The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-31


given Teddy for his supper the very last
morsel OF bread.
Teddy was tired enough after his days
labor and excitement. He had just made
up his mind 10 drive the little Jersey
homo that night, and explain TO John'
the farmer, why he had robbed the
souire Of a quart Of her rich warm milk.
But when he went out he found the shed
door open and the little Jersey gone.
For a moment he was bewildered and
FASTENED TO his mother.
Il ought 10 go and tell the 'Sduire's
folks tonight" said he. FOR l am AFRAID
some one has stolen her"
whats this my nam said tAe doc
tor "vou must go up TO the 'Squire's to-
night?, Ride up with me, then am
going 10 stop there 10 see Mrs. East
man. who is ST." And few minutes
later they were at the great house gate.
There's the Squire now Teddy" said
the doctor, pointing 10 window Of the
library. where the old gentleman sat in
his easy chair. you go in and tell him
ABOUT my COW while 1 see the patient.
on my way back I'll drop you at the
corner. and then you can trot away
home"
Teddy knocked timidly at the study
door, and was startled at the rather
cross Come in" The usually pleasant
old gentleman met him with an angry
frown
80 there you are you young rogue"
said he. Fine business for a boy TO
drive home my Jersey COW and steal the
MIX after my giving you work all the
summer TO help your mother alongw
Butt didn't" began the blushing
Teddy, twirling his hat In his hands
q"
Now none Of your talk 10 me, John
traced the Jersey to your shed and saw
you milking her with your own hands.
You have been stealing. II It wasn't for
/ your mother I'd put you In Jail. Now get
| away home with you. and don't ever let
. me catch you in my house againi"
Tut, tut, old friend what's all this
loud talk about You are coming down
on the little chap rather heavy. it seems
&c me- said the doctor. hearing the last
| words.
but the young rascal. he's = thief
He actually stole my best little Jersey
! cow"
Nonsense. Squire. ne did no such
thing; AMI IL he did. we might forgive
him, for we stole watermelons together
when we were boys The fact is the cow
got astra =, and Ted found her by the
"a !
meant TO drive her home at once: blt
he found his little sister very ill., The
fact is, Squire, that wasted little woman.
and that boy together, can't keep three
people properly fed That little girls i'll
ness was caused by insufficient food.
They offered her water, but the little
thing begged for milk. If Teddy could
stand that. / wouldn't like him as well
as 1 do. 1 found him just starting 10
trudge all the way here on foot TO con-
fess to taking the milk"
When the story was over and the kind
hearted old Squire would have called
the boy back the doctor went 10 look
for him in his buggy, where he supposed
he would wait.
mot here. Squire the little fellows
gone. Got tired Of waiting. l presume,
But It was not that Teddy was tired
Of waiting. but that his heart felt so
bruised and sore that he could not bear
10 have the doctor see him, lest he should
break down and cry. And he was a boy.
and boys don't cry, even before their
! mothers" said Teddy TO himself, strug
Cling hard TO master his sobs. His mother
sat beside her sleeping child when he
came in, and he just stole uD softly
and gave her his goodnight kiss.
did the cow get home safely?' she
whispered. Speak softly, Eva has just
fallen asleep"
eyes. mother: John took her. I'll tell
YOU all about it tomorrow and, glad
! to escape. he crept away TO his little
chamber under the roof
It was n hard night for poor little
| Teddy up there In the bare room under
| the rafters Eva sick, no money for
! mother. and no more pleasant work at the
| rsr nd oh, ~ al
would always believe him thief He
had gone TO bed hungry often, and he
| had been often worried and sad; but this
/ was his first night of sleepnessless and
| real heart-breaking pain. lie looked like
another boy in the morning when he
| crept down stairs to build his mothers
| FIRE.
She had nothing to set before him but
| a crust Of bread and the remainder Of
| the Jerseys milk. and her heart sank
within her when he turned away from
| II and could not eat.
There's twenty cents in Eva's bank
she said. II put it in for her. and you
must get ii and go TO the village and
/ buy some food for the dear child" And
she watched him with an aching heart
as he took the little tin bank away where
Eva could not hear the pennies rattle.
SO intent was he upon this task that
he did not notice man coming down
the road leading q Jersey COW. lie came
nearer and nearer. and finally turned
into the gate. Teddy looked up. II was
John the 'Squire's farmer, and he handed
a note to Teddy and told him to run to
his mother with IL. Teddy was only too
glad to go. as he could not bear TO look
either at John or the Jersey He watch
ed his mother so intently as she read
that he did not notice that the doctor
himself was Just at the threshold.
Teddy Teddy said Mrs. Locke. In
a puzzled tone. what can this mean
"what Is Il. mother" asked Teddy,
who feared she was reading what dread
full things the Squire thought of him.
| She handed him the letter.
do read It aloud" she said; TN sure
l ] can't make II out"
1t was in the Squlre's round hand,
and Teddy read:
Dear Mrs. Locke: Inclosed please find
| twenty dollars. which owe Theodore.
your good boy. for many days work
| around my place. I also send him a pres
| ent of Jersey COW. She will be a better
| friend 10 the family than has been
Your neighbor,
Ezra Eastman.
p. 6. spoke very harshly to your
/ good son last night; but he must not
| mind the hasty words of an old man.
have work for him in my greenhouse
/ for all the next vacation.
Crtf