St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-07-16

made on NY retuyn wesfcr Wolfe. No
one q he ihous6 had eeen 'hn and !
was Just thinking Of looking him ur
when saw the child edging his way mp
the steps. In his arms he carried tho
fowerpot with the scrubby uranium"
Of Jocy's ''gartling," and from one OF
his sleeves there dropped q scrap Of
black Grape. * e4 r. i-- -
1--WE brung yer this ycre cos he set
store by Il, and yer was good to him."
he said, - opened the door. He
won't want il NO more" he said, care
fully setting the pot ON . chair in tho
hallway. His face and hands were in
dirty. He rubbed OF some
Of the soil FROM his hands upon his
trousers. E1T.
''Guess IL you had lame back and .
bad log yonrvupli4tKo up four faigh0
Of stas'b Wtsh Aa.r he s,Adl apoDB
Ectically. "bcsidcs he amt there now"
The list link that hoond Tho Little
waif to love seemed sesesed BY Joey's
death. Something in his isolation
touched me inexpressibly. and I said
impulsively: ''Nolas, how would you
like TO stay here with me?"
what? yer don't mean it, he said. .
sudden ray tightening up his face.
"Yes, l do mean il. I want q boy
who will black my shoes and do my err
rands," resolving on the spot to throw
away my French dressing and buy .
shoe brush and backing. land you
Wolfe, are the boy want"
''Oh Lor." he exclaimed. too surprised
to collect himself The tears wets
running down his cheeks. streaking
little channels through the CRIME of his
face.
There amt nobody speakcd kind to
me since he died. and amt had nobody
to do nothin' for" he sobbed. and did
not try to comfort him for thought that
tears would DO the best relief to his bur
dened little heart
Eyer sure yer mean it:~ he asked,
doubtfully, when he had recovered him
self.
"Indeed do" answered.
"Shahe," he said. extending his hand.
II he had been Just little cleaner I
think that should have kissed him to
seal the bargain, but dirt is q great ne
presser of sentimcntality and not only
did not kiss him but did not prolong
the ceremony of hand-shaking beyond
necessary limits
would you like to so fomc for any
thing?" I asked when W. had talked
over the new arrangement
"'Tain't homo now Joey's gone; and
my clothes is mostly at the Chinec laun-
dry" he added, with dignity.
;''Oh, Of course, il your clothes are at
the Chinese laundry you won't need to
60 home" said. as politely rs could.
land when you have had . bath you
will let me give you some others;
clothes will be part Of your wages"
He was 50 grimy, SO very grimy. that
il did not seem rs II any ordinary
cleansing process would have much eff
feet, and, after some consideration,
took him to Turkish-bath establish
ment. whence he emerged. some hours
later, in an unacceptable state OF
cleanliness. New clothes throughout
completed the transformation, and no
butterfly, newly emerged from the
chrysalis. could have found the meta
morphosis more delightful, $500. !
DO yer s'pose Joey has clothes IKE
these yere in heaving:" he asked, after
contemplating his attire, for some time.
in silence.
Joey has all that his heart can
WISH" I answered. gently. and with
that answer Wolfe was content.
II s'pose l KNIT use bad words no
more If I'm going to be your boy. kin
I?'' he asked. when the novelty of the
new clothes had worn OF little. 7
Certainly not" replied. land Joey
would be sorry to have you use bad
words, too"
He got along bravely through the
day, but the next morning found him
with his fingers pressed tightly over his
mouth. - -
'Oh my! oh Lor." he exclaimed. II
shall Just bust if don't say bad words
now and then. do yer s'pose Joey'd
mind If I should just case of kinder
gradooal instead Of stoppin' 50 suddint
like?''
Wolfie's progress was indeed grad
ooal.~ and his relapscs were at FIRST
alarmingly frequent. but in due time
persistent care and kindness brought
their reward. The stuuted little form
began to fill out and increase in stature,
and though the crookcdness must al
ways remain one forgot it when one
glanced at the sensitive face, whose
shire wdness was fast giving place to q
bright intelligence.
Lame dogs were very near his heart,
and the house was in danger OF being
converted into an asylum for battered
CANNES. for Wolfe pleaded 80 hard fol
his four-footed friends that l had moi
the heart to forbid his bringing them
in. and he experimented on them with
splints and bandagcs to his hearts con
tent.
Seems If they was sortcr human
like" he explained one day when he
looked up and saw me watching him
And indeed he had dexterity and skill
of manipulation that was not thrown
away on me.
The days grew into months and Wolfe
staid on, making himself useful in such
a variety of ways that I wondered what
I had done before he came.
One morning an idea occurred to me,
and said. rather abruptly: "Wilfrid,
how would you like to be . doctor?"
"Golly!" he exclaimed, surprised into
q lapse of language. Il mesn-that Is