Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-28

sat on the root OF tree to rest while
her companions gathered nuts. She
was soon conscious OF the awkward
approach, of the dwarf, who placed a
large leaf filed with chinouapins at
her side.
"renkye, missus, fur bein' so kline ter
s po boy"
Alice sr"iled and motioned to him.
With a backward pull or scrape of the
right foot and n sort of jerk of his
front hair he obeyed.
What is your name"
stony, ma'am."
what is the matter with you? Why
DO you live on nuts and say you have
no place to spend money? The city is
very near, and you can walk in if you
can come OUT
The boy hesitated.
Il 'fraid fur tell you de trut, cause
you mout tell way is"
Alice fastened to reassure him.
"Oh, missus you ane know wat a
hard time a POI niger kin have. NV
mudder love me. do | is got a hump
back, an she nebber lick me. l ane
nebber bin strong nuff ter wuk, an, do
use ter help her wat could, tame
bin much could do. After she dead
ane know no time l ane git kicks an
knocks from my daddy, cause 'e say
cen e way an e ane gwine feed big
boy lax me. Sometimes l goes days
widout crus' er bread, an one day e
beat me SO an trow me ag'in de wall
dat l nebber know nuttin'. Wen
wake up, it wuz mos mite, an l can
stan no mo-, so git up ter go, am
fine my aims an back so hut me
kin hardly walk. 1 was cumin' out de
place Wen l see hunk er bread an
piece er bacon cen de closet do, an,
missns, bin so hongry / TEX um an
| sneak off. l know 1 wuz wrong, but /
wuz so weak an hongry 1 couldn't help
1t. Den sneak an hide an sneak an
hide till cum yeah, an l bin yeah so
long now dat l gittin' berry sick.
ane had all dis time ting ter eat 'cep'
de nuts an berries. / begs de good
Lord ebery mite ter TEX me befo' my
daddy cum, cause can't let um kill
help myself
The poor little fellow burst into
tears. Alice was not ashamed to let
her own tears fall freely, and soon
band of sympathizers stood around the
unfortunate child. A basket of food
intended for lunch was quickly
opened, and Tony made royal meal.
Before leaving Alice said:
'sTony, do you know the city? Well,
l live on Rutledge avenue near Spring
street, and if you will come to my
house l think we may find job for
you"
"Oh, missus, I 'fraid ter go cen de
gwine meet my daddy"
"Alice." said one of the larger boys,
"let him stay here tonight, and tomor-
row will come out with an officer
and bring Tony in under his protec-
ton. If that brute shows up, he will
be arrested"
This suggestion meeting with ap-
proval, the picnickers soon after de-
parted.
After prayers of thanks to God for
his deliverance Tony lay down and
slept the sweet, untroubled sleep of
childish faith in the eagerly expected
tomorrow" In the morning he almost
forgot in his joy his past enforced 81.
lence and played happily in the, woods
for some time. The sun was hot, and
he soon became tired and hungry. Co
ing to the hollow tree which served as
his storehouse, he and the squirrel were
soon enjoying the remnants Of the good
things of the day before Suddenly he
paled and his heart stopped in fear.
He heard stealthy steps behind him
and, looking round quickly. was just in
time to save himself from an upraised
stick in the hands of his enraged IA
ther.
Flying up the first tree he saw, Tony
failed to notice until too late that it
was not strong enough to bear his
weight; SO, holding on as tightly as he
could, he trembled for his safety either
way. A storm of wild abuse came from
the man, who was in a fury. He vio-
lently shook the tree, which almost at
once dislodged his victim. No sooner
had Tony touched the earth than he
was seized b. the ruffian, who bella
bored him, accompanying each blow
with the vilest language and most
frightful kicks. Scream after scream
filed the air until, with one piercing
Shrek, the sufferer sank into blessed
unconsciousness. Rapidly approaching
footsteps were heard, and the wretch,
hurting the little PROSTATE form against
tree, took to his heels. He was too
late, however. An officer and two young
men seized him, and wild fight for
freedom followed. The coward was
soon conquered and was with much
trouble taken to the station house.
while the unconscious boy was cared
for by persons attracted by the noise.
As soon as Tony was able to attend
court the wretch who caused his suf-
ferings was tried and sentenced to
term Of years at hard labor in the peni-
Tertiary.
Tony soon after became stable boy at
the home of Alice Brewster. The little
fellow developed spirit of true cour-