The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-07-03

Iuere' anu we can nX up some sort of a
bed there for one night at least Your
Grandma Black, she's a human Chris
tian and not heather sphinx!" setting
her lips closely together Come, don't
cry any more, little boy. I'll take care
of you."
Mrs. Blacks amazement at the sight
OF Miss Whelpley leading child by
either hand on her kitchen threshold
may easily be imagined. At the piteous
tale she burst into tears.
"Oh, Miss Regina" said she, what
am to do? He says -
Never mind what he says" curtly
interrupted the girl. ''We can't let
these two poor little creatures perish of
cold this bitter March night because he
hasn't any heart! AS for getting to the
tavern before the stage starts again,
| they're not able to do it. And, after
| all, what would become of them at tho
other end of the route? No, Mrs. Black,
Well give 'em a good supper of warm
bread and milk, and fix 'em bed in nv
room for tonight. And if your husband
finds it out and scolds you, why you may
just tell him it was my fault. I'm not
afraid of him, if you are. And to-mor-
| row we'll consider what it is best to do
next"
Thus relieved, to certain extent, of
the responsibility, old Mrs. Black set to
work with glad and pitying heart to
warm and feed the two poor little child
rem, and did not rest until she had seen
them snugly asleep on floor bed in the
corner of Regina's small apar tment.
''It don't seem as if I could ever .et
'em go again, Miss Whelpley," said the
old woman, wiping her spectacle
glasses. "But you don't know what it
is to be married"
''No, don't" said Regina, laughing.
''But, never mind, Mrs. Black, two
sweet children like this will be sure to
find home somewhere"
Old Decimus came home at the usual
hour from his chat at the village store.
Mrs. Black looked at him guiltily as
he entered.
Its a-snowin'," said he; ''snowin'
hard"
''Is it, father?"
"Yes. Where's the lantern?"
"What do you want the lantern for?"
Decimus Black writhed uneasily.
81 stopped in at the tavern on my way
back" said he, San they sold me the
stage went back empty
Did it, father?" lin a low voice.)
can feel sort of uneasy to think
what can have become O. them chill
dren," unwillingly admitted the old
| 7
look O. that boy outeu my head It's ies
the way John James used to look at me.
John James had dreadful pleasant
eyes. Help me to s'arch for the lantern,
mother. [ must go out and hunt the
children up. 1 wish to goodness I'd
never sent 'em away"
At that moment the door at the foot
of the stairs opened. Regina Whelpley
stood there, with flushed cheeks and
shining eyes.
''If you really mean that, Mr.. Black"
| said she, Providence has been kinder
to you than you had any right to expect.
| Light the candle, Mrs. Black Show
him where the poor creatures are. I
found them covering under stone
fence, Mr.. Black, and l brought them
here on my own responsibility. Look"
She held the candle high above her
head. Old Decimus leaned forward, and
for the first time in her life, Mrs. Black
saw big tear plash down from his
dim eyes on the blue plaid coverlet.
'Im glad ont" said he, ''Pm glad
ont! It's bitter March night, and the
snow is falling as l never knowed it to
fall afore in March. and if them little
ones had perished-"
His voice broke down; he turned his
face away.
Father" pleaded the old woman,
coming close to him and putting one
withered hand appealingly on his arm,
''they may stay here, maYn't they?"
''Yes, he answered, in husky voice;
''they may stay here"
So the little wanderers found home
after all, and, to judge by popular re-
port not an unpleasant one.
''For, do Declare" said Miss Whelp-
ley, the village schoolmistress, "those
children rule the whole house. Only
think of old Decimus Black, who used
to think that children had no business
to exist, building play-room for them
in the barn and buying a little pony for
'em to ride, and taking 'em with him
wherever he goes. His heart has been
frozen up tight these many years, but it
has thawed out at last"
So it had. In the sunshine of chill
dren's smiles, the magic influence of
which the Great Teacher spoke when
He said:
"And little child shall lead them"
-Fireside Companion.