The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-05-14
A LITTLE CITY CHAP.

Miss Keziah Shelton, with a red face;
was frantically engaged in driving her
neighbours fowls from the fowerbeds.
that she had lately planted.
''If it amt enough to try the patti
ence of Job" she groaned, excitedly
tanning herself with her sun-bonnet.
'"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 Destroy
ing other peoples property?"
A very tired little chap, dusty and
foot-sore from the long distance he
had travelled, looked in from the
gate.
"Please ma am" he said, eff those
palings were fixed, they couldn't get
in. There's quite a number OF 'em
missing, you see."
"Eh?" calculated Miss Keziah in
surprise, 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"
eff you'll let me ma'am, said the
boy, eagerly, "I'll 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
thought I 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, I
suppose. The palings that came off
are out in the barn; and I'll get you
the Ratchet 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 Keziah's
cookery.
my, but it smells good!' he said,
with a. very hungry feeling at his
stomach. "I'd like to live here if I
only could. I wonder if she dosen't
want a boy to do her chores"
Miss Keziah looked out of the win
dow OF her summer kitchen and saw
that the work was satisfactorily com
pleted,
'"There, ma'am," said the boy, as
became andhanded the hatchet up to
her; E'it's all done, and a pretty good
job. [ 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 corner Of the table
ravenously choking down the cold
meat, hot biscuits, blackberry iellv
fore him.
All the while Miss Keziah kept look
ing at him in undisguised astonish-
ment.
"Dear mel" she said; "what an ap-
petite you have got!"
He poured the last drop of tea in
his cup down his throat.
mo, a'am," he said, apologetical-
~, mo more than other boys. I've
not had anything to eat since morn
ing"
"Whv, you poor boy!'' said Miss
Keziah, commiseratingly; eff you'd
told me I'd have given you a piece OF
pie" "
~ thought I'd wait, ma'am." he
SAID, as he rose from the table with a
sigh of satisfaction. "I'n split some
wood for you now. Your piles get
ting pretty low"
He chopped away till dusk and
then brought in a bucket of water
from the we'll. Miss Keziah had q sill
yer half dollar in her hand to give
him. ~ - o.
"You don't want a boy, do you?"
he asked wistfully. j.. y, =,
"Sakes alive!' asked Miss Keziah, un-
easily, "what would I want with a bow?
I've lived here all alone and done nv
own work for years." -
~ thought you might" he said
dlsappointedly. "Thank you, ma am,
TOR the money. It's getting dark and
I'm so tired can hardly walk; would
you mind If slept in your barn to-
'night?" .....1. ,s~.' -
Miss Keziah was very cautious
splnnster, but her. heart was touched
with a 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. and
friendless like this little chap?
.I'll give you bed tonight. she
said rather huskily, 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. 5 lsa -
Il don't suppose you care to hear
the Bible" she said austerelv. as abe