The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-06


you must" and as 1 concluded, I
thrust the tightly-fOIded parcel be-
meath his arm, and pressed the little
/ tattered elbow firmly over it. There
you are" said /. Freeze onto it, and
| Wen skip of here at the avenue.
Come.
1 hardly dared to look behind me till
found myself upon the street. but as
threw an eager glance over my shoul-
der 1 saw the little fellow following.
not bounding joyfuliy, but with a sol
emn step, the little parcel Rugged
closely to his side. and his eyes bent
sOberly upon the frozen ground.
And how's Sis by this tinec' I
asked. cheerily, finging the question
backward, and walking on moro
briskly.
Bout the same" said the boy.
frightening little, and skipping into
| livelier pace.
| About the same. eh2 and how's
| that?" 1 asked.
''Oh. she can't get around much ike
she used to, you know; but she's a-git-
| tin better all the time. She set up
mighty nigh all day yesterday" and
| as the boy spoke the eyes lifted with
the old fash, and the little frowzy head
tossed with the old defiance.
! Why. she's not down sick2''. said 7
( a sudden ache OF SORROW shifting me-
/ Yes" replied the boy, shes been
bad long time. You see, he broke in
by way Of explanation, ''she didn't
4 have no shoes ner nOthin' when winter
| come. and kindo' took cold, you know,
and that give her the whoopin' cough
! SOS she couldn't git around much. You
jist ort 10 see her now! Oh. she's
a-gittin' all right now, you can bet,
| and she said yesterday she'd be plum
| well Christmas, and that's on'y to-
'morry- Guess mott" and as the little
fellow concluded this exultant speech
he circled round me, and then shot for
| ward like a rocket.
Hi! Jamesyi" [ called after him.
pausing at a stairway and stepping in
| the door.
The little fellow Joined me in an in
| slant Want that shine now?'' ne in
quired, with painting eagerness.
Not now, Jamesy," said /, for Tn
going to be quite busy for a while. This
is my stopping place here-the second
door on the right, upstairs, remember
and work when I'm in the city, and
/ 1 sometimes sleep there, when / work
/ late And now I want 10 ask a very
special favor of you" I continued TAX
| ing a little sealed packet from my
| vest; here's d little box that you're
| 10 take TO Sis. with my compliments
the compliments of The season, you un-
/ derstand-and tell her I sent it, with
/ particular directions that she shouldn't
| break it open till Christmas morning
not till Christmas morning, under
| stand Then you tell her that
I would like very much TO come
and see her, and if she says all right
and you must give me good send off,
and she'll say all right II
-Jamesy' says all right-then come
/ back here, say two hours from
now, or three hours, or to-
night anyway, and Wen go down and
/
| The boy nodded obviously. Honest
must / do all that. sure enough
| viii you2" said I; that's what
want to know" and 1 pushed back the
little dusky face and looked into the be-
wildered eyes
''Solid2" he Queried, graveIy.
Solid repeated, handing him the
box will. you come?''
wy, course viii, on'y I was jist
a-thinkin' -
Just thinking what?" said I, as the
| little fellow paused abruptly and shook
/ thinking what2" I repeated; ''for I
what?"
"Oh, nothin'," said the boy. backing
off and staring at me in a phase OF
/ wonder akin 70 awe. ''Nothin', on'y I
was jist a-thinkin' that you was a
| little the curiOusest rooster ever see
Three hours later, as 1 sat alone. he
| came in upon me timidly to say he
| hadn't been home yet, having run
acrost the old man jist a-bilin', and
/ had to git him corraIled fore ne
| dropped down somers in the snow: but
| m a-gittfn long bully with him now.
he added, with a deep sigh of relief,
cause he's so full he'll hat to let go
purity soon. Say you'll be here?'
| 1 nodded silently, and he was gone.
The merry peais of laughter rang up
4 Ererar1 h. 60
! juggling of bells, the cIatter and con
fusion of the swarming thoroughfares
flung up TO me not one glad nlurmur of
| delight; the faint and far-off blarine
| Of dreamy waltz, blown breeze-Iike
over the drowsy ear of night had
sounded sweeter TO me had 1 stood
amidst the band. with every below
| ing horn about my ears, and the drums
and ciashing cymbaIs bowling mad.
l couldn't work, I couldn't read I
couldn't rest; 1 could only pace about.
[ heard the clock strike 10, and strike It
| hard; heard il strike II, viciousiv:
and L 1t held out at arms length. and
struck il fun between the eyes. and let
| il drOp-stOne dead. o 1 saw the blood
ooze from its ears, and saw the white
foam freeze upon its hpsi 1 was alone
-alonei
1t was 3 o'clock before the boy re-
| turned
Been a long whiIe.' he began. "but
1 had a fearful time with the old man,
and he went on SO when 1 did sit him
in 1 was most afeared 30 leave him:
but he kindO' went TO sleep at last. and
Molly she come over to see how Sis
was a-gittin'; and Sis said she'd Ike
to see you If you'd come now. YOU
know, while they amt no racket goin'
on
Come, then said I, buttoning my
coat closely at the throat; Il am
ready" and a moment later we had
stepped into the frosty night We
moved along in silence, the little fel-
low half running. half sliding along the
frozen pavement in the lead; and
noted. with a pleasurable thrill that
he had donned the little fuzzy cap and
mittens. and from time to time was
fiinging. as he ran, admiring glanceS
at his shadow on the snow.
Our way veered bIIt a little from the
very center Of the city. but led mainly
along through narrow streets and alley
ways where the rear ends of massive
business blocks had dwindIed down %
insignificant proportions to leer gTinlly
at US as we passed little grated win
dows and low, sowing doors OcCa-
sionally We passed a clump Of empty
boxes, barrels, and such debris Of mer-
chandise as had been crowded pell-Tnel
from some inner storage by their new
er and more dignified companions; and