Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-02-09
Don't you want me to carry
your baggage, sir, please n

humanity DSAoiO h&uA euSS sAA~
valise. Then he laughed loud and
long, shaking SO that Laddie felt as
though an earthquake was convuls-
ing the pavement beneath him. At
last the man found breath to say:
Well, little fellow, l don't see
that / need much help with this
thimbleful of baggage, but that man
who has just passed has lot to car
ry. Maybe he'll hire you."
Before the sentence was finished
off darted the boy SO fast that he
overlook the heavily laden traveller
and fairly tangled himself in the long
overcoat as he said:
Will you please let me carry this
biggest satchel? I'll do it cheap T.
This man did not laugh-at least
not aloud-and laddie felt encourag-
ed, though the satchel looked rather
formidable.
Well, well, youngstsr,' said the
stranger, you don't look as though
you could manage such heavy load
but you may take this smaller bun
die, if you can carry it as far as Gen.
trail hotel, for / am in q good deal OF
hurry"
Laddie hesitated. Would you pay
more for the big satchel 7" he asked.
This time the new man did laugh
and said pleasantly, "No; carry the
small one, and I'll pay you whatever
you ask
Whatever you ask Gould it Re
possible 5? Then he could get the
whole sum at once! But, no. Per
haps this would seem too much to
pay. 'Twould do no harm 10 ask,
however, so he said, taking the bun.
die and trudging bravely along:
" Would 90 cents be too much ?"
Well, that's rather queer sum,
bnt can stand it. Why don't you
make it an even quarter, thought"
Then Laddie told all about his
valentine plan, and about the 8 cents
in his pocket, and the pretty card at
the book store which could be bought
for quarter. The gentleman was
very much interested and watched
his little companion closely as he
went on. At last, when Laddie
stopped to take breath, he said:
Why don't you ask your papa
for the money!"
@Cause papa isn't here. Henev.
er was here since ] can remem Der,
and don't know if he's dead or not
but mamma always cries when she
tells about him."
The gentleman stopped suddenly
and looking eagerly into Laddie's
upturned face asked ons more ques
ton:
+" What is your name ~
Mamma calls me Laddie, but my
real name is Lawrence Raymond
That was papa's name"
Down went the load of bundles or
the pavement, and Laddie found
himself clasped in the arms of bis
new friend. He didn't quite under
stand it nor why the stranger al
most sobbed as he said, "My baby
my baby - He hardly liked that
and SO, Strengthening himself up as
tall as he could, be said sturdily
"I'm l."
"Yes, yes, little man." laughed
the gentleman. "but you used to b
my baby, and / have come back te
you. Now, let's hurry to mamma al
fast as we can"
Without the valentine 2" said
Laddie, hardly realizing the truth az
yet.
Well get her one tomorrow
dear, the finest one in town, but now
show me the way home and tell me
all about her."
SO they hurried toward the hum
BILE house, Laddie telling all about
mammals troubles as we'll as he knew
how and listening to bits OF papa's
strange story, which sounded almos
as wonderful as Robinson Crusoe.
At last they reached the door, anf
Laddie rushed in, crying excitedly
Mamma, it's come back-the val
entine-papa--22 cents-oh, dear i
Mamma gave start and q Joyfu
cry. Then suddenly Laddie found
himself once more warmly embraced
this time, however, in two pair 0
arms instead of one, and he feltqueel
to see both mamma and the new
found papa crying over him.
But the queer feeling gave plac'
to most happy one when aftel
awhile he saw mamma sitting at thu
table with bright 7look he had new
er seen on her face before and hearG
her say to papa:
Laddie has brought me the bes
valentine | ever received ~
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