The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-10-17

fellow exclaimed IN nStOnlsnnent.
"They spell Welcome because moth
ers coming home tomorrow. To-mor-
row morning-yes, Stree! They've
cured her Mt the hospital. and she's
coming home. We've got pieces to
speak, and singing, and we're going TO
drape the picture with vines and flow
ers. tell you there's times. when
your mother comes homer
Little Scarecrow crept away In the
darkness. Even the bright silver quar-
ters clinked, unheard, in his pocket.
He was thinking.
There are "times"-I tell you!-
when your mother comes home. That
is what Scarecrow was thinking.
Scarecrow's mother was coming
home, too, tomorrow. Had they
"cured" her at that great, grim hos
pital for sick souls, over there? All
Mt once Scarecrow remembered some
thing. She was coming out weeks
earlier. because of good behavior"
they said. Some one had told him.
Scarccrow 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 mu-'
INJURED, a little glow warming his thin,
brown cheeks. "Oh, say, mebbe"-
his voice quavercd excltcdly-"mebbc
dey'se cured her!'
But there would be no green and
q. Ip.
utter contrast smotc Scarecrow like
dull blow. He stopped in the street
and sobbcd i'm sudden compassion.
There would be no vines, no flowers,
no singing-no anything-whon Scare
crows mother came home. That 9th
or mother would have them all.
Then the silver coins clinked remind
ingly. They bore inspiration straight
from the tattercd pocket of Respondent
! Scarecrow to his brain under the tat
/ tered cap. Fifty cents will carry"
great way sometimes, and 1t was
| Scarccrow's trade TO carry things.
| There were the odds and ends of
greens and the half wllted flowers that
the florist let him have cheap; there
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
whistlcd. Across the dark hallway
the invalid woman took up her nee
die again and smiled.
Maybe she amt comm home after
| ali 4 ~.
whlstlin'," she thought. IT'S dread
ful good to hear him againw
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 it.
And he set out his little feast on the
fitting old table. Over the one little
window he nailed n gigantic w that
he had fashioned patiently out of
shreds of green. 1t was crooked and
queer, but 1t was w, and it began
the word welcome. He would explain
she would understand
81 wish | could remember de way
de other letters went" he thought,
standing off and eyeing 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'll 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
81 sayw
1t was Scarecrow on the upper land
ing, nodding cheerfully. His little
brown, lean, hungry face was elate
with pride.
"Yer come along in an look, will
yer" he cried eXultantly, hurrying heI
before him. TT 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
come.'"
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 q
moment she listened uncomprehend
ingly. Then, with understanding
arose something sweet and warm In
her calloused breast, and she caught
little whlstling Scarecrow in her arms
The music stopped when she kissed
him. He could never remember tC
have been kissed before, and the proph
esy of better things was in the strange
warm touch on his lips. The faith OF
a little child and the love of mother
We're born then, and the squalid lit
tie attic blossomed into a home.
would be easier TO "be good aftel
that.-The Interior.
a Cat That Kills Snakes.
Miss Ruby Fleming, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. George NJ. Fleming, of thi
2 place, has n cat that is not only fin,