The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-09-16

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you'll have to look after Bennie tc
day. Put him on the little pony and lie
him ride around with you. An be sur
an give him a good diuner, Eber
There's plenty cooked, and some crock
Of milk in the spring-house. III b
home early, reckon"
And so Miss Perry drove away, Oh
some secret mission of her own.
Dr. Brant, the Chairman of the Boar,
of Asylum Managers, was somewha
startled by the tall, grim woman, VIII,
presented herself without ceremony il
his Office and looked him over through
pair Of stony spectacles. When he court
eously announced that he was at he
service, she said briefly:
MY brother, Eben Perry, and 1 tool
an orphan out o the Asylum for tn.
sumner. An now We want to keel
him"
| "Ahl" said DR.. Brant, consulting hi;
books. "Let me see-um-Eben Perry
-yes, here it is. Child, Benjamin Bart
lstt, age years. A cripple. Parents
both dead. And you want this child
Iyou say?"
Yes" she responded, her grimness
beginning to relax. We've took kind
of notion to him. He's a sunshiny
little chap, an the house seems different
somehow since he's been in IL"
"Yes-yes-let me see" mused DR..
Brant, turning the leaves of another
book. 'Bennie Bartlett-Bartlett-yes,
here it is. All, yes, thought so. This
is the child. The fact is, Miss Perry, a
distant relative, great-uncle, l believe,
of the child has just been discovered, and
he has been interviewed by the Asylum
managers, and has signifed his willing
ness to take the child. OF course, under
those circumstances"
Miss Perry had risen, and stood there
elutching at the back OF chair. Great
tears had started to her eyes, and her
voice shook when she spoke.
at can't b" I" she said. take that
child away from me? must have him.
l will not give him up DR.. Brant, listen.
Ny brother Eben an have lived to-
gether since we irst grew up. Neither
Of us ever married. We have kind
o dried up an hardened as the years
went by, until we was more shell than
anything else. l was vexed with Eben
when he brought the child home, he was
so little an puny; but amt the same
woman l was. Why, I've gone fshin'
with him, an rode with him on the
pony, an swung him til' he was tired. L
have done worse'n that Pve played ball
with him. Don't laugh, Dr. Brant"
DIR. Brant was not even thinking about
laughing. He was searching through his
pockets for his big silk handkerchief,
and when be found it he blew his nose
with emphasis. Then he went out and
::iinhad into Miss Perry's oid-1asnloned
buggy, alter handing her IN with his
courtliest manner, and they drove madly
from place to place, as though their lives
depended on their getting possession of
an eight-year-old orphan who was Grip
Piled.
The distant relative, having been
found, pretended to want the child very
much indeed, but was finally persuaded
to give him up. And then Miss Perry
went to the proper authorities and legally
adopted Bennie Bartlett, and after a
while she bade DR.. Brant goodbye and
drove home, calm and serene.
The 'little chap" was hers, with no
one to dispute the title.
Eben came down the path to meet her,
with Bennie on his shoulder. Both their
faces were red with romping, and Bennie
clapped his hands when he saw her and
held out his arms to her.
AN how is my little mascot?' she
said, absolutely taking him in her arms
and kissing him. Tears were shining in
her eyes. Bennie put up both hands
and wiped them away.
Nobody oughtn't never TO cry now"
be said ''times is so good"
"Yes, times is good, said Miss Perry,
As she set him down on the steps. Eben,
he boys ours. I've adopted him. An
went to that big surgeon up in town an
old how he was ailin', an he said he
'ould be cured. He's goin' to get him a
little iron brace to wear on that leg, an |
before many months he'll have him
strong an well. What's the matter with |
Tou, Eben ?"
But Eben went out to the kitchen and |
iet about making fire in the stove, with |
! foolish fearful smile playing hide and |
eek among the wrinkles around his
yes. Bennie followed him out present.
y and took one of Eben's big fingers,
nd patted it rehectively, as he asked:
Uncle Eben, what's mascot ?"
q amt shore, Bennie,7 replied Eben,
autiously, "but 1 b1ieye it's somethin'
hat brings good luck, an makes old
olks feel young agin, an sets 'em to
'lsyin' ball an friskin' round like young
ambs in the spring sunshine"
And the 'little chap" feeling that he
nust say something, lifted that sunny
mile to Eben's face, and said:
'T'm very much obliged :"