The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-11

OiuHhOu luIuCl, OuO JOu NHh SOhiO
and live with me, and be a sister to
my little girls and boys, and you shall
have plenty to eat and to wear, and
lots and lots of toys and candy at
Christmas Oh, here comes mammy"
He always recognized the short,
dumpy figure as it came around the
corner, and he would limp across the
room and light the smoky lamp, and
stir up the scanty fire, that his mother
might have light and warmth the
moment she came into the room. On
this night she came slowly and wear
lily up the stairs, and did not give
Ted her usual CHEEKY greeting, but
laid her hand on his shoulder and
sighed.
SIS it sick you are, nanny dear?"
asked the affectionate little voice.
cts tired and disheartened am
intirely, Ted," was the reply.
Didn't you get the money! asked
Ted apprenensively.
81 got me money, and I've bought
some things for supper" drawing
several tiny packages from under her
shawl, "and afther bit it's mesilf ill
tell ye all about it. but I'm in sore
want of cup O. tay now"
Somehow Ted never used much
brogue. He had gone to school until
his last suit became too shabby, and
his poor mother could scarcely put
food into their mouths and pay rent,
much less buy new clothes for Ted.
He had been fond of his teacher and
learned quickly, but patiently took
up his little cross, and never let his
mother see how much he missed the
privilege that every child should en-
joy. -.,.......,-- ~--...-,..~
After supper Mrs. Biddy unburden-
ed her heart.
"I'm afeard yer missin' too much
schoolin', Ted. l met your teacher
the night, and she asked why didn't
ye come, and 1 had it on the top of
my tongue to tell her the true reason.
l put her off in a fashion, but it's
worryin' me jist the same. The loss
of the schoolin', l NAME"
Would a new suit cost so very
much, now, nanny dear?"
"More dollars, Ted, than l could
lay by in three months, workin' std
dy. Come, go to bed, darlint, and
maybe we can think of some scheme"
Long after his weary mothers eyes
were closed, Ted turned over in his
mind plan after plan for earning
money. eff | wasn't so lame l could
run errands, or hold horses, or boiler
papers, or sweep crossin's. | know
what I can do! Keep peanut and
apple stand, if nanny can spare
enough to start me-"
This thought filled him with such
JOY that he gave bound in his little
bed before dropping to sleep, and his
dreams were radiant visions of smok
ing peanuts, shining gingercakes,
piled up rosy apples, and pennies and
five-cent pieces dropping in silver,
nickel and copper shower into a
bright new tin cup.
OF course his mother "set him up"
though she had misgivings that big
boys might impose on him. 1t was
arranged that she should stop for him
at night and help carry home his
stock in trade. They found good
place near home for the starting of
the enterprise, and Ted felt as if he
could soon take care of himself and
his mother also.
The first evening he turned toward
her a happy face, and ratified the
money in his little tin cup. every
thing sold but five ginger cakes and
pint of peanuts, nanny DEAR" he
cried. "We can eat the cakes for
supper, and tomorrow l can risk lit
tie taffy and popcorn"
They were two light hearts that
mounted the five flights of stairs that
night, Ted's crutch tap-tapping very
fast in his excitement. He sat up an
hour after his usual bedtime, painting
delightful pictures of his new suit
and the grand things he would do for
his mother. She should never go out
cleaning or washing again when he
was fairly started.
The next days trade was better
than the first. People took fancy
to the pale, blue-eyed boy with the
gentle voice and the nice manners,
and the pile of silver and coppergrew
higher and heavier in the tin cup,
while Ted had to renew his stock at
noon.
So it went on for week. One after
noon a big burly man with a black
board stopped to buy some apples.
He looked very hard at Ted, and fin
allv asked his name.