The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-03

| two flights of stairs, was her home; here
| she and the little crippled brother lived.
Going in she hearR low sobbing, and run
| ming to ragged pallet she dropped on her
| knees. Robbie, darling, it is I, what is the
| mabter?" she said forgetting her own
| nunabness in her effort to comfort the little
| cripple brother "Oh, Pip would die, held
| him close to keep him warm, but he would
| die, oh, he would die, and I ann hun
cry
Putting a little dead bird in her hands
| he laid his head in her lap and cried like
| his heart would break. Don't cry Robbie,
| dear, he has gone to heaven; l am sure
| God took him. Don't you remember the
| pretty stories mother told us about heaven?
Just think, Robbie Pip will never he s0ld
| or hungry any more and the little girl al
most wished she was there herself.
| She soothed the child till he fell asleep
| then taking her violets she glided out of
| the cellar into the cold crowded street.
She ran up and down, trying to sell the
withered flowers, spurred on by the hope of
getting something for the cripple away
down in the cellar, who patiently bore his
pain. who had never walked, and who, for
many days, had never seen the light.
She went into shops, into alleys, but no
one wanted the child's flowers; it was get
ting dark and she was afraid; drunken
men ran against her, the angry words and
loud curses of brutal men frightened her,
and she ran down the alley into the cellar.
basket in which the poor little violets had
frozen.
The boy was asleep when she entered,
and she prayed that he might sleep on, for
there was nothing to eat.
The man in the fur overcoat, going to his
home that night was restless, the child
with the small, pinched face, selling violets
troubled him. He wished he had spoken
a kind word, or given her money; some
how it recalled old times.
Sitting in his study that night he drew
a small miniature from his pocket, opened
1T and looked at the fair face it contained.
1t was of a girl about nineteen, with dark
blue eyes, and the same regular mouth
the ahild with the frozen vioets possessed.
Closing 1t he walked the length of the
room over and over again, thinking of the
little sister. Pearl, of long, long ago, who
had run away years ago. He wished he
could find her.
Lonely and weary life seemed to him;
his only pride his wealth and position.
The little violet girl ran up and down the
muddy streets the next morning, the Grip
pie must have something to eat today,
God would help her she knew.
Seeing the man in the fur overcoat she
ran up to him. "Oh, SIR and the tears roll
ed down the pinched, purple cheeks, please
give me something, ] am so cold, so hun
CRY and so tired Robbie had nothing to eat
yesterday; please, on, please give me
little" and the last words ended in almost
a sob. 4
"Come, little girl" he said kindly, taking
her cold hand in his own warm one, come
with me, let's what can do for YOU
and he led her down past the business part
of the town, to where there were fine
houses and large yards.
She was not conscious of where she was
going, except that this kind man would
perhaps give her few pennies, may be
enough to get Robbie a stick of the much
1onged-for candy
They went into a fine house, which In the
eyes of the little street girl was next to
heaven
First, tell me your story, little girl,'' me
said. taking her to a warm, bright fire. The
child told story of a mother who had
died five weeks before In a crowded fiat
in New York, how she and the little Grip
pie had been placed in the damp, dirty
cellar, and of her efforts to get bread.
What was your mothers name before she
married, her maiden name?"
Pearl Lanier, sir; Pearl Lanier," the
child replied.
''Have you no friends; relatives?" he
asked, greatly interested.
mo, sir; but mother had brother who
is rich; she never spoke of him, except that
his name was Walter
The child looked at the man. He sat
with his elbows on the table, his head rest
ing on them.
She wanted to go back to Robbie, the lit
tie boy would be so lonesome
Sir" she ventured at last, Robbie will
he so lonesome" "Yes yes" he said has
tilv, 'let us go to him."
They started. the man silent and thought
full, the child wondering why he should
want to see Robbie.
After reaching the alley and speaking to
the cripple child, the said, and his
voice sounded harsh In his intenseness.
"Children, I am your mothers brother;
am your uncle Walter; am lonely, I need
you both, come home with me- my chill
dren," and nne gathered them both in his
strong, protecting arms and
But let's drop the curtain you can guess
the rest.