The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-03-03
OUT FOR THE STRAY PIECES.
Robin, the MAN of the Family" when
ONLY Tan Old

Only Ten Years Old.
How cold it was The wind blew
piercingly along the track, the spar
[ rows huddled together on the telegraph
wires, and the sky was of that dull
November gray which threatens snow
soon.
Robin stopped down. blew on his I'm
gers. and held them over his toes
which were far out of his ragged shoes
but his hands were too cold to be oil
any comfort to the toes, and he arose
again and stamped on the sleepers
softly-it hurt to do it hard.
"Whew" blew the wind as it rushed
by, singing sharply through the boys
tattered garments.
'Whew! What good can your little
thin breath do when / am bIowina7
See, have chilled it before 1t reaches
your fingers. Whew Whewl could
almost blow you away" And the wind,
with sudden vicious dash, almost lifted
him from his feet.
1t seemed to Robin he must go home,
he ached SO from head to foot; but he
thought of his mother stitching away
in the cold room, and of how she need
ed the fire, that she might sew faster to
get food for them
Coal was high that fall, and by the
bucketful, as the poor people had to
buy it, came so dear that many could
not afford it at all. Robin, then, was
only one among many who came daily
to the tracks to pick up stray pieces
that might be found there. 1t was
scanty picking at best, but to-day
everyone seemed to have been before
him, and he didn't remember ever to
have been so cold before
The thought of his mother, however,
made him pick up his bag and start out
again.
The north wind doth blow,
And we shall have snow.
Twas only the tune in a boys shrill
whistle, but Bobin knew the words; his
mother had sung them often the fall
before. She didn't sing anything any
more; II was too cold to sing.
! <Along the street that crossed the
track just then, came the owner of the
whistle. Robin could see pair of rosy
cheeks emerging from a.great coat col
lar, well turned up, and two bright eyes
shining from under the edge of a fur
cap.
And what will the robin do them
continued the merry whistler.
II should like to know what 1 shall
do" thought Robin, fitting the words
to himself. There isn't any barn for
me to sit in and keep myself warm"
He stood a moment looking after the
boy as he strobe by, hands deep in
pockets; then he went on, colder than
before
"Oh! say" called CHEEKY voice,
you must be awful cold, amt your"
and Robin turned to find the boy close
beside him.
Before his surprise gave him chance
to answer, the newcomer was pulling
off his mittens and holding them out to
him
Here, put these things on, won't
you? 1 can put my hands in my
pockets"
Robins mother, who was a sweet,
gentle woman in spite of her hard life,
had given her boy much of her own
sPAilC' hC iAbtiC BchtACLidA IAo
neighbors called him.
Il thank YOU" he said, inuhis high,
sweet voice, looking longingly at the
warm mittens. 81 should like them
very much, but I'm afraid your mother
wouldn't want you to give them
away"
'Oa! goodness" exclaimed the other,
''go on n take 'em; mother'd be aw-
fully glad for you to have 'em, pom nv
wordr' and he thrust them into Robins
hands.
What are you doing, anyway" Ne
queried, looking at the bag on the
ground. Picking up coal? You can't
find much along here"
'No, I can't" said Robin, as he pulled
on the mittens at last and shivered
from their very warmth, but mother
must have some fire to sew by, and I'm
the only one to get coal for it. Tn the
man of TIE family, you know" and he
dI ew himself up to the full height of his
ten years.
Well, come on, let's go to work, and
III help; haven't anything TO do"
said his new-found friend But say,
hold on iify! I'll tell you what I'll
take off my jacket sha'nt miss it
with this great coat-and you can wear
IL while we work.
lie was already pulling II of, and
paid no heed to Robins objections.
Put it on quick, was all he would /
say. Then well take turns using the
mittens. My names Jack; what's
yours?'
The plan went well They each wore /
one mitten and kept-the other hand in 1
a pocket, while one carried the bag and .
the other picked up the coal
AS they worked they talked. conkd- i
ing 10 each other the stories Of their .
short lives, and comparing notes OF 4
Ekings and wishings
4 considerable spilling-over OF coal .
from passing train filed their bag tor .
them at last. a mlttened hand seized
each end, and faces were turned home
ward
It was quite dusk when they reached
RobIn's house, and sharp, icy Aakea
were already driving through the air
and singing the faces Of the hurTyiny
people.
Robin opened the door and called
through the dark entry: Mother,
mother Then, turning 20 ask jack
20 come in. he saw mitten lying on
the bag he had dropped on the door
step, and down the street, through the
ever faster falling snow, = vanishing
fur cap and great coat
Back on the wind came bTokeuly, II
the same merry whistle:
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