The morning call., 1893-01-10
A QUEER BOY.

He had such queer ideas, and. 10 tell the
truth, he was not very bright. Most of the
people in the sQuaIid alley in which be
lived knew him as the "half-bakedP boy.
His other name was Jimmy, but the people
In the alley never used that cogBomen in
reference to him; they went so far as to
say that the boy had inherited Crazy
- Torton's wits, which could not have been
considered complimentary either 20 The boy
or to Crazy Norton, who, when he con-
descended to become sober for a limited
plumber Of hours. would boast that the boy
was a child after his Own heart. During
the day crazy Norton invariably passed his
time in a neighbOring rumshop, while
Jimmy, cut Of school hours, searched the
cutters and garbage barrels for stray cTusts
with which to aliay his eyeT-pTeseut hunger.
At night they occupied small, desolate
room and slept upon the same bed Of hay
and corn husks.
The hours spent in school were the only
bright ones in tie boys life, and the one
person on earth who possessed any claim
upon his affections was his teacher. She
felt sorry for the friendless child, and
would patiently 90 over and over his lessons
with him, trying her utmost 10 i1still the
FIRST principles CT education into bis mind,
but il was hard work, for the boy could not
learn.
lHak lal1 bEhNOA ubNuCA XII A4AElT tOb tdl4g
70 suit the boys in the alley, but none too
soon for Jimmy, and 10 him the autumn
seemed 10 drag as it had never dragged be-
fore. The day before Christmas came al
last however, and, trembling with excite
ment, he hurried to lis room and searched
among the corn husks. but the daisies were
gone, and be only found lot Of dried and
withered stems and leaves With smoth-
cred sob, the MALI baked" boy dropped
upon tie corn husks and cried as IL his poor
little heart would break.
"Where is Jimmy to-day?" asked Miss
Stanley OF her unkempt pupils the day
before Christmas. No one could tell why
the 'half-baked" boys seat was empty
and no one but Miss Stanley cared.
Noontime came and the school was dis.
missed fer the holidays. With many
shout the boys hurried from the building
and rapidly disappeared in al directions.
Miss Stanley was the last person to leave
the school and. having made several pur-
ehases in neigbboTing stores, she carefully
picked Der way through number OF Qingy
streets, after which she entered narrow
alley. found certain tumble-down house,
climbed a flight OF rickety slairs and
Knocked upon the first door. i faint sob
WAS the only response. Miss Stanley
opened the door and entered the room.
Jimmy turned to ses from whom the
sound came, but on seeing Miss Stanley bis
sobs broke out afTesh and. holding bunch
Of witheTed stems before his tear-staned
face, be cried, Il picked 'em for yer long,
long ago, an' now they're gone an these
Is in their place"
Miss Stanley understood. and, seating
herself upon the corn husks beside the boy,
she tried 10 soothe him. Never mind,
Jimmy" she said; iii isn't your fault that
they have withsTed, and want them any
way; so you VIII let NE have them just as
they are. won't you? / will think just as
much of them"-then, seeing a look Of
doubt in the boys pinched face. she added.
81 want them very much, Jimmy, indeed |
do. and in place OF them | want you % take
this; and unpinning rosebud that was
fastened at her throat, Miss Stanley handed
Il to the astonshed child, together with a
pair OF WOODEN mitLens and a brilliantly
coIored piclure-bOok. Tie "half-baked''
boy was so surprised that ne could not
speak, and Miss Stanley continued: "Pil
think Of YOU tomorrow, Jimmy, and wonder
bow you are spending your Christmas
Have glorious time with your schOQmates
and come back after the holidays ready for
study again. Go0d-by." Then she went
away. and the "half-baEed" boy forgot for
the time that he was about 10 have two long
weeks in the alley with the boys, so busy
was he in examining the wonders which Miss
Stanley had given him. He soon grew
drOWsy, however, and it was not long be-
fore bis head fell back upon the corn husks
and he slept with the rosebud neld tightly
In his hand.
Toward evening Crazy Norton stumbled
in the room. He was NOT particularly sober
nor was he in the best Of moods. and it did
not add particle &c his happiness when be
found the boy asleep aud tie gifts at his
side. Bending over the sleeper. Crazy Nor
ton shook him roughly and inquired with
an oath where he bad stolen the things.
The boys halting explanation d. not alter
the tenor of Crazy Norton's mind, and
saFagely kicking the child he took
the mittens and the picture-book from
him and was about 10 turn toward
the door. when be noticed Jimmy
slyly putting something under the
corn b'.slzs. Crazy Norton darted at
him, II ashed hia TO one side and drew the
rosebud from sDoDg the husks. Trying
ter bf dude. ar YEP" be snarled-''take
that-sand that-and that-r' having kicked
and .a1ed the mali baked" boy until he