Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-06-18
A LITTLE CITY CHAP.
Why Miss Keziah Changed Her
Mind About a Boy.

neighbor's fowls from the hoWerDedS
that she had lately planted.
'If it amt enough to try the patience
of Jobl" she groaned, excitedly tanning
herself with her sunbonnet. They've
gone and scratched up all my choicest
seeds. Why can't folks keep their
chickens home, instead of allowing
'em to run around destroying other peo-
pies property?"
A very tired little chap, dusty and
foot-sore from the long distance he had
travelled, looked in from the gate.
-"PIease, ma'am," he said, IF those
palings were fixed, they couldn't get in.
There's quite number of 'em missing,
you see."
"Eh?" calculated Miss Keziah in sur
prise, for she had not noticed him.
''Why, so there are. I've meant to
send for Brown, the carpenter, all
along, but it's somehow slipped my
mind"
IF you'll let me, ma'am," said the
boy, eagerly, LII do it cheaper. I'm
looking for work"
"Who are you?" asked Miss Keziah.
"Only a boy from the city," was the
response. but I'm tired of it, and l
thought 1 might find something to do
in the country. Mothers dead, and
there's nothing there to keep me now"
"Well,' said Miss Keziah, rather
doubtfully, "if you think you can fix
the fence, there's no harm in trying,
suppose. The palings that came off are
out in the barn, and I'll get you the
hatchet and some nails" ="
While the sun grew low in the west
the boy industriously worked away,
while to him on the soft air came the
appetizing odor of Miss KeAah's
cookery.
''AIy, but it smells goodr' he said,
with a very hungry feeling at his
stomach. I'D like to live here if 1
only could. I wonder if she doesn't
want boy to do her choresr'
Miss Keziah looked out of the win
dow of her little summer kitchen and
saw that the work was satisfactorily
completed.
''There, ma'am," said the boy, as he
came and handed the hatchet up to her,
its all done, and pretty good job. 1
don't think the chickens'll get in now"
'You can wash up and then eat the
supper I've got ready for you," said
Miss Keziah.
He needed no second urging, and was
soon seated at a corner of the table raw
enously choking down the cold meat,
hot biscuits, blackberry jelly and seed
cookies she had placed before him.
All the while Miss Keziah kept look
ing at him in undisguised dastonishment.
Dear mel" she said; ''what an appe-
tite you have got!'
He poured the last drop of tea in his
cup down his throat.
NO, ma'am," he said, apologetically,
mo more than other boys. I've not
had anything to eat since morning"
"Why, you poor boyr' said Miss
Keziah, commiseratingly; 'if you'd
told me I'd have given you a piece of
pie"
81 thought I'd wait, ma'am," he said,
as he arose from the table with a sigh
of satisfaction. 'Il split some wood
for you now. Your piles getting pretty
low"
He chopped away till dusk and then
brought in bucket of water from the
well. Miss Keziah had a silver half
dollar in her hand togive him
You don't want boy, do you?" he
asked, wistfully.
"Sakes aliver' said Miss Keziah, I'M
easily, what would 1 want with a
boy? I've lived here all alone and done
nv own work for wears"
II didn't know but you might" he
said, disappointedly. Thank you,
ma'am, for the money. It's getting
dark and I'm so tired 1 can hardly
walk; would you mind If I slept in your
barn to-night?'
Miss Keziah was a very cautious
spinster, but her heart was touched
with very strong feeling of pity.
Up in the cemetery on the hill, where
blackberry vines and golden rod ran
riot all summer, little Ephraim, the
child her dying brother had left in her
charge, lay sleeping. What if he were
out in the great world instead, friend
less like this little chap?
"I'n give you a bed tonight" she
said, rather husl1ily, land you can be
on your way in the morning"
He wiped his shoes very carefully on
the mat and sat down in one of the
stiff backed chairs of her prim sitting
room.
81 don't suppose you care to hear the
Bible" she said, austerely, as she lit
the lamp. ST always read it before
go to bed You can go now if you
wish"
NO" he said, in a low tone, 'Pdi like
to hear it. Mother used to read it to
me-"
So Miss Keziah put on her gold
trimmed spectacles and read on in
hard, rasping tone from Luke, glancing
up at last to see that he was nodding
his head and having very hard time
to keep his eyes open.
"HumphI' said she, closing the book.
81 guess you'd better go to bed"
"I am sleepy" he confessed, drawing
his hand across his eyes, but heard
it all"
She called the cat in and saw that
everything was carefully locked and
bolted Then she opened the door of a
little chamber adjoining the dining
room.
That's where you're to Sleep" she
said brusuuelY. ''Good ni0htl'
Good night and thank youI" was
his response. 'Thank youvery muchI''
She waited few minutes and then
with the lamp went upstairs to her
room.
'T've done very foolish thing,
know. she gxlRlT said. ..hzt I couldn't