St. Landry democrat., 1891-10-24
THE LITTLE THIEF.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

It was tea-time. Mr. Matthews, tn,
proprietor of the stutfy little Eight
Avenue dry goods store, where Nee
Brandreth was serving his apprentice
ship to the business, had gone to tea with
his family. and Ned was in sole charge
At this hour there was little chance OF
customers. People were for the most
part hurrying home to meals, or getting
them ready if they were women. The
questionable thoroughfare was not yet
lighted, but the shadows lay heavily be-
low the tall tenement houses, and the
sky, Of a dull gray, gave warning of an
approaching storm.
10 the country boy it was a very
dreary scene. Leaning over the coun-
ter, his eyes fixed upon the moist and
greasy-looking sidewalk, he saw in i'm
agination the old homestead standing
"amidst rows of wheat and corn,' the
little garden about its door, The table
was set for tea. There was his mother
his father opposite her. There were the
boys, Bill and Ben, and Fanny, his little
sister, with her blue eyes and faxen
hair, and her grandmother's gold beads
about her neck Allwer together. Did
they think of him so far away? He
could see his vacant place, his chair set
back, his plate put away. The boy
could have wept.
How ho longed to return to them
But, alas! the farm would not support
them all. Bill was to be doctor; Ben
would help his father; he had his task.
at had to be-" he said; and, just as
he spoke, he thought for moment that
he saw Fanny before him-faxen curs,
fair forehead, blue eyes. Was it vision?
No. The next instant he understood that
what he looked at was living child, with
the same pure tints of skin and hair. A
pretty creature quite as pretty as Fanny,
but not clean and tidy as she always
was-a girl in the ragged frock of a
grown person, cut short in the skirt and
left unhemmed, with bare feet soiled
with the mud of the streets, and no trace
of motherly care about her, crouched
close to the wall behind form on which
a readymade suit was displayed upon
the sidewalk. She was Juggling softly
and cleverly at a gaudy shawl that was
exhibited on the shoulders Of another
dummy, and, as he looked, had it down
and rolled into bundle beneath her
wretched shawl. Now she came creeping
from her hiding place, and in moment
more would have gone pattering up the
street on those bare feet Of hers, but a
hand came down upon her shoulder, and
the shawl was removed from it's hiding
place.
" You wicked little thiefn' said Ned
for he it was who had caught the child
"come here!"
He led her through the store, which
was a small one, to the little portion
screened off at the end, and, sitting down
on a box, looked at her.
i" / suppose I ought to call police
man" said he. "What did you try to
steal that shawl for? Don't you know
that they put people in prison for steal
ing things?"
Eyes, SIR" sobbed the girl. "Jimmy
got put in prison last week for hooking
a shovel"
"Why don't you take warning them"
Ned said
II didn't see none," sobbed the child
81 only saw the shawl. If none Of us
don't bring nothin' home, she hits us.
I'm all black on my back, bein' hit. |
knowed she'd like shawl, and when she
likes what you bring home you get
sausage"
"Poor little soul!" sighed Ned.
whats your name?"
Mag said the child.
"And is she your mother?" asked the
boy.
"No," sobbed the little creature.
"Them's that's got mothers has good
times. She keeps us out Of charity.
Her name is Old Sally. She is mostly
drunk and can't work, and we hooks and
begs what we can"
How like pretty Fanny's blue eyes
were those turned up toward Ned! How
unlike the fate and condition Of this
child!
"Well, Mag, I've got little sister
home,' said Ned. "She's about your
age, and can't help feeling sorry for
you. ! ought to tell Mr.. Matthews, and
make q charge against you; but / haven't
the heart. Look here; wouldn't you
like to live a nice life out in the country,
and not have to steal and beg?"
.Wouldn't I--just!" cried the child.
every WELL" said Ned. 'tI'm going to
write note to good mana minister.
Every year he sends poor orphans to the