The morning call., 1892-04-10

No King was ever happier than "Chirpss
crawled through the fence and for the first
time in his starved little life knew the de-
light OF wandering in a field and picking
flowers Everything was new to him, the
waving grain, the open fields, tie cattle and
horses in the pasture. He wanted to know
II they were wild, and even the stupid hens
that wandered in the road, taking fright at our
approach while yet we were great way off
and running as we drew near directly under
the horses feet for safety, were objects OF
wonder to him.
Along in the middle of the afternoon we
halted beneath 4 roadside tree to eat our
lunch. We sat down on the grass, slipped
the pony's bit, gave him long rope and he
began cropping the green feed eagerly,
wlches and cake. had by this time gained
pretty clear idea of the boys life. SO far
as be remembered it. 1t was pitifuI story
of neglected childhood, with LEO reeollec-
ton IN 1t of any one lie had ever called
1ather--a drunken mother who had pushed
him downstairs in a fit of rage aud broken
his knee. He had feen In what Judged
from his description was q hospital, yeafs
before. His mother had been away for
couple of years. but he did not know
whether she was dead or taken up" and
did not seem to care, saying in his phil
Os0phic way he guessed she was all right
Anyway. he was better off without her.
'Chirps," 1 asked him suddenly in the
midst OF his talk, what makes you so
cheerful"
He hardly understood ME until explained
that meant why he did not seem unhappy
and downhearted when his life was so hard
My question was prompted mainly by
curiosity. If had expected any such graft
Tying reply as the StOTy-books teach us to
look for from the virtuous poor I would
have been greatly disappointed. for when
he understood my question his answer was
very prompt:
"a Teller sells more papers"
Could any philosopher have gene more
directly to the root of the simple fact.
Laugh and the world laughs with your
Wholly unconscious of its cynicism Chirps
gave his reason with an air of wonder thu
SO plain proposition should need explain
ing
shifting the lovely air. and then for the first
time he began eagerly to question
"Why can't :? What've L got ter go back
to the city and sell papers for?"
/ thought Of the great army of his kind.
and Of similar kinds in the busy city across
the bay, crowding against each other, help
lesSly caught IN the grinding struggle for
existence, and for the moment vas unable
to answer his question.
don't"
.'I've heard Of him." said Chirps, simply.
Heard of whom-of God % [ asked.
Yes, went to place once with the boys.
an a man there tole me it was God whas
made my back crooked, an as how We
knowed what lie done it fur, coz be done il
q purpose. / s'pose l can't do much. cog
he's bgger'n me, bat I'll git even with I'm
some day."
Twas honestly shocked. Were we living
in an enlightened age, in q Christian coui-
munity. and was.this this boys idea of. the
All-Father'S care? Poor little creeping soul.
what prentice hand had been given trial
at pointing the way to the God Of love, that
lie should have been Ted so far astray?
During the drive home / endeavorcd, as
simply As possible, to remove that dread
ful belief from the child's mind. Whether
| succeeded | could not be certain. Perhaps
l Will never know-for l have never seen
Chirps since l parted from him when we
took our different ways home from the
ferry. left town the next day for fort
night When l returned missed him from
his post by the fountain. watched for
him the next two nights and then asked
one of the boys what had ecome of him.
"Chirps?' was the reply; 'oh. he's 90 ne.
Some ones took i'm; said he was goIn' Ter
have good home" This was all any OK
the boys could tell me. so never found ous
who it was that had pity on my ehirping
philosopher. L hope it was some one who
will teach him that it is not the will OF God
that the least of his little ones should be-
poor or cold or lame, halt or blind, and that
when we have learned to live and be and
do right none OF them will be.
ADELTNE Il. KNAPP.