The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

1t isn't quarter big enough and it's all
patches. The comic was called The
Seedy Man, and 1 couldn't help but grin
when L saw how much the picture looked
like Tom. Won't he be wild when we give
ring at his docrbell and be gets that?"
Tracy has a lot of the funniest comic
valentines in town this year, said one of
the other boys, ''and when we buy ours
We'll have great fun taking them round,
! ringing the doorbells and then running
round the corner"
~ say, fellers," said Fred, 'it's getting
late now and tomorrow night is Valen-
tines, SO we'd all better 60 home, get our
money and meet on the corner at 5 o'clock.
Then We'll go down to Tracy's and pick
out the ones We wish" So the little group
separated, all the boys going their several
ways, thinking gayly Of the fun that was
I, in store.
But Burt, one of the boys who had been
listening to the plans for Valentines
night, walked slowly and thoughtfully
toward home. He was Jolly boy, gen.
orally, the lie of all the fun at school, but
when Fred spoke of sending that comic 10
Miss Parsons, the teacher, Burt felt some
how as though it wouldn't be the thing
|
explain over and over again the knotty
problem or the lesson that was hard to
understand. He remem bered how his
mother had told him once the secret OF
that sad look in her eyes, the story of her
lonely life. He didn't suppose all the
! boys knew and he didn't feel like telling.
but he did wish he could do something to
prevent Miss Parsons from getting that
kind OF a valentine. Yet, as he said to
himself. II don't want to spoil the fun, so
Ill go to the corner at s."
The appointed hour found the bows on
the corner, all but Fred. who failed TO put
In an appearance.
Where on earth can he be2' said
Harry. "He told US to meet here at 5
O'Clock sharp, and now he isn't here him
self"
The boys had not long to wait, however.
Down the street Fred came, breathIessIy
running, waving his arms frantically in
the air and calling to the boys with all
the power of strong. healthy lungs
"Oh, there's been an accident on the
train-it was almost wrecked, but it
wasn't, and Tom Atkins did it-saved it
from the washout, / mean-and they're
bringing him IN now on the train. He's
killed, l guess, or if he isn't he's pretty
near itl''
Come on, fellers, let's go and see" said
Harry. Off the boys scampered for the
depot as fast as their sturdy young limbs
could carry them. Just as they got there
the big engine swung around the curve
and came slowly into the depot, drawing
long train OF passenger Goa ches.
The news that there had been a washout
on the road and that the train would have
been wrecked if it hadn't been for Tom
Atkins had spread rapidly through the
town and large crowd had gathered at
the depot long before the boys arrival
There he isl There he is!' said Fred.
as several men carefully alighted, gently
lifting hastily improvised stretcher upon
which poor Tom lay.
"How did it happenP How was he
hurtP' was heard on every hand.
The story was soon told. Tom had been
out on the hills hunting for the first
spring wildflowers, where he went each
year to gather them to sell TO the CITY
trade. But the rsins had been unusually
heavy and the few blossoms that were
brave enough to lit their heads above the
water-soaked earth looked wind blown
and strangely desolate.
They will never do" said Tom, in a
hopeless voice. Tom was in the habit of
talking TO himself, as those are apt to do
who know little of true human compan-
ionship.
1t was keen disappointment to Tom,
Tor no one knew how much he needed the