The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-03-08
LITTLE BOW-LEGS.
How He Repaid the Doctor for His
Kindness.

It certainly was a dreadful day for
the middle of March; the sleet was be-
ing driven in clouds along the streets
by a keen east wind, and roads and
pavements were deep in slush. Nurse
Grant paused just within the threshold
OF a small house in Old Road, Stepney,
to unfurl her umbrella and gather up
her skirts. Il will call again this
evening, Mrs. Evans; but think the
danger is past for the present, and you
need not be uneasy"
Thank you. nuss, Tn sure. Please
God. things win go better now"
"Well, 1 really think she is around
the corner; but be sure she takes
plenty of nOurishment. Good morn
ing"
"Oh, nuss, I nearly forgot, so did!
VIII you just call at No. AID see Lit
tie BOw-legsP"
The nurse nodded; she was already
out in the street, and the wind would
have drowned any verbal reply. Her
black vail was blown across her face,
her umbrella creaked with the strain
upon it, and nurse gave a little SILVER
as she hurried along, pushed on by the
wind as by unseen hands. When she
reached No. 9, she gave a sharp, double
rap mt the knocker. and then watched
a grating in the pavement to the left.
A face appeared below it presently,
and nurse nodded; n moment later the
door swung open. and nurse dived into
the welcome shelter.
I fn5v -, 7 Ten
it, Miss Moses?"
1t is so. nurse; but I'm glad all the
rooms are let"
'Pd rather have one upstairs room
unlct, think, and get more light and
air. wonder l don't have you for n
patient, living in cellar like that, 5"
and nurse shook her head severely and
began to climb the stairs. On the sec
ond landing she opened a door and en-
tered a low room lit by one small dirty
window. There was a bed in one cor
ner of the room, and large table COW
cred with crockery, sewing materials,
papers, etc, stood in the middle. The
walls were hung with bird-cages of
every description, some wretched little
wooden things. others nice, large
breeding-cages, and all occupied by
birds, who were fluttering and singing,
and filing the room with noise. Sew
eral strings were stretched ACROSS the
ceiling, from which damp garments
were 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
MP from the floor, and selling various
rags, threw them over the cages from
which the lOudest songs were trilling.
and then pushed forward a chair and
said: "Sit down" He was boy Of
about seven. with n well-shaped head
and clear, pale complexion; on his
face was a grave expression, as Of one
weighed down by weary experiences.
s. He is very i'll, nurse. Do you think
be can hveP He is to be my very own
If he does;" and he held up a wretched-
looking canary he had been cuddling
under his coat.
lit looks very i'll. Jim. Has it
caught coldP"
II b'lieve so. He used to sing beau
tiful, better nor all tho others put to-
gether, and now think hen die"
II hope not But you didn't send
for me to see the canary, did youPn
mo, NURSE The boy paused and
covered up his bird. II want to go to
the 'orspital"
I'm afraid, dear boy, they can't do
any thing for you there"
''Oh yes, they can; they can do most
any thing. Do take me-"
but, Jim, it would be a horrid OPP
GRAFTON, and you would have to stay in
bed for weeks"
Il don't care; don't care for muffin,
90 as TO be like other boys. Now,
can't run, but I tumbles down, and
they shouts after me everywhere:
There goes Little Bow-legsP" The
boys voice quivered, and nurse looked
distressed.
just then the door opened, and a
woman came in with a black bundle in
her arms. BLESS me, nurse, is that
youP Sure you are good to that boy.
! dunno what he would do without the
books you lend him, for he can't play
like other boys"
sis that work, Mrs. MillanP How
are you getting onP"
The woman unpinned the black bun
die and threw it on the bed. Flannel
trousers, nurse. A nice job to do in a
muck of a room like this. They birds
sprinkle dirty water over every thing. "
Better than no work. and the birds
paid the doctors bill last year.
That's true too. How's Betty
EvansP''
"She is much better to-day. About
this boy of yours. Mrs. MILAN; he says
he wants to go 20 the hospital % see if
they can straighten his legs. What do
you wishP'
''Wishl I wish I'd never married his
father. He's got his fathers legs, and
he'll get his fathers temper soon.
specs"
Il don't know any thing about his
father but think Jim il the best and
most Intelligent boy of his age that /
know Do you wish him to go to the
hOspitalP"
LAS he likes" replied Mrs. MILAN,
earelessly. Il don't believe nothing
will make those legs straight 'Taint
as though il were an accident; it runs
IN the family"
"Iiany thing could be doae It wouls