The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-11-21

across at Miss Welsh. ''Ef he's got a
pain, better fer to put off the birthday
fer a spell"
Not eating any supper" cried the
matron, in astOnishment. ''Nhy, Bub,
what's the matter?"
Then the boy, whom everybody at
the sanitarium liked, got up from the
table, turned away from the pile of
dainties. and, covering his face with
his arms, sobbed out: at amt 50. l
amt got any father, nor mother, nor
name, nor birthday, nor nothin'."
Everybody was parallyzed at this
announcement, even the twenty-four
children. The farmers eyes strayed
wonderingly 10 the little quavering
figure that stood still facing the other
way: then he muttered 10 himself: ''Ill
he dernedr'
No one must imagine from Mr.. Shat
fer's expression that he was swearing
man; he was only surprised one, and
he could not think of anything else TO
say. As for Miss Welsh, she couldn't
think of anything at all TO say, for
Bub, according to his own testimony,
had deceived them into this eXtrava-
gance of luxury spread out there un-
der the leafy trees and that curtain for
the entertainment into the bargain.
Miss Welsh had sat up until II o'clock
making the loops for the pole.
"Bub isn't feeling WELL" remarked
Miss Susie, shooting a swift glance at
the matron. suppose he and | 90 TO
the house and leave the rest Of you to
continue the birthday
Il reckon Td best be a-gittin' away
my self," said Mr. Shlffcr, having help
ed the last of the chicken to little
boy named Pee-Wee. Il reckon my
horses i ready fer their feed, and my
old woman will be loOkin' out"
The face of Mr.. Shaifer was very sol
emn as he drove home from the sani-
tarium, passing under the limbs Of the
cherry tree, whose red fruit Bulbs play
mates were at the moment devouring.
He spoke very kindly 10 the horses as
he fastened them into their stalls, and
then he went into the kitchen, where
neat, pretty little Mrs. Shafier had
another supper waiting for him. She
asked him in happy way about the
birthday, and Guessed the children TO
the sanitarium were having heap o
fun
1t took Mr.. Shaffer a long time 10
tell story. 1t was not until the dish
e. were washed and Mrs. Shafler was
piling them on the side table that he
came to the part where the little fellow
gifts up and kivers mis- face and turns
away, cryin' THAT he amt got no pap,
nor mo- her, nor no name, nor no birth
day; that he aint got nothin'. He
were a-makin' it up about the birth
day.
pore little fellerr' exclaimed Mrs.
Shaffer, pittyingly.
She had finished with her dishes,
and she got ont her night sewing and
settled in chair.
"Pore little feIlerr' she said once
more.
Mr.. Shatfer coughed, at which the
little woman stopped her sewing and
said: "Well?" Whenever Mr.. Shaiier
coughed and cleared his throat he had
something important To say.
II were a-thinkin' about Tom"
1t didn't seem a very important some
thing after all, but Mrs. Shafler went
hard to work and sewed a whole
seam.
"Well?'' this time ii was the man
who pat the question.
'He were a-goin' on to eight years
old said Toms mother. "He would
a-been eight years old the "Wednesday
after he died-July 81"
July 3ctl," repeated the man. al
he'd clean forgot"
hG NNlN AAalA - ltla~tAlltl.
continued Mrs. Shafitr, letting the
sewing fall from her lap. II always
said there's more mischief in boys
little finger than in gals whole body.
There's more life III 'em. Bat when
Tom done anything wrong he were
quick TO be sorry. He were quick to
do it, | own, bat he We're Jest a. quick
Ia be sorry
''I almost thought l seen Tom when
the little feller gets up and kivers his
face. There WuZ something in his
voice like Toms Il ain got 40 moth
or, he slys, 'and | amt got no pap,
and | amt -; no birthday, npr Moth
in, fer | amt got no name They
WIZ 4 celebratin' his eighth birthday
to the sanitarium, and the little feiler
set there and never 80 much a. picked
q chicken bone of it,
THAT Were like Tom said the wo-
man; "s'pose you 90 along and git
him. Taat Wa. gyhat he wanted, she
knew. The farm house was lonelicF 20
him than TO her, if such a thing were
possible, since eight-year-old Tom had
beea carried out the door never 10 re-
turn. 90 and git him, father, and
yes, I'll do my part, I'll give the boy
4 birthday supper on the 3)th day of
July"
And a nance" questioned the
man.
But she was not sure about the name
until that night after the most famous
of birthday celebrations was over az
Farmer Skaters, where the children
belonging 10 the sanitarium greatly
oyer-ate themselyes-she was no. sure
about the name until the boy who had
been left behind put his brown face
close to hers and whispered timidly
and questioningly: Good night moth
er??''
Then she clasped him in her arms,
crying out tremendously: 80, Tom,
Tom, Tomw
FIRED AT THK CROWD.
Pat Toomey. friend Of Sharp, rushed
a his