The state herald., 1893-06-23


so far, no how"
"Yes, yes" urged Tot; and seeing
that Nanny was undecided, she ran
to the table and brought her hood
This proved too much, so Nanny
took the child in hGr arms, and dar-
ried her laughing out tho door.
Joey had had a rather poor day.
He was late at his corner that morn
Ing and whom he did arrive he found
another boy before him. So he did
not make very much that day and
when night came he was tired and
discouraged. It seemed that his poor
little back had never ached 80 badly,
even though 1t had bent over fewer
pairs OF boots than usual. and when
night came he was glad to throw his
box over his shoulder and start for
home.
He climbed tho dark stairs wearily,
glad to get away from tho noisy,
heartless world. He thought OF his
little sister, and wondered IL she
would want him tS play with her
that cvehihg. Of Course, size always
did. and he always liked to hear hur
merry chatter and happy laugh; but
tonight he felt too tired oven for
play.
He reached the room at last and
opened the door. How dark and
cheerless everything seemed! 1t
meyer had looked 90 Gold abd bare
before. And where was Totp Hid
ing. probably. She always liked to
play such tricks on her joey, and
then laugh Mt his affected surprise
when he found hor. He looked
around the room, but saw no trace
OF her. He usually could catch sight
OF littlo bit OF brown dross or hear
her excited breathing, and then. he
would hunt and hunt for a long time,
and at last come across her In the
most unexpected manner. But there
was no sign OF her tonight, so he
stood in the middle OF the floor and
wondered where she could have hid
den. Then he called to her, but no
answer. He lighted the candle. and
looked In every corner and behind
every chair and box; but no Tot.
He was beginning to be alarmed. for
ho had never before failed to find
her. At last he thought OF Nanny
Gibson's. and he brcathed n sigh OF
hope and relief. He tore up the
other flight of stairs and knocked on
the door, There was no answer
He pushed it open, and found the
room as dark and cheerlcss rs his
own.
"Tot!' he called. auxiously. Tot,
are you in here?- But he heard only
the sound OF his own voice, and #
made him shudder. Then he looked
carefully about tho no m. calling first
for his sister, then for Nanny Glib.
son. until at last. almost beside him
self with fear and anxiety. he sank on
the floor and burst into tears. Then
he thought some OF the other lodgers
might know where she was, SO he
ran up and down the steep stairs to
their rooms. never minding the falls
he received, and longing only to hear
some news OF his sister But the
search was fruitiess. lie returned to
his own room, and with his young
heart wrung with anguish. threw
himself on the bed.
Poor joey! He folt that he had
lost her forever, and no wanted to
die. What was there loft to him In
life now that she was gomez II was
she for whom he had been living and
working all these long. weary months,
and now thats,he was gono what need
any longer to Keep up tho struggle?
lie sobbcd and sobbcd until his little
frame. weakened by grief and want
Of nourishment could no longer hold
out against tho demands OF nature.
and he fell into q troubled sleep.
1t was terrible dream that
haunted him. He kept tossing and
tossing. and now and then he would
wake and call fcebly for her. Then
he would fall asleep again, only to
have dreams more terrible than bc-
fore. He saw Tot'siface. but IL was
cold and white. lie caught her In
his arms, but she did not notice his
tears or his kisses. lie spoke softly
to her, but she did not answer. Then
he la ony the little cot with her and
prayed that he might do too. He
closed his arms tightly about her
and waited-waitcd. Al last two
men came, and no held her moro
tightly. for they were coming near
the bed. Then one OF them took her
roughly by the arm. and Joey cried
aloud in his agony.
"No, No! Don't take her away!
DON'T Don't! She's mine. and you"
What 90 cryin' for. JocyP'
Ilo awokc with start. and there.
sitting beside him on tho bod. her
face brighter than tho day without
was his very own little Tot
why. II Isn't true. is ite" no said.
both crying and laughing. "Thcy
have given you back to me-" Ard
no took her In his arms. and laying
his tired little head on the pillow.
fell into sweet, peaceful sleep.
The Easter chimes rang forth
swcotly. carrying to all tho world
their hopes Of n higher and better
lilo. They meant all this % Joey
and his sister. though he did not
know II yet and sho was not old
enough TO realize H.
NANNY Gibson looked In tho door
and found them s,ill sleeping
"Ncbcr'd thought" sho chuclslcd Ia
herself. "dat ole Missus Gray nd
took scch u 'tachmcnt ter Miss Tot.
Miss Tot! Yassir. an Massa Joey,
too. TO dcy's quality now. sho' nun.
long doy's gwine ter live wild ole
Mlssus Gray. Golly. Miss Tot. you's
got de- hnc house. but Mnssa Joey
can't hnb no 'mpor'um Po' joey
Ben cryin' tor kill iissct An JOS
cause we stayed NIL night; but Missus
Gray. shc sisted Oman now she's
- =.