The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-02-17

Though Leonard Western is but eleven
years old he can boast Of an experience
seldom met with by men. He Travelled
from Waynesville, North Carolina, TO thls
city. without paying a cent for transpor-
tation. and rode a considerable portion oil
the distance in a large safe IN an express
car. and arriving here found happy
home He is now living with an East
Washington family, and has through his
pluck. manIiness and intelligence so in
gratiated himself with the family, that ne
is to be adopted.
Leonard is a small boy for his age. lie
is a sturdy little specimen, however with
large blue eyes and golden hair lie Is
active and to such an extent that the
small BOYS in the neighbo"hood where ne
/ has found a home are envious OF ms
somersaults. hand-springs. cart wheels.
and feats Of vaulting. There is good bit
of modesty in the makeup Of Leonard, 100,
and he shows no consciousness Of his ablll-
ties. To his playmates he says the teats
. he performs are easily learned, and in
/ fact are a part Of the daily exercise and
pleasure Of the youths who breathe the
air Of the North Carolina pines.
Little Leonard has been an orphan since
he was two years old. He never saw his
father who dice few months before
Leonard's birth. The mother died shortly
after the seconH birthday Of the child
Leonard then recame the charge OF a
bachelor uncle and WAS well cared for untll
the death Of the relative a short time ago
The little fellow had regarded MS "nel'
as a father and was br0kenhearied Ct ms
death. other relatives and friends tried 10
I console the child ar. offered 10 provide
! for him. but TO nc purpOs~. He broode'
much and finally conceived the idea tha
. mental relief could be found IN change
OF scene Accordingly Ne formulated pian
for a long journey. HIS only object VA
10 leave behind H.m al that would ten'
to recall tn,- sudden termination OF M
| happy home. Tho ugh Uncle Pap, a
I.eousrd had known his mothers brother
was dead has n memory lived in the hear
Of the little rc;i ~ who IN his limited " a,
Of reasoning could not understand WY n
had never known a real papa or mamma.
! Leonard accompanied the remains ct M
uncle to the grave and as shoveliul are
/ shovelful Of -aT1h fell on the CONN th
! little chest neaved. the blue ewes Wep'
| and the If,tls heart aohed. Tenderly On
little fellow was lifted by he loving arm
! OF friends and nestled In the arms or
1 sympathetic woman. but all 70 NO pJT
/ pose Leonard could not be reconelle'
ana sObbcd mourmully during Inc Jour
ney home from the graveyard.
The following morning Leonard az
pcared bri zht and clipper. Those inter
ested in ne child looked wise, and sal
he will be all right now Little did the
dream OF the determination OF Leonard
carry out a plan formulated during
s. sepless night.
Suddenly Leonard disappeared WheI
he had gone no one knew except an e2
press messenger on a Southern tra
bound for Washington, and he did M
. know the identity Of the little wait unit
Warnesyi!le had been left many miles b
hind Then IL was that Leonard mourn
fully related his sad story 10 symp'
theuc listener.
Leonard and the express messenger b'
came friends in a very peculiar way. II
little fellow had iaurneyed from Wayne
willie to Asheville on foot When u
Southern train pulled out Of Ashgvil
Leonard swung on 10 the platform OF q
express car He was discovered by n
messenger about thirty minutes later an
being cold, was brought into the ca
There ne WAS closely questioned, and
his STRAIGHTFORWARD. many statements
once made a friend Of the express mcsse
ger Leonard was allowed to roam abo
the car tOr snort while lulll TT Mon Iii
for the conductor OF the train 10 lna
his appearance when the little fellow W
placed in the large express safe The
he remained for nearly an hour, when
opportunity for his release arrived Aga
when the conductor appeared, Leonard w
put in the safe and this time he remain
there several hours. not because OF nect
sity. but owing to the fact that the me
senger did not wish 70 disturb his stu
l. bers.
n IL appears that wheH the conductor b
left the ear and the coast was clear
. express messenger called 10 Leonard a
failing 70 get an answer. went in ala
e. 10 the safe. The door vas partially OF
re- 10 allow the admission Of air for BREATH
m purposes but grave doubts entered
he mind Of the express messenger. When
IN; pulled the door wide open his apprehens
T. was at once allayed. foi there. curled
md like a kitten. was Leonard. in the land
dreams. He was not disturbed and ST
md peacefully for several hours When
led awoke he s5arvi a meal with the eNpr
hat messenger and ~es a happy child
had When the train arrived in this
in Leonard accOmps nied the express mess
ate ger to the home of a friend in II Str
200 near Twelfth Street northeast. There
hat child was introduced and made comic
for able The good people had often express
on a wish for a bright boy for adoption