Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-31
CHAPTER XIV.
A MODERN MIRACLE.

''AIrs. Durham, the doctor wants you"
said Charlie when McLeod's football had
died away. ~.
Charlie, dear. why don't you call me
'Mama'-surely you love me a little wee
bit, don't you?" she asked, taking the
boys hand tenderly in hers.
'Yesm," he replied hanging his head,
''Then do say Mama You don't know
how good 1t would be in my ears"
at try to but 1t chokes me-" he half
whispered, glancing ;imidly up at her.
''Let me call you Aunt Margaret,
always wanted an aunt and think your
name Margaret's so sweet" he shyly
added.
She kissed him and said "AIl right If
that's all you will give me-" She passed
on into the library where the preacher
waited her.
my dear, I've just given young Mcleod
q piece of my mind. l wanted to say to
you that you are entirely mistaken in his
character. He's bad egg. know all the
facts about his treachery. He's as smooth
q liar as I've met in years"
with all his brute nature, there's
some good in him." she persisted.
"Well, 1t will stay in him. He will never
let 1t get out"
"All right, have your way about it for
the time. Wen see who is right in the
long run. Now I've more pressing and
tougher problem for your solution"
what is it?'
Dick"
''What's he done this timer"
"He steals everything he can get his
hands on"
HE Is q puzzle"
Hes the greatest liar ever saw" she
continued. HE simply will not tell the
truth If he can think up a lie in time.
I'd say run him of the place, but for
Charlie. He seems TO love the1ittle scoun-
drel. I'm afraid his influence over Char
lie Will be vicious, but 1t would break
the child's heart to drive him away. What
shall we do with him7"
The preacher laughed. 'I give It up, my
dear, you've got beyond my depth now. 1
don't know whether he's got a soul. Ger
tainly the very rudimentary foundations
of morals seem lacking. 1 believe you
could take a young ape and teach him
quicker. / leave him with you. At pres.
ent it's a domestic problem"
Thanks, that's so encouraging"
Dick was puzzle and no mistake about
It, But to Charlie his rolling mtschievous
eyes, his cunning fingers and his way
ward imagination were unfailing foun-
tains of life. He found every birds nest
within two miles of town. He could track
a rabbit almost as swiftly and surely as
q hound. He could work like fury when
ne had mind to, and loaf half day over
one row of the garden when he didn't
want to work, which was his chronic
condition.
When the revival season set in for the
negroes IN the summer, the days of sor-
row began for householders. Every negro
in the community became absolutely
worthless and remained so until the emo.
tional insanity attending their meetings
wore off.
Aunt Mary, Mrs. Durham's cook, got
salvation over again every summer with
increasing power and increasing degener-
alton in her work Some nights she got
home at o'clock and breakfast vas not
ready until g. Some nights she didn't get
home at all, and Mrs. Durham had to get
breakfast herself.
1t was q hard time for Dick who had
not yet experienced religion, and on whom
fell the brunt of the extra work and Mrs.
Durham's fretfulness besides.
81 tell you what less do, Charlie!" he
cried one day. LESS go down ter dat mig
ger CHI CHI, en- bus up 0e meetin'! Use get
tin tired er dis
How'll you do it?"
az show you sonefn'?" He reached I'M
der his shirt next TO his skin, and pulled
out DR.. Graham's sun glass.
"Where'd you get that, Dick?,"'
"Foun il whar err man lef' it, He wall
ed his eyes solernnly.
''Des watch here when turns i'm In
de sun, l kin set dat pile ere straw er
fire wild it!'
''You mustn't set the church aare!"
warned Charlie.
Nav, chile, but git up in de gallery.
en- when ole Uncle Josh gins ter holler en-
bawl en- r'ar en- charge I ding dat blaze