Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-09-28
CHAPTER XII.


Little Amos witnessed the departure
of his sister in silence. Mrs. Arnold,
with her face convulsed with strange
emotions, came into the kitchen, but
she dare not speak. The silent grief
dropping in great tears from those blue
eyes was enough to awe her. The child
began to sob timidly. He was afraid
to make any outcry.
Mrs. Arnold and her daughter were
now busying themselves with preparing
dinner and grumbling that Maggie had
gone away. The child sat by the win
dow in his chair, unnoticed. His
face was flushed aud pale by turns.
His breathing was short and quick, and
1t was evident that the soaking rain OF
the day before had brought on cold.
which might prove dangerous. But
no one noticed him. The dinner was
prepared almost in silence, with an
occasional spell of grumbling on the
part of Mrs. Arnold. When the mex
was ready the family gathered about
the table, giving no thought to little
Amos. Poor child-he had no appc-
tite for dinner, and could have eaten
but little had it been offered to him.
When dinner was over, the dogs had
been fed and few nice tid-bits given
to the cat. and crumbs gathered up for
the pig, Mrs. Arnold thought it would
be well to see If ''that child wanted
any thing. She found him gazing alb
stractedly from the window. and his
little face wonderfully white just now
"Don't you want nothin' to eat?"
asked Mrs. Arnold. standing by the
boy, her head high in the air.
If you please, ma'am." said the
child. in low frightened tone.
She then wheeled his chair about to
a kitchen table, and placed plate he
fore him. on which were some potatoes.
bread. and cold boiled meat. The little
fellow took a potato and nibbled the
end of it, then took a bite or two of
bread but his appetite was gone. He
seemed sinking. sinking down to
death.
II don't see why you don't get rid Of
that brat" said Halle 10 her father,
whom she met in the sitting-room.
II will as soon as tho hired man
comes back with the rockawsy." was
the answer.
The hired man came back about the
middle Of the afternoon, and Judge
Arnold went into the kitchen where
the boy was.
"Come, Amos" he said. in tones
intended to be cheerful, I'VE must go"
"Where ?'' asked the boy. fixing his
large, wondering eyes upon the man.
ITO Bill Jones', our friend, my boy,
who keeps all such boys as you"
IAN such boys as your Need Judge
Arnold have insulted the poor afflicted
child? Were not his sufferings great
enough without further wounding his
feelingss But the feelings of the boy
were deadened by pain and suffering.
We can be tortured until the nerves
become destroyed and senseless to pain.
and the bewildered child was in that
condition. The boy. complaining OF
his back, which had been hurt BY his
fall In the morning, got from the chair.
Placing his hands upon his knees. he
hobbled along to his crutches. which
stood against the wall. Taking them
under his arms. he found his little faded
cap and put it on his head.
There is shawl they brought"
said Mrs. Arnold.
put it around him." commanded
Judge Arnold.
The woman obeyed. trembling vio-
lently. she could not tell why.
'Now. father. the carpet bag, take
that along"
Arnold seized the plain old carpet
bag containing few clothes for tho
child, as though it were a contemplate
thing. and then. followed by the little
cripple, left the house.
'Come on, come on" said the impa-
tent man at the gate, holding it open
for the child. who was slowly and pain
fully coming toward it; "you can 20
faster than that, and l know it."
The poor little fellow tried to increase
his speed. and stumbling. fell. He ut
tered cry of pain, and Mr. Arnold,
with an oath. commanded John TO carry
him to the carriage.
The kind-hearted John took up the
little beggar-.for was he not beggar
now?-and carrying him to the vehicle
placed him in RS comfortably Us he
could. The child bore his suffering
with scarcely Il murmur
As James Arnold sat in his easy cas-
riagc, which was whirling away tows,d
the poor-housc. he had no rxought for the
little occupant. He did not see the ~.
gelic expression Of that sweet little
face. or appreciate his great trust in nm
Almighty Father Amos l4akeman was
young. not 70 exceed six years of axe.
and no larger than many ch;lAr.r -