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

his eyes. Ted did not like to take
the money but his new friend insist
ed on it.
"Thank you kindly, sir" said Ted,
and the man went his way.
He came again next day, and
bought a great many things. Ted
wondered if he had other children
beside the little boy whom he had
lost, and if not, what he would do
with all the things he bought. He
came the following day, and the
next, and the next, till Ted began to
expect him regularly. He was quite
a conversational man, and told Ted
many things about the little boy he
had lost.
"He was only baby six months
old, Ted, but he knew as much as
some men,"
"What was his name, sir7" asked
Ted one day. The man looked at
Ted as if he could see right through
his body to the wall of the building
against which Ted sat, and he did
answer for several seconds.
"Pll tell you tomorrow" he said.
and suddenly went away.
In the course of their acquaintance
he had learned many things from
Ted regarding the Lafferty mode of
living. He knew that Ted was trying
to earn a new suit. that he might go
back to school, and also how hard
Mrs. Biddy was working to keep food
in their mouths and a roof over their
heads. He also learned how Ted s
father had run away when his son
was mere baby. When he came
next day he carried large parcel and
two smaller ones.
"Now, Ted," said he, putting them
down on the apple stand where he
could find place for them, "before /
tell you what my boys name was, 1
want you to do me favor"
Certainly, sir, if can," was Ted's
answer.
II want to see how my boy would
have looked in this suit of clothes"
tapping the largest bundle, ''and
these new Shoes" tapping another,
land this new hat" tapping the
third. "You go into that little shed
over there where it is warm and put
these on, and I'll tend your apple
stand. I'm not afraid you'll run
away with the clothes"
Ted looked up in wonder; but the
man had been so kind that he did
not want to refuse, but he could not
help wondering for whom the clothes
were intended, seeing that he no
longer had a little boy. AS quickly
as his lameness would permit he
took off his old suit and put on the
new, then presented himself again,
looking very nice and like a gentle
mans son.
"Now, Ted" said the man, holding
out fat little purse, "put that in
your pocket, and pretend you were
going to choose birthday present
for your dear mother.
Ted looked almost ready to cry.
He thought his new friend was car
rying the joke little too far.
81 mean it, Ted, every word of it,
cried the man excitedly. "I've held
back and held back, but can't hold
back any longer. Those clothes be-
long to you, and that purse belongs
to you, and you belong to me, for my
boys name was Ted Lafferty, and
I'm your own father, that treated you
and your mother the worst l could,
and then ran off and left you to
starve and freeze. But I've reformed,
Ted, and haven't touched drop for
eight years, and I've saved my money
to take care of you and your mother
with, if she'll only overlook the by
cones. Do you think she will, Ted,
my boy? I've hardly dared to hope
that she would, but you'll speak for
me, Teddy, boy, won't you?"
Ted's eyes had been growing
rounder and brighter and bigger with
utter surprise, and now his father
Rugged him as if he would never let
him go, while the passers-by stared.
eff Biddy will overlook the by
cones, we can all be happy yet, and
if a drop of the stuff ever passes Joe
Lafferty's lips again, may the saints
dash the bottle to the ground, and
Joe Lafferty after i'll"
X i X Il
Mrs. Biddy Overlooked the by
cones" and almost tainted for JOY
when the two walked in upon her
Ted, in his new suit, holding his
father SO proudly by the hand. She
was doing washing at home that
day, but Joe Lafferty tossed the wet
clothes into basket and sent them