Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
VAGABOND JOE.


''Please give me a morsel of bread
Pm so hungry!"
Mrs. Davis turned at the sound of
that plaintive childish voice, and look
ed angrily at the small intruder.
BE otfr' she muttered sharply.
''What do you mean by entering hon
est peoples gardens, youyoung thiefP'
A brilliant sensitive flush surged
into the boys thin cheeks, and he re-
coiled as if he had received blow.
With head down bent and eyes filled
with bitter tears, he walked slowly off,
out into the wide white road.
Mrs. Davis returned to her inter-
rupted work and gave vent to her i'll
humor on the yellow shining butter
she was beating into small round pats.
Tomorrow was market day, and con-
trary to her usual habits, the farmers
wife was not in advance.
A young girl, rosy checked and
brown-eyed, dressed in a simple blue
cotton gown, stepped from the flower
wreathed porch where she had been
occupied in Smelling beans.
Shading her eyes with her hand, she
gazed steadily, regretfully, after the
boys retreating form.
'Im sorry you sent him off like that,
Clara" she said presently. He look
ed dreadfully hungry, poor child, and
not like the ordinary run of beggars."
Nonsense, Bessier' her sister ans
wered GROSSLY. eff once we encour-
age those idle yagabonds about the
farm we shall never be rid of them.
10 e., -Ig l..
mer to begin the same folly this"
Still | don't think he was thief.
His face looked true and honest"
Mrs. Davis shrugged her ample
shoulders, and bent lower over her
butter.
Perhaps she felt slightly ashamed of
her harshness, but she was not going
to say so.
Bessie heaved little sigh, lifted the
big bowl Of beans, and slowly entered
the cosy farmhouse. AS she stood on
the threshold, she hesitated, and
glanced back over her shoulder.
4 haven't seen the children since
breakfast, Clara. Do you know where
they areP"
4 sent them into the fields to play"
rs Nellie with themP'
''Yes. | couldn't Get on with my
work with her hanging about me; be-
sides, Agnes is quite old enough to look
after her now"
An anxious expression crept into
Bessie's soft brown eyes, and a shadow
settled on her brow.
As she entered the pleasant sunlit
kitchen, and commenced preparing
for their early dinner, a sigh broke
from her.
81 wish Clara would not let the chill
dren wander so far alone; it is hardly
safe. and Jack is too thoughtless to be
trusted with his young sister.
n "
Still smarting under the sting of
Mrs. Daviss cruel speech, his heart
beating with mingled grief and anger,
Joe walked quickly along the hot road,
forgetting in his trouble the WEAKNESS
and hunger which ovorpowered him.
Presently, however his excitement
cooled down, and with a sigh which
was almost a sob. he crept into one of
the cool green fields.
Flinging himself down beneath a
shady tree, he closed his eyes, trying
to WOO Slumber as a solace for his
wrongs.
He was tired with long walking and
many sleepleSs nights. In spite of his
hunger he soon fell into a deep, deep
sleep, haunted by no visions of sadness
OF unhappy dreams.
Presently the silence was broken. A
group of children-two boys and two
girls-came slowly towards the small
rustic bridge which spanned the mar
row stream running between the two
meadows. The elder boy had rod
and line in one hand, big glass jar in
the other.
''This is just the place for fishing"
he remarked, sitting on the bridge so
that his legs dangled over. Look af-
ter Nell, Agnes"
Agnes, pretty rOSy-cheeked lasSie,
E.rew herself down on the messy bank,
from where she could watch her BROTH
sr's movements and keep a vigilant
eye on the two younger children Gull
ling flowers amongst the tall grass.
ats rather sunny here,m she re-
marked, dragging her big cambria
bonnet farther over her eyes; ''still it's
very pleasant.
Yes; we may as well remain here
until dinner time" Jack answered
quietly. Mothers busy making-up
butter, and it only makes her cross to
see us about the house."
Il hope she won't mind US playing
uear the stream"
"Why should she mind?'
because of Willie and Nell"
..Bosh" Jack exclaimed scornfullY.
.'They are safe enough, and it isn't
likely we are going to give up fishing
for themr'
Agnes smiled, and settled herself
more comfortably.
Suddenly Jack started, his STAGE aglow
with delighted rapture.
'Aggie, I've caught oneG'' he NUT
tered triumphantly, and drawing his
line from the water he showed her a
tiny silvery fish wriggling at the end.
Agnes went nearer, watching with
pleased eagerness while Jack transfer
red the shining little creature from the
line to the jar. Willie, who had be-
come equally interested, crept on to