The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-22
THE LITTLE BLUE CAP.

] was paying q visit to my friends, the
Durands. They were a simple, honest
couple who lived near the banks of the
river in a tiny house, mere birds nest
almost hidden by wistaria and Virginia
creeper. Durand's hands bore the marks
of honest toll. for he had been a lock smith
In his youth and had by industry and econ
omy raised himself steadily until he became
the proprietor of a large business and Sc
cured a competency for his old age, His
wife, a quiet, gentle creature, worshiped
her husband. and both OF them wore
on their faces an expression OF serenity,
which betokened ease Of conscience and
a life OF peace. Durand was past 60
years Of age and bis wife must have been
90, yet in spite OF their wrinkles and gray
hairs, these two treated each other with an
affectonate Difference which was pleasure
TO behold. They were Philemon and
Baucis resusclta,ed.
While We were engaged in conversation
just before dinner, DuTand rose and opened
q drawer to take out some tride which he
wished TO show NE. While he was turning
over the contents of the drawer it CHANGED
that little cap, such as mIghC have been
worn by doll or an infant, fell TO the floor
picked il up and noticed that it was made
of coarse blue linen, with two bits OF Irvine
instead of ribbons. AS | handed il 10 him /
said gayly:
Are you preparing baby-basket, Papa
Durand?"
had no sooner spoken than regretted it,
for / Tecolleeted at that moment having
heard that the only shadow on my friends
lives vas tho fact Of their union being a
childless one. For minute Durahd made
DO reply, but looked at the little cap affec-
tionately, then as he laid IL carefully away
again he said in tone Of seriousness:
That is a souvenir"
Then We all tn ee sat down 10 dinner and
a E.an rf of pr matt Inf . l,u
Tepast was finished and the little maid OF
all work had put cigars and liquors upon
the table my friend said suddenly:
how much that baby cap reminds me
OFF, Ii was evident that he wanted 10 ex-
plain his remark and ! begged him 10 10 So
1t was great many years ago, he said
after slight pause. for | was about II
years old. | was working In a large factory
and had companion Of the same age as
myself, whom, on account of his ugly
features, We nicknamed 'Zizi Monkey
face He was sly, thieYiDg, mis-
chievouS uTcbin, very much given TO flching
tarts from the pastry cooks counter, but
jolly little chap and fall Of pluck. lie was
so lazy that he would have been turned out
OF the factory had 1t not been for the in
diligence of the 0yeTseer, who had been q
friend Of his fathers and who took an in
terest in the boy for the sake of mis- dead
comTadP. M9nkeyface was an orphan and
the only relative he had ever known was
u
Of his mothers. This woman was fish
Deddler. Drawing. brutal creature whose
atfe ton for her young charge was mani
Tested only by blows. Perhaps If he had
known parents love he would have been
less peTVerSe.
One afternoon the lad took 1t into bis
head to run away from the factory and go
vagabOnding about with a gang of young
Tuffans like himself. As they were comm
slowly home after nightfal they heard 10
hi q st fc ant Of inf
The sound seemed to issue from a long,
narrow, dirty alley which opened on the
street, and at the other end OF which hung
dimly Pickering lamp. After short con-
suItatlon the street boys yentuTed into the
passage. and one oil them espied behind the
door little bundle of rags which struggled
and walled. He seized hold of it. and the
whole party ran into the street, trium phant
stopping under lamp TO examine their
capture. 1t proved to be a baby girl, a few
weeks old, wrapped up in a series Of dirty
cloths; poor little innocent whom a
wretched, perhaps desperate, mother had
abandoned to the charity of strangers.
council was held TO decide what should
be done with the booty, and the young ca D.
tors gave free play TO their miSchievous i'm
RginatloDs. One said to put the baby back
where they had found it; another, TO hide
1t In half-empty prune-bOX which stood at
the grocer's door; third proposed to elm
up TO second-stOTy balcony and leave the
yOUngster there. and how astonished the
people would be next day. But Iii Mon
keyface secuted all these ideas and declared
that the baby must be given TO the gypsies
There was band of these people near by,
who practced 1ugglery and fortune-tell
and Instances OF KIDNAPPING were by no
means rare.
Monkeyface's decision was hailed with
enthusiasm. and he claimed the right to
carry the treasure trove ia consideration OF
his having made the plan.
Give us the Ei1-p he said The ba INV
had all this time been screaming piteously
but 1t stopped suddenly when Monkeyface
took hold OF it, and while he walked along
with an air OF triumph 1t fixed It's great
blue eyes upon his ugly face and smiled,
the same time stretching its tiny hands out
rs If TO caress him.
''She is laughingP cried the boy in de-
light. See how she looks at me-"
Then new impulse seized him.
Wi, VIII not give her away" he said; 81
will keep her myself"
His companions protested Indignantly.
but 10 vain, for, as they we'll knew. Zizi
Monkeyface had at the end of each arm an
argument so strong that it would be useless,
ms well as unsafe, TO oppose his wishes
When he reached home with his burden
the flSh-peddler exclaimed, furiously:
do you think have not enough to do to
fill your mouth. you lazy imp? Take that
brat to the pOlice-quick nowp'
Plf, PAT box on each ear showed the
from the house.
That night he did not return, and the next
morning he was In the factory as soon as 1t
opened, for the 6rst time in his life.
MIR. George" he said timidly to the over
seer, how much will you pay me If work
hard all DAY ?"
Il have already told you, 20 cents" an
ewered the man in surprise, and Monkey
lace worked indefatigably until night.
Inc overseer. amazed and delighted at the
change, paid the boy for his work and even
gave him 20 cents in advance. in order to en-.
courage him.
That night Monkeyface was again absent
from his home. and his cousin, the fish ped
der, went TO the factory the next evening.
lay in wait for him and dragged him home
In spite OF his struggles, administering a
thrashing on the way. But il was no use
as soon as the old woman turned her back
TO COCK the soup for dinner the boy slipped
out of the house and did not return.
The factory overseer having been In
formed of the state of affairs, made up his