The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-12-15
when your mother comes home. Thu

home. too, tomorrow. HAD tney
"cured" her at that great, grim hos
pital for sick souls, over there! All
at once Scarecrow remembered some
thing. She was coming out weeks
earlier, because of good behavior"
they said. Some one had told him.
Scarecrow was conscious suddenly Of
being proud of his mother. He had
never been proud Of her in his life
before.
"Dey're goin' to let her out sooner
along O. her behavin' good" he mur-
INJURED, q little glow warming his thin.
brown cheeks. "Oh, 1 say, mebbe"-
his voice quavered excitedly-"mebbe
dey'se cured her!'
But there would be no green and
flowers or welcome on the wall. The
utter contrast smote Scarecrow like
a dull blow. He stopped in the street
and sobbed in sudden compassion.
There would be no vines, no flowers,
no singing-no anything-when Scare
crows mother came home. That 9TH
er mother would have them all.
Then the silver coins clinked remind
ingly. They bore inspiration straight
from the tattered pocket of respondent
Scarecrow to his brain under the tat
tered cap. Fifty cents will carry"
great way sometimes. and it was
Scarecrow's trade to carry things.
There were the odds and ends OF
greens and the half wilted flowers that
the florist let him have cheap; there
were the buns and sausages ana the
tea-and the bit of sugar and milk.
He carried them all home to the attic
in the dreary alley. All the way up
stairs, flight after fight. Scarecrow
whistled. Across the dark hallway
the invalid woman took up her nee
die again and smiled.
Maybe she amt comm home AFTER
all-then l don't wonder he feels IKE
whistlin'," she thought. "It's dread
full good to hear him again"
The little attic was swept and pol
ished and decorated with the treasures
from the florists. Scarecrow got up
at the first ray of daylight to do 1t.
And he set out his little feast on the
fitting old table. Over the one little
window he nailed a gigantic w that
he had fashioned patiently out OF
shreds of green. 1t was crooked and
queer, but 1t was a w, and 1t began
the word welcome. He would explain
she would understand.
81 wish 1 could remember de way
de other letters went" he thought.
standing off and cycling the solitary
letter wistfully; "but I'll tell her wot it
STAINS fer, an how she's welcome
home again, and when she comes in
de door I'll set up an whistle, loud.
Dat'n be de singin'."
1t was midway in the dull. wet morn
ing when the mother of little Scare
crow came home. Sore-hearted and
hopeless, with the brand of shame on
her forehead, she dragged listlessly up
the stairs, flight after flight. She had
"been good over on the Island, but
now
'I sayr'
1t was Scarecrow on the upper land
ing, nodding cheerfully. His little
brown, lean, hungry face was elate
with pride.
eyer come along in an look, will
yerw he cried, exultantly, hurrying her
before him. ut STAINS fer Welcome,
see?-it's de first letter. l couldn't
spell de rest. An de flowers an vines
an de vittles-dey all STAINS fer wei
| GOMEZ"
Then the boys lips pursed into q
whistle, and the whole decorated little
attic was filed with shrill music.
A moment the mother gazed-for 8
moment she listened uncomprehend
ingly. Then, with understanding
arose something sweet and warm IL
her calloused breast, and she caugh
little whistling Scarecrow in her arms
The music stopped when she kissed
him. He could never remember t.
have been kissed before, and the proph
esy of better things was in the strange
warm touch on his lips. The faith o
little child and the love of mothe
were born then, and the squalid lit
tie attic blOssomed into q home.
would be easier to ''be good" afte
that.-The Interior.