Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-16

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min, rat dat he'd tote himself down tel
business at de first particular opportu
nifty when he can get outen his bed"
"Can you take me to hiln?"
The boy was wonderfully solemn by
this time and hustled off to lead the way
in double quick time.
EFF yo' is tired, he said thoughtfully
"yo' might tex car. The line runs right
near his house. I'll run behind. Yo' kir
get Off at - street"
'You come, too," said; "get on the
platform. I'll pay your fare"
was lost in dreams about my sick lit
tie friend when l was aroused by the cal
coming to sudden standstill, and my
guide came and touched my arm gently
Following him off the rear platform we
turned into little damp alleyway and
stopped in front of tumble down frame
cottage.
"Poor little colonel" thought, eve
will have to get him out of this place as
soon as he can be moved"
On either side of the alleyway stood a
1ass of little woolly headed urchins,
male and female. stepped over the
threshold in the open doorway, for it was
May, and the day, outside of the alley,
at least, was warm. My guide followed
in my wake. A pale faced woman met
me and clasped both my extended hands
in hers. There was sorrow, far deeper
than tears would tell of, in that quiet,
drawn face. There was a bed in the
farther corner, and one little folded and
parchmentlike hand rested on the darned
coverlet.
l stepped to the side of the bed. The
little light brown head was thrown back
on the pillows, the blue eyes We're more
magical than ever in their hue. The
mouth, with it's shrewd, old lines was
open, and the breath came unsteadily
through the even rows of small white
teeth.
My throat filled up and l could not
speak. My poor little partners my brave
little colonel! His mother began tanning
him gently and evenly again from the
other side of the bed. His eyes frightened
when he saw me and his hand was lifted
to greet me.
"Had to give up business for spell" {"
said the colonel falteringly.
"Oh, darling" cried, forgetting my
part in this strange scene, 81 cannot bear
to see you look SO ILL., What can I get
you?"
A radiant smile lighted his face and
he pointed upward I'm afraid l can't
do business in the old stand" he said
family, 'but I've got place up there,
and hope l can keep my bunch on my
back, cause if l don't when you come
along you won't know the little colo
neP-
He ceased speaking to rest. passed
him some wine and water mixed that
stood at hand. His eyes fell on his little
colored friend standing back by the door
twisting his hat in both hands nervously
and shifting noiselessly from one foot to
the other.
"You found her by her smile, didn't
your" said the little colonel 81 told you
you could tell it. My partner has the
sweetest smile in the world"
The temporary stimulus afforded by
the wine and water began to wear away
ever so quickly.
The shouting of the children came in
at the door and window, and a smile
passed over the face of the little colonel.
"They are mostly black, but they
were always good to me-" he whispered.
Then suddenly he rose up on one thin
little elbow and cried excitedly, "Collar
buttons, two for cent; needles and pa
per, twenty-five cents a pack waving
an imaginary bundle in his hand. A
change, sudden and awful, passed over
his face, his hand frightened its grasp
over my own, he sank slowly back on
his pillow; there was a gentle futtering
of the eyelids, some long drawn strug-
Cling breaths, and the little colonel had
moved to his new stand. Helen Corinne
Bergen.