Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-02-14
.oney. Come, what's it to me?"

6SfeIdl DliiSJ inc oullly SySS VI thS
visitor greedily following his move
ments.
And then came an interruption.
The inner door was gently pushed
open and the curly head of a small
boy appeared in the opening.
Can l come in, Papa Ceorge?" in
quired childish voice.
George Bicknell turned quickly.
mo, no." he cried. you can't
come in. I'm busy. Run away"
LET him come in, George" said the
prodigal 81 want to make his ac-
quaintance." The bloated face had
lost it's smile. The tone was no lon
ger a chuckling one. Come in, little
fellow"
The door was pushed a little far
Their.
Can I, papa?"
Eyes," SAID George Bicknell.
The lad stepped into the room. lie
was handsome boy OF eight years,
straight and well developed.
Mamma has gone over to Aunt Lu
cy's," he said, as he turned to his
father, IAN she won't be back for an
hour. 1t was kind o lonesome an it
being a holiday thought I'd come to
you, papa. You knew we're always
! together a good deal on holidays"
The boy turned as he spoke the last
I DC rd oh cf
I wish you happy New Year, sir
he gravely said.
Thank you, son." said the visitor;
81 wish you many of the same sort.
his father and then stepped to the
stranger. 'Do l look, son, like a man
who is threatened with a happy New
Year?"
The boy was little puzzled. Then
he gravely shook his head.
IF you don't mind, sir" he said, Il
think you look like a tramp"
The visitor laughed-a hoarse, I'M
musical laugh.
you're wise lad, son." he said.
'I'm a tramp, all right. It's a noble
profession. The children of Israel
were tramps; the pilgrim fathers were
tramps."
"Tramps know great deal, don't
they, sir?" said the lad. They see so
much" He paused and looked at the
tattered man with a doleful express
sion. Tramps are always poor, aren't
they, sir?" he asked.
Poverty is as natural to them as
rags, and dirt, and hunger" replied
the visitor.
Then II you don't mind again,
said the boy" I'D like to give you
this nice shining quarter that l was
going to start my new savings bank
with this morning." And he put the
bright coin in the visitors palm.
The prodigaPs grimy fingers closed
upon it.
"Pll take it as loan son." he said,
and his voice seemed to George Bick.
nell trifie more husky.
Come, jamie"
The boy turned to his father.
Must | go?" he asked.
Let him stay a little longer said
the visitor, and there was a note of
command in the thickened tones.
He interests me. What did l under
stand your name to be, SOM
'My full name is James Corydon
Bicknell, sir"
There was little silence.
The visitor looked up at George
Then he glanced back at the boy.
you look like your mother, son,
don't your" he asked.
No replied the boy, grandma
always said | looked like my Uncle
Jim. He went away when he was
quite big boy, you know, and never
came home again.
you visited your grandma, them"
the man of tatters asked.
No replied the boy; she came to
live with us. She died last year, you
know"
"No," said the visitor in a low
voice; Il didn't know"
And she used to talk a great deal
about my Uncle jim. Papa and mann
ma never talked about him. but
grandma always did when she and me
was alone together. He was an aw-
full nice boy, my Uncle Jim was You
never met him, did you, sir?"
Il can't say that ever did, son." re-
piled the visitor.
Il asked you" said the boy. cause
when I'd say to grandma, Where is
Uncle Jim tow she'd say something
about his being wanderer on the
face of the earth-and that's kind o.
tramp, amt it?"
Yes" said the visitor. Go on"
That's about ALL" the boy respon-
ded. "Cept that when grandma fell
sick she get little queer in her head,
old folks do sometimes, you know,
and thought l was Uncle Jim when he
was little boy. And I'd sit by the
bed and she'd sing the little songs TO
me that she sang to him. and she'd
talk to me just as il was her little
boy, an when she fell asleep forever
an pvar che haI har orounl 49,.