Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25


"Dick 'er chavi." smiled the lisper. Law
ishly spreading great pieces of butter over
hand was lost to the wrist. Immersed in
the pint cup which held his tea. "Dick,
'er chsvi, Willie. Hers blinking her eyth.
Amt her our own pretty sister,
He withdrew his hand from the tin cup
to pat the baby affectionately upon its
head. the baby Growing and gurgiing ali
the more, much pleased by her brothers
attention, and by the tea that ran down
fre m her curls to the tip Of her little dark
rose.
Gu" laughed the baby, throwing her
arms around my neck in a fashion truly
abandoned.
What is your name?' Willie. the elder
boy. suddenly asked. locking UP in my face
with Wistful expression.
oure not the man that lelled OFF with
the pot of luvver what I've heard my dad
tell about? My dad said he was the pleas
ATTEST gentleman what ever he see. Lord.
my dad said he had all the money there
SAFE with a crowbar and Ielled away with
tne luvver. MORN the price of a hundred
you?" '
To my great regret, truth compelle5 me
TO make answer that 1 was not the pleas
pot. ~
Il can't remember him very well. but
my DAD said he. used to travel with us
sometimes when the dirty muskros was a
after him. He could rakker and he gived
me sweets and such. Are the muskros
Il hope not" said, CHANGING over nv
shoulder to hide the smile that came to
my lips.
There ainth none there" whispered the
Leper to reassure me. 18th been watching
When ith see the muskros Ith just ruined
away till 18th got other side 'er big house
Then Ith throwed a stone round the cor
ner. and Ith ruined and ruined"
Here the baby crowed with delight, and
her brothers laughed like merry Romans
tc think that the lisper had thrown a stone
at a policeman.
Gimme 'er baby Jimmie begged, well
pleased with himself and his prowess
MY daddy's tailer'n you," Willie said,
locking me over as he took up the thread
of the conversation, land the muskros
been after him. But my dad never minded.
He just hitohed up the horses Eastern
what he caid. and they never ketched him
at all. Did they. Jimmie?'
NO." Jimmie replied rolling the baby
ever on its back while he patted its stom-
ach forgetfully. They'th never ketched
daG"
Il thought you might be the man what
lelled off with the pot, cause he always
had sweets IT. his pockets Willie remark
ed, staring at my swollen pockets with
longing.
"Ath you got any sweets in 'er potetsg:
questioned the lisper. new light coming
into his eyes.
willie, hold 'er baby. It'll think 'er rye
ath some Sweets in 18th potet.'
He gave the baby to Willie, and, being
thus unincumbered and free. crept close to
my side With smiles enough to cozen a
brshel of sweetmeats from the sternest of
g1ocerS.
Soon his tiny hands had rummaged the
swollen recesses bringing forth a little
heap above which the baby crewed and
gurgled gleefully. while a deep peace
spread ever the countenance Of the lisDer,
and Wiliie's eyes opened wide.
And you amt the man what lelled off
with the pot. ether Willie repeated in
wonder.
But you 18th pleasant gentleman, any
way" beamed the lisper, amt he. Will
lie?''
Don't you cheat, Jimmie. and keep all
the big pieces, his brother protested, as
the lisper made a separate pile of the
longest sticks and most desirable choco-
Iates.
These it'll for NANNY said the lisper
clearing himself of the charge and over
Wheiming me with the sense of his good
ness. I'VE mustn't forget nanny.
NO" assented Willie, ruefully. But she
won't eat EN-, and you'll have 'em all your
self tomorrow
18th donth know" sighed the lisper, a
get en-
why can't nanny come back tonight?"
the elder boy asked, his voice trembling a
little. The fire had burnt low now, while
the hush of the night time Increased with
the hours. bringing a feeling of loneliness.
too. as the new moon sank to the ridge Of
the gray western hills
Then I told them how it was with their
mother, cheering them with the thought
that they should see her soon in the MORN
ing.
You must jail to woddrus now. pals" /
told them. for their little heads bent wear
tIx, fHotr nod ct,a Ind
must go to bed now"
Il it'll sleepy" the lisper said, yawning.
But if 'er ain'th nobody to be company
for you you'll get lonesome and jaw back
to the CAV. Put 'er baby to bed Willie
An you go to sleep, too; ith'll be company
for 'er rye. You wonth be lonesome with
me?" he asked bravely, blinking his eyes
to keep back the tears. you ill thay If l
sith up it'll your
Il will sit up too" Willie said. .y4
NO said the lisper, still blinking. take
'er baby to bed, Willie. Ith'll sith up with
'er rye all alone by myself
Go to bed. both of you babies, Mandy
will stay till the morning. Sleep in the tent
or the wagon. I'll have my blankets here
by the fire.
When l had put them to bed in the tent
l spread some blankets 1 found in the
wagon over a pile of fresh straw near the
fire, and lay down to watch the embers
until they were ashes, then to watch the
stars till they faded into the gray of MORN
ing.
l had just drawn my blankets around me,
thinking the chavies asleep, when, hearing
a sound, / turned to the tent door. to be-
hold the lisper advancing to me in the dim
light. something outstretched in his hand. I
What Is it, pal?"
18th your sweth.
MY what?" questioned.
Your sweth," he repeated, extending
some sticks of the candy.
18th going to give you half of nanny 3;
mine and Willies all gone. an you ain'th
had any"
Keep it all for your dye. little brother:
Mandy don't want any sweets"
Even in the dim light l was sure I could
see the look Of self-sacrifice fade from the
face of the lisper. to be replaced by an ex-
preston of the deepest contentment.
you it'll a nicer rye than the one what
lelled off with the luvver that our dad
talks about" he murmured, in sleepy ap-
proval, he retired into the gloom Of the
tent to mis- bed and his slumbers.
1t is well to sleep under tent in the
summertime. aye, till the heavy hoar frosts
Written the grass in the mornings; 1t Is bet
ter than to sleep beneath any roof, and
better it Is to lie with nothing at all 'twixt
ones face and the stars when the night is
clear one and warm.