The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-09-08

path. They were chubby-faced
little girls, with their hair neatly
cut, and print pinafores that al
most hid their frocks; the smaller
one looked frightened when she
saw a strange little boy at the
door, and pulled her sisters hand
as if she wanted to turn back.
Come along, little gal!' said
10 patronisingly; "you needn't be
afraid shan't hurt YOU
The children looked at him in
open-eyed surprise; readiness of
speech has been considered a di-
vine faculty from the time Of the 7,
ancients downwards, but perhaps |
village children look upon it with
more wonder than any other race
Of beings. This little boy seemed
to them like creature of another
sphere.
| "Come in, -Polly,'' cried Mrs.
| Flint; and hearing her mothers
voice, the child summoned up
courage and ran past the stranger
hiding her face in fresh access
of shyness as soon as she got in
side.
. 10 watched her with interest as
she followed her mothers steps
wherever she went, but he did not
, address any further remarks to
her, seeming to look upon her as
too small for sensible conversa-
ton.
) "What does she do that for?"
= he asked. when they were seated
a round the tea-table, and he saw
d Polly's fat hand still .jealously
clinging to her mothers gown.
o because she loves me-" said
Mrs. Flint fondly; "don't you
E; Polly?'
O Polly nodded solemnly, but
= made no other reply.
l. Don't you love your mother?'
asked Mrs. Flint.
= 81 don't ave motherl' said
e 10.
% "Who do you live with then?'
"Well, I live with myself most
Is ly."
o Mrs. Flint did not speak
$. but there was a sad expression on
her face that made the boy un
W comfortable, even though he Dis
ID mot understand it.
70 "What's this for7" he asked
e. suddenly taking hold of his plate
is II don't know what you mean,
ry said Mrs. Flint; ''don't you hav
Id plates at homer"
a II never see one on table be
a. fore,'' said 10; eve seen tn
as men spinning 'em in the streets
or though and catching up tn
in plate as he spoke, he twirled
round and round with his fnge
in and thumb.
er "Oh, you naughty boy! Put
9r- back on the table at once" erie
It, Mrs. Flint, in an agony; an
ed yielding rather to the look of aw
he on the faces of the little girl
vs.. than to her entreaty, 10 restore
,s- it to. its place in safety.
,rd ".What do you eat off, if yo
lat don't have plates?" asked Nell.
ler the elder child.
"Of the floor,'' said 10. &C
IN, when I'm playin' i'll the street
;he my father opens the window al
If throws me Bit
Mt 'You poor little ,boy!" erie
rs, Mrs. Flint; "why, he couldn
he treat you worse if you were
of dog"
"Where are you going now,"
of ASKED the next evening, as he So
ad- her open the door.
!; l "To get the potatoes for di
ner."
out "I'll go for you," said 10;
ere often run to the shop to get e
I'M for our landlady; Pm a go
me. judge of a pertater, l am
to I'm not going to the shop f
lite them" said Mrs. Flint; "I'm 6
ing to dig them up in the garden
he 10 looked at her for a nome
ubt with his head on one side.
in q "Ia, hal" he said at la
"that's good 'un; you dor
ow take me in like that?''
ver- Mrs. Flint looked at him mil
ing ly without answering; she col
wn- not understand the extent of
ring ignorance, and therefore E
out could not enlighten it. She WE
ac- out into the garden and began
her get up the potatoes, while 10 t
her lowed her at little distance l
llsm an inquisitive sparrow.
"Oh, l say!' he remarked
ap- last, 81 amt going to eat pei
make ters to-day, I tell yer; we alw
gets 'em out of a nice clean 81