The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-09-15
He WAS
ONLY A " AIF.
But His Little Breast Contained the
Heart of Hero.
BY MRS. JULIA TRUIIT BISHOP.

| BY MRS. JULIA TRUIIT BISHOP
Ii was by the merest chance that
Mrs. Strong met Jack. She had little
| girl of her own, and one would have
thought that gave her responsibility
enough, without going out of her way
to gather up orphans. But one day,
when she was passing the Home, she
could not resist the temptation to look
in and see the waits, for her heart had
always gone out to them very tenderly.
The first child that her eyes fell upon
was fine little fellow with blue eyes
and mob of tumble eurls, just shading
Off into golden brown.
The child's beauty attracted her, and
she asked the superintendent about him.
1t was pitiful story; his mother had
come to the city with him, a short
time before, and had taken a room and
looked for work awhile; and then sick
ness fell upon her, and death; and the
boy was left friendless and forlOrn.
No one knew anything about him; but
that didn't matter to the kind-hearted
little woman who heard the story. She
asked for the boy, and he was given up
to her, for the present, at least She
would write to her husband about him,
she said, and with his consent, she
would adopt him.
Bat il was there that the trouble
came in. Her husband, who was a
commercial traveller, and was away
from home all the time, wrote that he
was surprised that she should take
child that she knew nothing about,
and that he could not allow her to as
sumo such responsibility. She might
keep the boy until he returned if she
liked, and then he would try to find
good home for him.
1t happened that Mr.. Strong was alb
sent longer time than usual this trip,
and several months passed, during
which he was constantly writing that
he thought he would be back soon. In
the meantime, how that boy delighted
the woman who was trying her best
not to love him too much, and to be
ready to give him up at last.
All day long his cheerful prattle
lightened the house and made the
hours pass quickly. Wherever Mrs.
Strong went, he trotted after her ask
ing questions from morning till night
and saying things that would have
puzzled philosopher. He took faith
full charge of the baby and was As sweet
and gentle with her as though he had
done nothing all his little life but play
nurse. 1t was his delight to run on
errands, and when he came painting
back, to stand with his hands behind
him and say:
"I'm the man of the house, amt |,
Mamma Edith?"
And what pleasure she took in dress
Ing him, He was so pretty that he
made a perfect little picture in the
charming suits that she provided for
him; the great ruff ed collars, the pref
ty ties, the broad-brimmed hat on the
back of his curly head. People turned
TO look after him as she went along the
street; and more than one said, 'He
looks like little prince"
Among all the treasures in the house,
he took the greatest delight in an old
sword that stood in the corner of the
parlor. Twenty times a day he came
out of this corner, bending under the
weight of the sword, and it was sight
worth seeing when he stood proudly
up before Mrs. Strong and asked, his
eyes shining:
mamma Edith, did your grandpapa
carry this sword in the war;
Yes, my dear" said Mamma Edith,
for the hundredth time.
"And did he carry it by his side, like
this?" he asked, standing bolt upright
beside the sword, which overtopped
his curly head by several inches.
"Just like that" she said smiling
into the beaming eyes.
"And did he draw the sword just
this way?'' was the next question; and
then she looked on while the little
soldier struggled with the sword, and
i'm his efforts 10 draw it from the scab-
bard was forced at last to lay il down
on he floor and put his foot on it. The
sword was finally withdrawn, and the
little face came up, flushed but tri-
umphant
"Was that the way?' he asked, and
Mamma Edith, smothering a laugh,
assured him that it was something
like that, at least. After which the
sword went back into the corner, and
the little soldier went on furlough.
He had never boasted what he was
going to do if he eyer found burglar
i'm the house, but there is little doubt
that he had all his plans made. AT
any rate, when the burglar really came
he found the little man ready for him.
Mrs. Strong had taken the two chill
dren TO q neighbor's, and with her
usual carelessness had left the house
unfastened, expecting to return in few
minutes. When she was urged To stay
TO tea, she turned to Jack and said:
'sGo home, my boy, and lock the
outside doors, aud bring me the keys?"
Away he went, running along the