River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-03-14
LITTLE B0W-LEGS.
How He Repaid the Doctor for His
Kindness.

Grant paused just within the threshold
Of small house in Old Road Stepney.
10 uufurl her umbrella and gather up
her skirts. Il Will call again this
evening. Mrs. Evans. but I think the
danger j. past for the present, and you
need not be une8-r'
Thank yOu. uuss, I'm sure. Please
God. things will go better now"
''WeI, | really think She Is around
the corner, but be- sure she takes
plenty Of nouri-hmcnt Good morn
ing"
oh, nu--. / nearly forgot. so I did,
Wiz Won just call at No. . and see Lit
tic Bow-Ieg-s"
The Hsr-e nodded; she was already
out III tha street. and the wind would
have drowned amy verbal reply Her
black vail was bIo'sn across her face.
her umbrella cryaEzed with the strain
upon IT, and nurse gave a little shiver
as she hurried along. pushed ON BY the
wind as by unseen hands. When she
reached No ., she gave sharp. double
rap at the knociler, ana then watched
a grating in the pavement 10 the left
4 face appeared below il presently.
and nurse nodded: a moment later the
door swung open. and nurse divcd into
the welcome shelter.
Very dark down stairs to-day. isn't
it, Miss Moses
1T is =O, nurse; but I'm glad all the
rooms are Iet.
I'd rather have one upstairs room
unlet, / think ANA get more light and
air. I wonder / don't have you for a
patient, living in cellar like that. =
and nurse shook her head severely and
began 10 climb the stairs. On the Sec
Ond landing She opercd door and en-
tered low room lit by one small dirty
window. There was "a bed i'm one cor
ner Of the room, and a large table COW
cred with crockery. sewing materials.
papers, etc. stood IT, tho middle The
walls Were hung with bird-cages of
every description. some wretched little
wooden things. others nice. large
brCcdiug-Cages, and all occupied by
birds, who We're liuttering and singing.
and filling the room with noise. Sew
eral strings were stretched across the
ceiling from which damp garments
We're hung. and diving under these
nurse reached the fireplace, before
which a small boy was sitting He had
not heard her enter because of the
birds: but directly he saw her he got
up from the floor, and Selling various
rags. threw them over the cages from
which the loudest songs were trilIing.
and then pushed forward a chair and
said. .'Sit down. He was boy of
about seven, with 4 welL-~hapeI head
and clear. pale complexion; ON his
face was grave expression. as Of one
weighed down by weary experiences.
lie Is very i'll. nurse. DO You think
he c1g live? He Is To be my very own
if me does" aud he held mp a wretched-
looking canary he had been cuddling
Iuder his coat
1T looks very III. Jim Has it
s.tught cold2.
II h'Iieve 80. He used 10 sing beau
tiful, better nor all the others put to-
gether. and now think he'll die"
II hope not. But You didn't send
for me to see the canary. did you?"
No. nurse" The boy paused and
covered mp his bird. Il want 10 go TO
the 'orspital
..Tm afraid, dear boy. they cas't do
any thing for you there.
.Oh yes. they can. they can do most
any thing Do take me
But, Jim. il would bc a horrid OPP
Grafton. and YOU would have to stay in
bed for weeks.
4 don't care; I don't care for muffin.
SO as 90 hc like other boys. Now, l
can't run. but I tumbles down. and
Hcy shouts after me everywhere:
There goes Little Bow-legs2" The
boys voice quivcrcd. and nurse looked
distressed.
just then the door opened. and
woman came iu with a black bundle in
her arms. Bless me. nurse. is that
you2 Sure You are good 20 that boy.
] dunno what he would do without the
books you lend him. for he can't play
like other boys
Is that work, Mrs. NiilIau2 How
are you getting ous''
The woman uupiuned the black bum
die and threw il ON the bed "Flasnsl
trousers. muse \ nice Job % do in
muck 81 room like this They birds
sprinkle dirty water o,,r every thing"
..Bcucr than No work. ana the BINDS
paid The doctors bin las, year"
That's true too. How's Betty
Eyans2
..She is much better to-day About
this boy Of yours. Mrs MILAN; he says
he wants 10 20 % the hospital 10 see il
they can straightcn his legs. What do
you w5-h2"
Wish, wish Ia never married his
father. Hes got his fathers legs. and
he'll get his fathers temper soon. l
specs.
Il don't know any thing about his
father. but think Jim is the best and
most Intelligent boy Of his age that
know DO yea wish him To go 70 the
hospital?"
As ne likes. replied Mrs. MILAN,
carelessly Il don't believe nothing
vii. make those legs straight faint
as though il were AN accident; il runs
in the family"
If any thing could be done it would
probably be b. breaking the bones Of
both legs. and the boy would be in he'd
month. Could you lie quietly on your
back for four weeks. Jims
Yes. u a year, 80 as l should Dc
like other bows.
IF he's set on it. nurse. he'd better
50. If You can give him a letter.
i Will give him a letter, said nurse,
rising She glanced round the crowd
ed little room. and longed TO put in a
plea for more space and light; but ex-
perience had taught her it was useless
The Millsus we're very respectable;
but me husband was an enthusiastic