The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-06-17
The Heart of the World.
BY ADELINE KNAPP.

mebby I'll see tn little feller. Tut,
nowl What if 'twore me own little
Tim? He's just four years old, the
rascal, an 'twad kill liz mother, sure.
All, but it's wearyin' an comfortin' to
tn heart, mem, the children bez."
The way grew more squalid as they
kept on toward the beach. On door
step a woman sat holding q little
child and looking anxiously down the
street.
"Have you seen little boy2" the
older mother began, and again the sad
little tale was told.
''No," said the other woman; "but
l hope you'll find him, lady. I know
how you feel. Me hearts sore over
me own little joey, here, and me man
away looking for worruk. The baby
is that sick! an jim, me other lad he's
gone for the medicine. / don't know
what's keepin' him."
'rLet me see the badly" and the
mother, whose little one lay dead at
home, reached out her jeweled hands.
The child was placed in her arms.
"Why, he is very i'll indeedp' she
exclaimed. The little ones face was
livid. The baby's fingers were
clutched over each tiny thumb, and
the tiny body shivered convulsively.
WHY'S mother eyed the little form
knowingly. "The child should be put
into warm bath at once," she said.
The three women entered the house
opJ h, tbau,cal,,ao o1,ar %bo c,ol1
baby. She whose child was lost found
a battered kettle and put water to heat
over the single-burner lamp. The
other one undressed the little form,
while the wee sufferers mother stood
wringing her hands in helpless pain.
They worked rapidly, tenderly; but
it was nearly an hour before the terri
BILE commissions were over and the
baby resting on the bed.
"God bless you, ladies" the poorer
woman cried, as she saw relief creep
ing over the drawn face; you've saved
my baby's life''
''But, oh, my own little boy!" and
the other mother hastened to the
door. 'It is quite dark, and do not
know where he is"
"Sure, lady, the good God'll never
let your boy be lost!'' but the two
strangers were gone.
"Oh, where will he sleep tonight?"
murmured WHY'S mother. "Your
boy is safe with God, but where,
where is mine?"
Up the street an older boy came
tearing. Mamma! Mammal he
cried, while yet afar off; "a policeman's
found Willy and taken him home!'
'Oh, thank Godp' said she whose
child was with the All-Father- thank
God!" but the other could not speak.
/ 1t was triumphal progress back to
the more aristocratic quarter.
''They've found yer bebby, ma'am,"
a street urchin cried, who was calling
papers on the street corner. A Mex
lean tamale vender volunteered the
same information in broken English,
and in the next block woman threw
open window and leaned forward.
ga policeman took your little boy
home, madam she called, joyfully.
Nearer home gleeful band of chill
dren met them.
"He's found--he's found" and the
chorus rang throughout the neighbor-
hood.
The two mothers kissed tenderly
and parted. AS the younger one
turned to enter her childless home her
eyes were swimming with the first
tears she had shed that day, but they
were tears of thankfulness.
On the doorstep Of the other home a
man stood, holding child in his arms.
"We've got him." he called, quickly,
as he bent to kiss his wife; and then
his arms closed tightly around them
both.
"Oh, Willy, he said, show could
you frighten us SO? Why did you do
it?"
The curly head was raised and the
blue eyes opened in surprise.
"Why, papa" said the little voice,
''Mary said they wuzzent any or'nges
for dinner, an went to buy some!
The Independent.