The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-10-31
Miss Canary's Legacy.
BY r. l.. BACON.

| MS requirements Scefltu 10 Gull lOT IL,
and with great satisfaction she
watched the mouthfuls disappear.
When Joel had finished he got down
from the tall chair very gravely, and
came to her, folding his little hands
together.
81 fink I'll say my prayers now,
Aunty Liza"
Mercy, childW gasped Miss Canary,
completely overcome by this familiari-
ty and the startling announcement.
"Who told you to call me that?"
Papa; he toll me how you loved
| little boys, an how you We're goin' TO
buy me a rock'n' horse an sailboat.
an canary bird an white mice; an
now, Aunty Liza, I'll say my prayers"
but II isn't time; it's not night yet"
"Oh, that's nofiin," responded Joel.
cheerfully. Papa always let me say
'em in the daytlme-God'll hear"
Miss Canary was mute while the
little face buried itself In her apron,
and smothered voice gabbled over
Now l lay me-" and added, "P'ease
b'ess mamma, papa. Aunty Liza, an
little joe" Then the tightly closed
lips relaxed and Joel sprang to his
feet. "Now let's play horse, Aunty
Liar
So the days went on, and Miss Ca
nary's charge thrived and grew like
the pink and white hollyhocks planted
against the kitchen wall. But things
did not go exactly as she had expected.
For instance, the very first night Joel
had fatty refused to occupy the little
white bed arranged with so much
care.
81 allus slept with papa" he pleaded;
and Miss Eliza found nothing to do
but let him crawl into bed with her.
where he slept soundly and his head
resting constantly against her arm.
She found herself counting over her
scanty hoard. to see what might be
spared for n rocking horse. She would
compromise upon that; the sailboat
would keep her in endless terror, and
how could she insult Mousey by install
ling white mice and u bird in her do
main?
Joel was very happy. As the spring
advanced he spent hours down on the
beach collecting treasures hitherto un-
known to him. Miss Canary was ST.
lent when he showered jellyfish and
"hddlers" on her parlor floor Nay. she
even permitted the buildingof pond"
for his family" as Joel called them,
in the corner of her sitting room-a
aH Of Oh, .InI
by bits of stick, rocks, and sand. She
used to pause every now and then in
her baking or cleaning, to go to the
front window and took for him on the
beach.
II have to do my duty by the child"
she said, apologetically.
So time passed on, and Joel had been
an inmate of the little cottage nearly
two years. 1t was day bright with
the May sunshine, and Miss Canary
had set herself to work Mt cleaning the
cellar. "The brighter the day the bet
ter to see the cobweds," she said, as
she tied up her head and drew on a
pair of cotton gloves.
Joel was playing. He had put pre-
pared glue on Mousey and his own
hair was sticky with it. Miss Canary
did not know that.
Suddenly she heard his voice calling
her name eXcitedly. What was the
matter? She scrambled up the steps,
not waiting to remove her gloves. She
FASTENED to the front of the house
and flung open the door, drawing back
in Mortified amazement,
Just outside, bending over the child,
the long plumes of her hat mlngling
with his curls, was the slender. almost
girlish figure of n young woman. The
rich silk of her gown glistened in the
sunlight; there were bright colors in
her hat, and the soft hair under 1t
shone like gold. Joers arms We're
round her neck, and he turned, saying
with an air of PRIDE
"Aunty Liza, this is my mamma; Use
been 'spect'n' her so long. OH, ever so
long, cause papa said she'd come"
Joel's mother unfastened his arms,
but still clasping the child, turned her
pretty, half-defiant face to Miss Ca
nary.
You are surprised to see me-" she
said, looking gravely at the others be-
wildered face. Il have known my
child was with you. ! owe you great
deal. l was with my husband when he
died, but | could not take Joel then.
l came up from Boston this morning
to get him. You will no doubt feel
glad to be relieved of him; you are un-
used to children; Joel must be a trial
to YOU"
Miss Carney was still silent. She
felt as though sudden paralysis had
seized her. She tried to speak, but the
words choked her. She put out her
hands as though to ward off blow.
"My position has not justified my
taking the child before" continued
Joel's wife. "Now l have an assured
one which will enable me to amply
care for him. Oh, my baby, my babyW'