The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-27

pa by. I'd be so thankful. 49,
rs this your child, asked the lady.
My grandchild.' he answered.
Where are her parents?"
Both have gone where death and sor-
row never come, ; answered the old man
Both dead?'
Yes both gone
And you and the child live here all
alone?"
All alone" he replied
How long have you lived thus?"
For about six months. Until then we
had Harmon, the child 5 father with Us
except when at work. About a year ago
! her mother. my daughter Nellie died. You
see, We came from the east; sold good,
/ little farm on which we were making a
comfortable living, came west. speculated
some in mining stocks and lost. Then We
/ kept a small grocery store, and sold too
much on time to shiftless miners, were
! closed out by creditors; then Nellie took
/ sick and died. and six months afterwards.
+ Harmon was killed over yonder in the
Rubber Neck mines. So it left Millie
and me alone. We did our best But I'm
! not able any more to do much work. and
I don't know what viii come next"
! During this narrative the olu gentleman
/ had been respectfully standing, but the
rehearsal of his troubles gave him SO
much mental agitation that he grew phys
/ ically weak. As the lady saw this. by his
/ blanched face, she insisted that he be
| seated.
Now" said She after pause for de-
I liberate thought; where did you say you
/ came FROM"
Il said from the east We are from
/ Indiana
From Indiana. Why. that is my ma
tive state" she said with a smile. And
we were farmers. also We lived in the
south part of the state near a little vii
lage by the name of B. l was only
a little girl ten years old when we left.
But | remember very distinctly some of
the kind people who lived there, We had
a neighbor about my fathers age, by the
name Of Boon that ] especially remem-
Der, because he was so kind to children"
And lady what was your name, may
ask?'
Certainly. My name was Lucy Webb
Then" said he. Il must be your old
neighbor. barclay Boon"
Can it be possibe?" said she. and, SIM
rltaneously. they clasped hands. Il
might have known it. l can see now that
you look familiar. thought you have
changed a great deal
"Well, should never nave known you,
Lucy"
~Of course not, for was only child
when you left"
Both children looked on with an mex
rlsinable feeling that something out of
the usual order of things was occurring,
yet both were happy because those near
est and dearest 10 each of them seemed
happy.
After few friendly references to older
times, Lucy said to her friend You
seem 10 be in need Now please don't
mind TO ten me all about it. You were
my friend when / was a child We chill
dren Were always delighted to see you
come. because you ever had a kind word
look. or smile, for the little folks So
many came to our home who seemed to
think We children were only fit company
for the cats and dogs, and treated Us
with about the same respect. But you al
ways treated us like little men an ~wom
en-. ! know / have many friends now who
would not be my friends if ] WAS to be-
come suddenly por but you are my real
friend. 1 know you are. for when l was
a little child. poor and underlined. you
were such; and now want you to know
I am your friend. And as your true
friend ! want to ask you plainly what
your condition is financially.
The old man was completely won BY
the genial burst Of sunshine. that poured
from his tender heart OF love and good
ness, and that was fast bidding the trou-
blad clouds disappear from out of his
life's sky.
He laid bare the facts before her. told
her Of their utter destitution, ana abiect
poverty; that The last potatoes were cook
ed for breakfast and that only half loaf
Of bread remained for supper, While but
fifty cents remained in his pocket for
future use.
Mr.. Boon, said the lady. Il want to
tell you. that as long as I live. you and
your dear little granddaughter shall never
see any more want. Here is q small b.;
take il aud get such things as you like
for your supper and breakfast, and about
ten O'Clock tomorrow, ! shall send for
you to come over and eat Thanks giving
dinner with US.
lie thanked her earnestly. Then she
bade them goodnight. stepped into her
carriage AMI was driven away. while the
old man shed tears of joy ard the little
ninc-ycar old girl clapPed her hands with
delight in ner childish glee.
That evening. seated by the fireplace
alone with her husband MS Cransou
to.u OF her day experience. and of her
wish in regard II her old friend.
why. 10 be sure. it is your right and
privilege For is it not Il fact anyway.
that all our wealth belongs TO you?"
No; it is not" answered his wife. with
a merry laugh For We were one before
our money came to US or rather to pa
pa
NY greatest delight, Lucy. is to see
your wishes fulfilled. "
Thank you. Hubert; it is just like you.
You are always 50 kind.
The little girl with her blue eyes and
yellow hair reminds me very much of our
own precious Maun They would have
hcen about the same age If cur baby had
lived
THANKSGIVING Day dawned. and it was
one to lie long remembered by all ihosa
who participated in the festivities at the
Cganscn manson.
There was Mrs Cransons father and
mother Grandpa Boon, and little 81 lie.
Nj and Ms Crarson and Master Ralph
an seated about the tebie spread with
such luxuries as 2Iilue never before had
seen.
Barclay said MI Webb. IL has been
lust thirty-iive years sinCe-wav back in