Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-05-06
ward-bound laborer. my little boy i.

~" u-O0~u AsOACAs my uVtAc OOy ~
lost"
"Shure, mem, now, that's very bad,
an I'm sorry" the man said, hating;
'mebby he'd be at tn p'lice station?"
mo, I've telephoned all the stations.
Some one thought they saw him down
here. What shall do?"
The face of the big, rough man
worked sympa ohetically.
I'll kape me eyes open ez 1 go along
home, men," he said; ''an' mebby I'll
see tn little Teller. Tut, now! What II
'twore me own little Tim? He's just
four years old, the rascal, an 'twad kill
liz mother, shure. All, but it's wearyin'
an comfortin to TIL heart, mem, the
children bez.H
The way grew more squalid as they
kept on toward the Beach. On door
step young woman sat holding a lit
tie child, and looking anxiously down
the street.
Have you seen little boy?" the
older mother began, and again the sad
little tale was told.
| NO." said the other woman; 'sbut
l hope you'll find him, lady. know how
| you feel. Me hearts sore over me own
little joey, here, and me man away look
ing for worruk. The baby is that sick!
an Jim, me other Lad, he's gone for med
icine. don't know what's keeping
him.
| Let me see the baby" 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 indeed" she ex-
claimed. The little ones face was livid.
The baby's fingers were clutched over
each tiny thumb, and the tiny body shiv-
cred 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
and busted themselves over the sick
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
was resting on the bed.
| God bless you, ladies!" the poor
| woman cried, as she saw relief creeping
over the drawn face; "you have saved
my baby's life!"
'But oh, my own little boy!" and
the other mother FASTENED to the door.
ut is quite dark and do not know
where he is"
Sure, lady, the good God will never
let your baby be lost!" but the two
strangers were gone.
"Oh, where will he sleep to-night?"
murmured WHY'S mother. "Your
boy is safe with God, but where, where
| is mine?"
Up the street an older boy came tear
| ing. Mamma! Mammal" he cried,
while yet afar off; "a policeman's
found Willy and taken him home!"
| ooh, thank God!"said she whose
child was with the All-Father-"thank
| God!" but the other could not speak.
1t was a triumphal progress back to
the more aristocratic quarter.
They've found yer bebby, ma'am,"
street urchin cried, who was calling
papers on the street corner. A Next
can ta1nale vender volunteered the same
information in broken English, and in
| the next block a woman threw open a
| window and leaned forward.
"a policeman took your little boy
home, madam!" she called, joyfully.
Near 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 nome 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.
| 80, Willy!" he said, show could you
brighten us so? Why did you do it?"
The curly head was raised and tho
blue eyes opened in surprise.
'Why, papa" said the little voice,
'Mary said they wuzzent any or'nges
for dinner, an went out to buy some!"
N. Y. Independent.
|