The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-18

! expert in some matters relating TO house
| building as an architect.
These were Tins happiest moments
He was fond Of practical arithmetic
| and Of drawing. and Of all things he loved
70 draw a dwelling-house.
Graves Court was the only poor spo
( In a very good neighborhood Of the city
! and as n consequence Tins associates
| at school were nearly all the children
| Of well-to-do people. Tim kept himself
| clean end tidy; but his patched. home
made clothes made him look different
from the other boys, and sometimes,
am sorry TO say, he was laughed at anC
leased on account Of this difference. But
Tim bore the teasing as bravely and good
naturally as possible When he felt in
clined TO be vexed or angry he would
think Of the fifteen dollars that his
mother and ne had in the savings bank,
laid away for the new house that was
10 be.
Mrs. Doland would have been willing
10 draw half the money out Of the bank
10 buy Tim better clothes.
"You don't hardly look III TO go with
them ristocrats at school" She once said
TO Tim when the latter was starting out
with his books.
you haven't any good clothes your
self, mother" said Tim. Il don't want
TO be dressed better than you"
IL was Butler Laws. a well-dresscd but
ill-bred boy, that usually pointed out the
defects in Tins garments at school. one
day, when the school-yard was full Of
boys and girls Tim caught sight Of his
mother on the street carrying a great
bundle Of clothes home to wash.
Hold on he said to the boys that
he was playing with. and away he ran
90 ~
saw him take the bundle from the woman,
and uot along by her side with 1t.
When he returned after awhile, Butler
Laws asked in a loud, imperative tone:
WAS that woman your mother"
"Yes." answered Tim as proudly as IL
his mother had been a queen.
"She's a washerwoman." pursued But
Ter haushtly, Boys. Tins mother is a
washerwoman! I've just found Il out"
Tim did not finch. and no sign of shame
appeared on his honest, freckled face.
Yes" ne said, meeting the curious eyes
Of twenty boys and girls, but she won't
be a washerwOman when I'm able TO earn
a living"
Tim had no idea how well h9 had an
swered Butler. He had spoken out the
simple idea that came into his mind with
out trying 10 say anything smart. and
he was quite surprised to find himself i'm
moment the most popular boy in school.
Good for you, Doiandt one Of the
larger boys said approvingly while Lii
ian Hapgood-the tall. pretty. reserved
Lillian who mad always appeared 20 Tim
like a princess I'm some story hook-came
up to him and offered him her hand.
Tim DOland." she said with a gracious
smile" you are a credit TO our school.
and I'm glad and proud to know you"
After this Tim was not leased any
more. Boys and girls and teachers re-
spected him for his courage and manli-
ness, and when, at the end Of the school
year, his drawings won for him the prn-
cipal prize, he was congratulated on all
sides.
by this time Tim was thirteen. and the
money in bank had slowly increased to
thirty-two dollars Tim often took the
bank book out Of the bureau drawer and
counted the figures up to his mother.
adding the three per cent. interest.
He was very anxious 10 get a situa-
ton whore he could earn money, but 1t
seemed TO him that for every opening
there We're fifty boys. lie answered add
Nertisements in the newspapers every
day and walked about asking for work
But invariably the answer was: I'VE
don't need any more boys" or We've
just engaged a boy" or You're not
large enough" Even Mr. Brown. the
groceryman, sold out his business TO n
man who had boys Of his own 10 do the
work, and this deprived Tim OF the pit
lance that he had been earning weekly
for three years.
The summer was an unusually warm
one I'm Philadelphia The sun beat
against the red walls Of Graves Court
till the little, narrow place seemed like a
heated oven Tim saw that his mother
was growing thinner and more tired
looking every day; and his young heart
ached with pity when he carried home
great bundles of clothes for her TO
wash.
He earned a few cents whenever he
could. cleaning pavements and store
windows. and when he could earn moth
ing he turned the wringer for his mother
at home. Sometimes he cOaXed his
mother TO ride out TO the PARK in a car.
while he followed on foot 10 save n
fare And always. always was he think
ing OF toe house that was TO be theirs
away out in one Of the new districts Of
the city. where rows Of coy. beautiful
new houses stretched out I'm wide. clean
streets. through which cool air. fresh
from the country, circulated.
July was hot. August was hotter
And the hottest spot in the city seemed
walls let the scorching heat pass through
them, and the small rooms were like
so many hot cells Tins mother slept
but little these nights. She and Tim
would sit on the doorstep after sunset
or carry their chairs cut 10 the entrance
Of the Court. II happily they might catch
Whit OF some struggling breeze.
One day, coming home after a vain
search for employment. Tim found his
mother III IN bed and a neighbor woman
finishing her work.
Don't you bother. Tim" she said.
gently. seeing Tins great distress. Il
amt 50 powerful bad It's only the hot
weather"
ITS the hot weather and the hard
work, mothepe' said Tim. If / could
only get situation and the houser
doctor came after a while I'm response
10 call and left medicine for Mrs Do
lanl, but the medicine did not seem 10
DO her much good. Tim watched by
her side at nights and brought her Ice
cream from the bakery. and he would