The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-22


failed to realize where she was, and
then she cried out, 20, what will ma
ma say?'
Then she heard Miss Elviry's indig-
nant challenge, and knew her voice.
us that you, Miss Elviry? Please take
me out"
AS Miss Elviry declared, it was 1.-THE
wonder of the world" and before
Sweetest Susan could tell a connected
story of the events of the night, as far
as she knew them, she heard a voice
of her grandfather and Aaron, who
had been hunting for her all night
Roby Ransom woke up suddenly and
made a dash for the bushes. He imag-
ined that the officers of the asylum
were after him, and he ran like the
wild man that he was He ran so fast
and he ran so far that he has never
been Seen from that day to this, nor
has any trace of him ever been dis
covered. &
Thus it fell out that Billy the bis
cult eater, Billy the. quare creetur, be
came a sort of problem What was to
be done with him? Sweetest Susan
wanted to carry him home with her;
but that was matter for serious con-
sideration At last it was Miss Elviry
who settled the problem. She. said she
would Keep him until his ''kinnery'.
came after him, and was so earnest
about it that Mr.. Abercombie allowed
her to have her way.
Mr.. Bob's farm however humble
held a great many attractions for Bill
~. But he'greatest attraction of all
was tame crow, which followed him
about the house and yard, talking
hoarsely- to itself all the time; then
there were the calves and the teeny
weeny little pigs. Billy made himself
very much at home,. and though he
talked about his "muvver" and Nam
my Wose and was ever eager to see
them again, he made himself content.
He was unspoiled so far as obedience
was concerned, and Miss. Elyiry
thought there never was, such a child
in the world. she blessed the day that
had brought him into the house.
There were times when Billy would
tell about his search for Santa Claus
and about the band and the bonfire,
and the marching soldiers. And one
day, after rejecting over the matter
for some time, he suddenly remarked
that he had found Santa Claus.
well. wish you'd show him to me,
honey. said Miss Elviry.
Him Fardy Taws," Billy responded,
pointing 10 Mr.. Bobs, who had white
hair and long gray beard AS this
remark CHANGED to be made the night
before Christmas Lne Two Oiu pSOPiS
Suddenly bethought themselves THAI
they had better do something to cele-
btate the day. They couldn't do much,
but they could do something; and SO
Mr.. Bobs, he put the, skillet on and
made some candy out of sorghum
syrup, and Miss Elviry, she put the
over on, and made some ginger cakes
These were Billys Christmas offerings
and he enjoyed them as any other
healthy; unspoilt child would have
done.
Then came the new year, the year
that witnessed the collapse OF the
Confederacy. 1t was year OF many
vast changes. The poor were no poorer,
as Mr.. Bobs said but many who had
been prosperous the year before were
now poor indeed. Their condition was
even worse than that Of the
people who had always been
poor Poverty is not an unfriendly
guest when you have been
acquainted with him long time, but
when he corfies as a stranger he makes
Il very hard for those who meet him
for the FIRST time For instance, Mr..
Bobs and his sister were in a much
better condition than the Abercrom-
bies and the Wyches They lost moth
ing by the war, and they were az com
Portable after Sherman's army had
swept by them as they had been be-
fore. Mr. Bobs had saved his cotton
by hiding Il In the swamp, and he was
able 10 dispose of Il at a price that
outran his highest expectations.
with the money which he received