The record-union., 1898-12-04
The C HID AND The DEVIL.

the Devil.
Yes said the Child Then, moving
her crutch to her other side, and wrig-
Cling along the seat, "I saved a place
for you in case you came-spread my
clothes out on purpose, so did,; and,
chuckling over the device, the Devil sat
down.
E He wasn't a real devil. of course.
People only called him that because he
was rich and miserly and had a club
foot.
Said the Child, turning on him two
grave eyes, looking disproportionately
large in her small, pale face, You are
kind to come again! I told mother my
Devil wasn't as black as he was
painted
Her Devir' frowned.
Where did you hear that phrase?"
he growled suspiciously.
"Praps Mrs. Ryley-in our Build
ings." She snuggled close. Her hus-
bands a Devil (only it's 'Divil,' you
know, in Irish). They're friends of
mine; they live on the floor above. But
she shouts at him through the ceiling
when he's tired on Saturday nights"
The Devils tone was acrid
<AlId 10 lS d blIlC polOA theaiA AASiSiA"
borly report would paint him?"
A glimmering of his meaning shone
in her troubled eyes.
Don't you like being called that? I
didn't know your name. Mother and
me is strangers hereabouts."
She showed such fear of wounding
him. He stroked her hair.
Are strangers, he corrected, nod
ding and smiling down.
''Of course! He isl am-You are.
Mothers always telling mel"
Peace fell between them, and, with
it silence.
Said the Child, speaking dreamily,
with eyes half closed: "Nicknames are
horrid! I know it of myself
"How's that?" said the Devil, who
seemed preoccupied.
1.-The boys-sometimes-at our Build
ings"
The thin cheeks flushed.
Call you names, do they?" He tap
ped his stick on the ground. What
names?"
She did not answer.
What names?" he said again.
"Just 'Rickets' sometimes, and Tim
ber Toes, and-and Cripple"
The last escaped with a sob. He drew
her closer, muttering.
Presently, .I'll call you by your real
name, if you like she whispered. "I
was reading about you in print this
morning"
He seemed surprised.
DRY enough reading for little
maid,'' he said.
thi0lxiYO Of CT olyc n Sl,
so that the look on her face puzzled
him. She drew down his hand, she
held it in her own.
How it must have hurt you when
you fell from heaven!" she cried. He
gaped at the Child in wonder. When
God was angry, and he cast you out
When you got hurt she added, STAN
mering with nervous haste, Il think
p'raps I felt wicked, and got cast out
too. That's why my legs crooked, and
I have to walk on crutches."
With the point of one she began trac-
ing uncouth figures in the gravel.
'You-wicked!" gruffiy. Come, I
couldn't believe. that"
"P'raps I swelled inside, like when
the boys shout out Cripple; praps
God scolded, and I gave back answers.
Or-no!" The grave voice
quivered, growing soft and tender.
Maybe God-knowing we was friends
cast me out with you, to keep you
company
The Devil, with head averted, passed
an arm round one thin shoulder.
Said the Child, with solemn gaze
fixed on the leaden sky:
do you wemember heaven? What
it was like, I mean?''
mot clearly" grimly. 81 din't stay
long, you see.''
Neither did I, and I was littler than
you. But I've seen pictures of
it," Frightening: "and it's awful won
derfull" She leaned back against him,
her eyes upturned.
It's like the sands at Margate, with
the sea turned upside down. You can't
walk about COS only flies would know
the way; legs are no good to you, SC
you're cut off up to here"
| She implied decapitation with a small
| forefinger. He read the tender mean
ing her downward glance conveyed.
| And there's no light in heaven; it's
| always light as day. It's SO bright
and shining" she continued in sort
of gentle ecstasy, that the baby an
| gels eyes water, and the old ones put
| on spectacles. You're never
hungry, so there isn't any food; you've
no clothes-you couldn't wear them il
you had; but there's bands-and swings
and sack-racing in the parks, and nc
! fathers go there, only mothers and
boys and girls Nobody ever beats you
nor makes your mother cry; and wher
you take physic God and the angels
| hold your heads. Had / the
wings of dove I would f1y,' she
broke off, grooming, her inspired gaze
/ lifted to follow a London sparrow In
| it's flight.
| And there's crowns and harps," she
cried, her young voice shrill and trem-
| ulous; "and wings sprout where your
ears are, and you fly about all day
/ and when you're tired of flying yor
| sit down on your necks."
And then she lay back and smiled
| at celestial fancies. But / won't &C
back without YOU she added hastily
and all her smiles vanished, her CHR
sinking to her breast
sHow's mother?'' asked the Devil
who seemed to have a cold
/ Nicely, thank you. She's in the
| tailor trade to-day"
THE tailor trade. is she? Then shirts
i didn't pay?'
Not SO well as trousers. It's tn.
buttonholes, you see"