brought young
Houp-La away. That's ALL"
"Of course" Lacy murmured. ut goos
without saying. And-er-how did the ele
CANT Mr.. Fwrisco come Off
HE wolloped i'm" put in young Houp
La, jerking his thumb towards Boobies, 6
whole world Of delight shining in his bright
and intelligent eyes.
"Ah! walloped him, did her repeatet
Lacy with interest; ''and what did Mr.
Fwrisco say to thatF'
"'Owled," ans wered the boy tersely, hold
ing both his hands to the warmth of the fire
He had learned one lesson, this little circu:
rider, and that was to make a few words &c
q very long way, Both his hearers laughed
and then Lacy asked Beetles how it wa.
that he haa chancel to be in the circus a
that time Of daT9
ooh, l was going down to the club, and
happened to hear young Houp-La screaming
as l passed. That was all about it," care
lessly. "After all it isa very simple matter
He will be under Terry's charge-go tx
school, and make himself useful"
'rm to be among the ~'orses," explaine:
the boy, suddenly finding his tongue, anC
turning his blazing eyes upon Lacy; ''anC
Pm to have top boots and a tall at, like Mr.
Frisco, and go out with the kerridge. And
my word, it wers good to see i'm this alter
noon. e come in, and e see wot e were III
to-, and when o it out at me, the capting, !
its out at i'm, and e sends i'm flying dow
in the sawdust--and then,'' excitedly, 80
says e, Get upp and e 'ad to get up
and then thu capting e give him proper.
never see such a wollopingl MI. Frisco, ,
WON'T do no double somerset tonight, I
won't. And then," getting Oh to his feet
and standing a small skinny figure, looking
smaller than he really was by reason of tn
shabby old tights, worn and torn, with her
and there a spangle still clinging to them
land then, Mr.. Frisco, % dropsdown at last
and % lies accusing and a-swearing like hur
a and the capting q says, Dye Uan
some more o. thisl Stop that ere row. ;
avs. Dye 'earg Inever soc nothink 81
good afore," fairly chuckling. with u
own whip too-that was the best Of it."
'It does cut" continued young Houp-La
nodding at the white thong. 81 know il
we'll" Then his poor, pinched little fac:
b~righten91 up into positive radiance. "Bu
the capting amt never going to let me g.
back to 'im-never no more"
"Here is Terry. Now you shall go alont
with him and have soma dinner and a tul
and some warm clothes. And mind, YOUR
not to go outside the barrack gates. Do yot
hearP'
eyes, sir" then added earnestly, and look
ing his new master straight in the face
ttNot If I wos to swing for it,"
Boobies laughed, but stayed the lad q mo
ment before Terry took him away.
"Look here, my boy. Do you know wha
q lie isr'
eyes, sir, lido"
"Well, | want you to remember this
That whatever happens to you, whateve
trouble you may get into, you must neve
tell a lie by way Of trying to save yourself
Lies always are found out sooner Or Inter
and they never do any good at all to an.
one-never."
There was a moments silence. Then tn
Door, miserable little waif fell down a
BOTTLES feet, and flung his arms round hi