West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-05-31
THE BABES IN THE WOOD
pY rArIENcE srArLEroN.

He was little pauper boy being re-
turned TO the State that must maintain
him. He sat very quiet in his seat.
thinking of his grandmother. who had
died in that little village that was send
Ing him away. He thought Of her grave
on the hillside burying ground, where
wild roses aud raspberry bushes clung
about the stones; where the bees hummed
IN the sInshine, the birds sang in the
naples, and the long grass in the soft
summer breeze blew acrosS the graves
like pals. He remembered n horny-
handed farmer, who had passed him ON
his sad journey TO the depot with one of
the selectmen OF the town, and the
farmer had patted his head SAYING
kindly: Take this five cents, bub keen
1t and you'll never want money for you'll
allus have it. /" lie pondcred over this
arithmetical problem until his brain was
tired. When he drank from the rusty
tin cup he thought Of the rollicking
brown brook that run through the vii.
iiage, and wondered if the children play
ing on Its banks would remember him.
No one tried to talk TO him, for he was
such small, quiet child he was not ne-
ticed. No one saw the pathetic little
face grow pale or the shadows come i'm
his dark, bright eyes He drolmcd the
second night Of his journey, that with
his grandfather, he was walking on
long bridge and great Steamship
breathing dense, black smoke came
crashing down upon them He awoke
with little cry and found himself lyiuo
on the ground under the stars. There
had been an accident TO the train and
some kind men had lifted the uncon-
scious child out OF window. A hght
flashed close 10 his face.
'1t's the little chap shipped to Wis
consin. said a brakeman, holding his
light lower, he is dead think and
better of no doubt, poor little fellow"
After long blank the child came
back to life with those words ringing i'm
his ears, "Dead and better of" There
were thick woods near, and close 10 him
wounded people lying on blankets
Afai oil was lurid light where one oI
the wrecked cars was burning lie
wondered what had happened in terror
he staggered 10 his feet. and with the
blind instinct of sleep walker STUN
bled into the forest When the wounded
were carried away he was forgotten. lie
was all alone in the world there was no
one TO miss him
In q cool, grassy hollow hidden bv tall
green ferns he slept dntl late the next
day. lie wondered then If he were
dead, he seemed deserted by every one
and he had no idea how ne came into the
woods. lie saw his little basket near
him, noted his clothes were burned and
dusty. lie listened and the ripple Of
brook came near to him lie went 10 it
and bathcd his head and the wound i'm
his forehead that began TO smart There
was little rustic in the alder bushes.
and there across the brook. looking mt
him with beaming face, was little
golden-haired child. Her blue eyes were
red with tears, her pretty white gown
dirty aud torn, her blue sash trailing on
the ground.
Harry, my Harry, she cried stretch
ing out her little arms 'come get baby
baby never WIN OF no more"
He went across the brook carrying his
basket She was very hungy and his
generous heart fcioiced that he had eaten
little a.l the journey and had clung tight
to g basket through hs trials From
her confused talk be learned She had
been lost in thc woods the dav before
and slept all night at the foot of n trer.
he saw he was not Harry, but stroked
his face with her 10 ing hand saying
"Ou hurted, poor other Harry Mamma
make on wcll.' Ills senses coming TO
him with this new charge, he took her
By the hand and set out TO fud some
body.
lie was not afraid iu the woods Tor he
and bis grandmother had slept many
night under the stars Toward dark he
saw on side path n pair of shining eyes.
round globes of fire lie was carrying
the child, and ho kept bravely on. say
ing the prayer his grandmother had
taught him The luminous eyes disap.
peared quickly, and ho knew 10 was only
q harmless little fox. When he could
90 noiurther DE laid The child down.
covering her with his jacket. and watched
until be fell aslcop by her side
So quaint and pretty pair night have
been those two sweet babes lcft iu the