Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-05-08

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looking man. Beth hadn't really
been looking for this kind of guest,
but he was in the hedge, that was GER
tain, so she said: "Won't you please
come to my tea party?"
The man looked up, surprised.
"Hey," he asked.
"N-n-no," said Beth, mot exactly
hay, but mud and water tea, in acorn
cups"
This time the man grunted and
made no reply.
"There's more coming" Beth hast
ened to say. Bridget is baking
cookies and lots of good things; and
there's always bread and milk. but
Angie and me- pretend first and eat
second"
'Tll come when you arc through
pretending" said the man.
"But Angie hasn't come, and I
have come into the highways and
hedges and found you. Father
preached to do it, and he never told
us what to do if the hedge people
would not come, either"
II was perplexed face, framed in q
pink sun-bonnet, that looked down on
the man.
He got up at once, and then Beth
saw that he limped, and was very
much dirtler than the people she was
accustomed to eat with
"I'll go right up to the house, now,
and get the real tea," she said, "and
and if you should want to wash your
face and hands, there's brook in the
hollow, and I'll bring towel"
The man was dripping and much
cleaner when she returned, loaded
with things to eat and with whit,
towel over her arm. After he hac
emerged from his rubbing he had los
something of the bleary look that Betl
wondered at, and he sat gravely dowr
opposite her and in front of the fla
rock, whereon their feast was spread
"Will you or 1 ask grace?" sht
, asked.
You'd better, I reckon; I'm out o
practice" said the man, grimly.
make us good and thankful, pleas,
Lord" said Beth with folded hands
Then she served her guest
He ate like one famished, and wher
the end of the bill of fare wa
reached he heaved q mighty sigh
"That's good" he said; "frst I've ea
: since yesterday"
{ "Do you live near here?" asket
, Beth timidly.
eyes, did," said the man. &c
don't now."
Have you moyed?"
, "Goin' to-" he replied, pulling hi
hat down over his eyes.
1--WE met with bad luck" he con
tinued.
Beth waited patiently.
7 "You see, I've got a pard, boy
| my nephew really, an him an me-
been keepin' switch over to the bend
He's got q thing the matter with hi
leg, not just now happened, like mine
' but growed SO from trouble with hi
hip. That boy is smart an all that
, but he'd ruther walk 'en anything
So we found out what it 'ud take t
fix him up, an we saved fur il
scrimped and saved on every corner
, an the boy he trapped some animal
and got some birds and stuffed 'em
an it brought him in right smart, s
at last we had enough, an Dick h
fixed it. was to go to town-'caus
he's lame an get the money put to
gether in a note or something lik
, that, an he'd keep switch till 1 com
back. Then we'd go to the city to
gether and I'd leave him with th
doctors an I'd come back and wal
e till he'd git well.
$50 l took the box, with it all in
an started" There was a pause
Then he went on slowly: "You see
miss, [ used to drink, but Dick
Dicks his name--never thought L
do it again. and wouldn't, I reckon
if SO be L hadn't turned my ankl
! down the road there close to Bob
halfway house, an limped in, al
the smell an all made me wild, besid
: the pain. Bob filed me up wit
! whisky, an 1 never knew nothir
more till I woke up this morning wit