Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-03-17

1t down.
There he's gone," breathed JAN
lie again, as her father shouldered his
hoe and went to weed the gsrden.
Now no one will come to the barn
before noon. Dear, dear Why
wasn't a boy, so could run away
and go to sea? What are girls good
for, anyway? l know well enough
what she wants. There's beds to
make, and dishes to wash, and floors
to sweep, and that baby to tend-I
hate babies. Here comes the train,
and won't be there to see Brother
will. Oh, dear me-"
She put her eyes close to the
cracks to watch the coming train.
Will Haines, neighbours son, was
the engineer, and Will had always
been jamie sworn friend and cham
pion.
What wonder that she called him
aBrother Will,n and gave him all the
pent-up love Of her starving nature.
On came the train. A frank, al
most boyish face looked from the
cab with an expectant smile, and
eager eyes glanced here and there as
the cars whizzed by, then a bundle
was thrown out, and lodged in the
grass by the gate.
"Oh, dear! |" sobbed jamie. Oh,
dear me! It's candy. likely, and
maybe book; but l can't get it
now, or she'll see me- and then she
hid her face and sobbed as only lone
ly children can sob, when, in all this
wide, wide world, there seems to be
| no place, no welcome, no love for
them.
But other eyes had seen the flying
bundle, and there was a rush of hur
ried feet across the yard.
81 seen it fust, you Jimp cried
Joe, shrilly.
IT don't care--it's James p
screamed Jim, throwing himself fiat
upon the bundle.
"Ho, no Much you care about
Jane" sneered Bill. /" Marin can't
find her. Get of'n that now, or
you'll smash it, and I most know it's
candy-nice candy, Jim. Will al
ways brings nice things to her."
Wen cat it, and she'll never
know suggested Jack, smacking
his lips.
"Serve her right, too" asserted
Joe. Oh h-h, it is candy--choc'-
late, too, some of lt,only Jim smash
ed it up some. Come on, boys
we'll go out behind the barn so'sTom
and marin won't see US. Maybe she
wouldn't let US, and Tom would
want some. Come on
Even Jim seemed to forget that
the parcel belonged to jamie, and
away raced four pair of feet to the
l
knoll behind the barn.
"Ob, DEAR" sighed jamie, and
then she lay quite still and listened
to the noisy glee of the boys, with
only shivering sob, now and then,
to tell OF her disappointment.
From the depot platform Will had
seen the whole thing, and was filled
with wrathful indignation.
"She shall have twice as much
this afternoon, when l come back"
he muttered, "and I'll give it into
her own hands, too. | wonder why
she wasn't on hand. The old lady
is working her hard as usual, l ex-
pect. Catch me throwing out any
more parcels for jamie p.
Then Will and the putting engine
rushed on again, the boys went to
look for Holsters along the shore, af-
ter they had finished their feast Of
stolen sweets, and the silence was
only broken by the scolding within
doors, and the noise made by Tom
and the baby.
In the garden John Milo hoed
away savagely, or, leaning on bis hoe
handle, gazed into space in sullen de-
spair, like one viewing the grave of
lost hopes, as perhaps he was
Poor John Milo-and poor second
wife.
This world is full of mistakes and
misunderstanding, somehow.
And poor Janie-hidden there in
the hayloft, with such angry resent
full feelings in her starved little
heart.
All, there Is so many little JAMES
in this world of ours, whom we pass
carelessly by, and the benevolent
Wills are SO very few.
"Now that things are still, I'm
going to Sleep" unused jamie, but 1T
was easier said than done.
The brown eyes would not stay
shut, and the girls thoughts were
out of doors with the birds,the warm,
bright sun, and the glad beauty Of
the springtime.
I'm most mind to run away
anyhow-if i be a GIRL" she said
aloud.
A cricket chirped loudly, as if be
said, g Don't, don't, don IL" but JAN
lie had no notion of paying any at
tention to crickets.
go away, noisy thing I" she said
impatiently, shaking the hay. al
guess I'll go il want to, for all Of