Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-08-27


to the Islan'," said Patsy, stroking his
finger and his head in solemn affirma-
ton, and emphasizing the statement by
adding:
mark that, sor. An so fought I'd
get the tinymint ready against the
tonne they'll made it. I'm goin' to
take me gran'mither's place at the fruit
sthand an sell papers, too! an IL you
know any way to help out bit wild
foornishin' me tinnymint I'd be Obliged
an I'd pay 1t all back when could"
1t happened that there was a quanti-
ty Of very good second hand furniture
in the distributing department of the
Helping Hand. l made Patsy's case
known to the society. and was given
permission to use anything necessary
in rcfurnishing his grandmother's de-
pleted tenement. Some of the young
ladies belonging to the society become
interested in the warm hearted Irish
lad, and did much to make the tene-
ment neat and attractive.
Patsy's delight knew no bounds. His
laughing eyes grew brighter and
brighter, the color came back to his
cheeks.
Sure, they'll think this is better than
the lslan'," he said, as he walked from
one to the other Of the clean and COM
fortably furnished little rooms. "Coor-
tains to the winder! An rockin'-
chair wild cushion in it: An cloth
on the table! It's out O. sight"
He blackened the cook stove himself
until it shonc as brightly as stove
could shine,an he scrubben the kitch-
en- floor over and over again.
At last the day came when Mr.. and
Mrs. Noonan were again free. l went
down to the wharf with Patsy to meet
them when the city boat should arrive
from the Island. Patsy, neat and clean,
in a suit from the relief department
of the Helping Hand, could hardly wait
for the gang plank to be put down. His
father and mother were the first to
cross it. l was anxious to see them
anxious to see II there was anything in
their appearance to strengthen the
hope had Of their final reformation.
They came down the gangplank to-
gether, detected but not entirely
hopeless looking pair. Mrs. Noonan
had evidently been quite pretty girl,
and even the hard life she had led had
not deprived her entirely Of her good
looks. Mr.. Noonan's blue eyes had a
twinkle in them like Patsy's, and he
had a remarkably youthful appearance.
Patsy ran forward eagerly.
Mother! father!" he cried. They
hardly knew him in his neat new
clothes.
why, Patsy, bye!" his mother said,
and it pleased me to see that she
kissed him. His father took Patsy's
hand and said:
well, we'll, me son, We amt forgot
US, thin?"
Ibid We think would?" asked Patsy,
with note of reproach in his voice.
Their three months on the Island had
Deen helpful TO them.
"It's learned me wan thing" said Mr..
Noonan. ITS learned me that a man
can live without whisky. Not dhrop
av the crather have I had in three
mont's."
Nor l." said Mrs. Noonan, AN I've
said good-by for good and all to ii:
ISLAM" JIG. Is.-.sl..
"And to whisky. too. hope"
said.
Il have, indade, sor." Their delight
over the little tenement was equal to
Patsys.
1--WE didn't know where we'd shape
this night" said Mrs. Noonan, IAN to
think that-but Patsy knew. Arrah
Patsy" she said. turning suddenly to
the boy, and hugging him to her breast
HE deserves better mother than I've
liver been. an better mother he shall
have"
A better mother he did have, and a
better father, too. The Helping Hand
society kept watch and ward over the
little tenement and its occupants. There
were times when the old evil influences
tried to make themselves felt, and Pat
sy was on guard to sound note OF
warning to the society He was a
stanch and faithful little soldier for
the right himself, and to him, more
than to any one else, was due the final
reformation of Mr.. and Mrs. Noonan.