The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-23
The Umbrealla Members Quest.

but / was asking the man down there
about you, and think maybe you might
be able to help me in something"
''No trouble at all; / shall be glad 10
assist you in any way I'm my power" l
said. shaking the cold, withered hand SO
timidly presented. TO give him time TO
get back some degree of hrmness to his
voice, which had become strangely agitat-
ed
It's about my son / want TO speak"
he said. as he drew me aside. and we
walked off together into the quiet re-
tirement OF Parliament square. ''He was
the only one left after my wife deed, and
my heart was set on him. for he was the
youngest, and all the others are sleepin'
wi their mother In st. Nicholas church
yard"
He paused there, lingering feverishly
with the umbrellas; but did not look at
his face, for l guessed that there was
dee.
''You understand these things, sir; for
I've been told you've listened to many a
tale OF the kind" he brokenly continued
1T seems that some men get large
share of sorrow and trouble, and others
little 'un mine has been a large 'un; but
don't complain, IL / could only find Bob,
and speak ~ 'un, and grip un by the
hand. and say to 'un. Bob, lad. thous
been left money--Ive got IL sewed I'm my
coat lining-fower hundred and seventy
pounds-come whome wi me lad, an
don't be a wanderin' thief and a vsga-
bond any more"
''ffe went wrong, then?" I gently OBJ
served, as he drew his worn sleeve across
his eyes. unable TO articulate more.
He did. sir, and a sad heart IL gaze
me. At first II was only drinkin'. or fight
in AM quarrelin and / got 'un off by
payin' the fines. Then he got to coursin'
hares wi dogs on Sundays. and got mixed
WI thieves and such-like. The police are
sharp our Newcastle way. They have to
be: and he was ta'en wi some thieves,
and got thirty days. and no fine would
get him off-though I'd sold my whole
shop 10 make IL up"
II warn't a poor wanderin' man then.
more like beggar nor anything else"
pursued the old man. after a pause, with
some dignity. II had a shop o my own,
and good trade i'm toy and papers and
such-like. 1 sold umbrellas. too. and
mended then at times, and that's how i
took TO IL, after the money came TO Bob"
''Then he was really left money!"
Yes, sir; but that was long after he
first went wrong-Im not come TO that
yet" answered the old man. when the
thirty days wor up. l went to CARROLL
square and waited from eight I'm the
morning at the Jail door to see him come
out. Twas the dead OF winter, and awful
cold. but the thought OF Bob coming out
20 me made me as warm as a pie. So
rubbed my hands and kept walking up
and down from the Manors to Erick
street. in front OF the doorway, thinking
how nice IL would be sitting at whome
takin' breakfast WI Bob alongside o. me
just as usual But before the door opened
TO let him out. there were others there
dog men and thieves-and they got round
him and whispered TO him, and he only
pulled away when / spoke TO him. and al
last he up wi his fist and struck 1 an
awful blow In the eyes
The brute-and you gave him In charge
again of course?"
ma. | cudn't do that. j didn't mind the
clip on the face bit, but my heart was
nigh breakin at him goin' away. and 1
followed him bit till he turned round
and saiu If came any farder. he would
throw me 4 Tyne l said. We'll. well.
Bob. lad. thou may be sorry on Il some
day. and | went whome 20 my empty
fireside mysen. wishin' | wor asleep In
the churchyard wi my wife and BARNS"
The short and shabby sleeve was again
drawn across his eyes. and again stud
led the clock of ST. Giles church TIN he
should be able to speak again.
From that DAY, sSlV. the devil seemed
TO get into him. and send him driving
from bad TO worse" softly resumed the
old man "Hc wor seldom at home, and
was frightened 10 ask him how he lived.
lest I should find him as bad as 1 feared.
e wor always drinkin. and so furious
that at times he thowt nothing o. beatin'
me. l G.Int mind that "a little bit, for
YOU know ! loved the lad lie robbed me
twice. but I said nothing about ~ 20 the
policey for what good was there I'm send
Ing him back 10 jail 10 learn more wick
edness? once when he was awful Wild he
struck me with the poker and broke my
arm. but went mp TO the Ihflrmary and
had n set. and no one knew nowt about
g. Then ! had 10 give up my shop and