The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-06-28
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Mrs. Elkinah Wilkins was a good wo-
man in all the essential virtues of char
acter, but she had one peculiaritv that
had grown and developed until il be.
came the shadow of sin. She never
meant to be dishonest. Yet she ground
her washerwoman's wages down 10 tine
uttermost farthlng, and paid her butcher
and baker with such grudging reluc-
tance that they almost hated to touch
her money, Often as she read her Bible
she never had weighed that frequent
sentiment about expressing the Door.
She would not have picked a nocl,at
for the world, but if the conductor of a
street car failed to notice her ticket in
the obscure position in which she held
1t, and passed on, she slipped il back
into her purse, and inwardiy congratu-
lGted berself on stealing a ride.
Mrs. Wilkins had one child. a little
boy. She loved the child dearly and
never acknowledged to herself that she
grudged him either food to eat or clothes
TO wear. But when she took the inno-
cent little fellow on the street car with
her she snuggl'd him up and treated
MN like an infant IN order to escape
paying fare.
SNhts iol num- 5dlu the COnQuC-
tor one day.
What! You surely don't take fare for
babies she remarked Indignantly.
For babies over years old we do
said the inilaxible official Fare.
ma'am.'
She paid it, grumbling all the while
and protesting against such out
rageous robbery
Iittln Harlavr ,,os n tho,,ot,,e.I I'M
That night, when his mother was saving
Sood night to him with great tender
ness, he asked in speculative way:
Mamma, did God charge you a great
dear?'
Why, Harley Wilkins, what put
such an idea into your head p asked his
mother, in great surprise.
Cause you can't pay for me, mamma,
and think when God sends little boy
into the world he ought to give him
enough money to pay his car fare
Mrs, wilkins was not woman of fine
3ensibilities but she was impressed for
the time by Harley's child sh reasoning,
Then the old habit asserted itself again.
her husband supplied her with money
for incidental expenses, and had no idea
my manifested itself.
Mrs, Wilkins went to visit an aunt,
and took Harley with her. The child
was delighted at the prospect of a long
rlue on the steam car, and set out with
merry heart. His nature was shrink
ing and sensitive, the result of very
delicate constitution, and pleasure as
Wen as pain took strong hold upon
him.
Sit next TO the window, Harley said
his mother, when they took seats in the
car, and the boy was very willing. as he
wanted to see all he could. Don't sit
up SO straight, lean down IN the corner
more, said his mother throwing a shawl
about his small figure.
But il hurts me here, mamma re-.
monstrated the child, placing his hand
on his heart,
Presently the conductor came in and
began taking up the tickets.
Children half price, he said. "A fare
and half, if you please, ma'am.
Harley shrunk lower into the seat; he
would gladly have made himself invisi.
ole.
Sit up, my little man, said the con
ductor, kindly.
Mrs. Wilkins fumbled in her purse
and protested tha- she had no money in
change,
How old is the boy?' asked the con-
ductor.
He is six years old-5o he is. she
said to herself.
With two years added to it. I'm
sorry, ma'am, but must have his fare.
He is too old to ride free.'
This incident spoiled all the pleasure
of the ride for the frightened, humil-
lated child, who imagined everybody in
the car knew that he had been tryIug to
steal a ride
That fail Mr.. Wilkins sold his house
and tried boarding for the winter. 1t
would have been very funny if It had
not been very sad, to hear Mrs Wilkins
bargaining for room and board for two
with htlle child thrown in.
He was very small eater, she said,
and could easily be fed from her plate,
and he would wait and not require an
extra seat at table and sleep ON sofa
in her room, SO lie would be no trouble
to any one.
So he was included like a cat or a
parrot, with their belongings. and he
said not word, though he held his
mothers hand and read her face with
his great blue eyes while she haggIed
about him And she told his father that
Harley had outgrown his foolish baby
habit of asking questions.
But he thought Oh, deep in his little
heart, he thought and thought over the
complex mysteries of life,
One night he lay awake on the sofa
bed and could not sleep.
His head was hot and felt twice its
natural size, Pretty soon he began to
talk. His father and mother heard him
and said:
He is dreaming
But it was they who were dreaming.
The child was waking-waking in the
morning that has never a noon or a
night,
His mother heard his last words with
an agony of remorse that came too
late.
Please, dear God, let mt in. haven't
any ticket nor money, and m eight
years old and half price. Nobody wants
me. There isn't any place for little boy
without money. If you'll just take me
up there | won't be in anybody's way
and Pm-so tIred-so tired
His head dropped The flush on his
cheek faded-the tired little heart was