The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-30
his eyes at the repast which the child
/ had laid out for him

had laid out for him.
I'm sorry it's only the kitchen cloth,
but it's perfectly clean" she assured
him, with a nervous little laugh. as she
tried 10 carry a chair for him. He
took IL from her with a muttered
Thank You, let me do IT," and Bob
sat I'm n chair opposite and watched
his every movement intently. He was
a little uneasy at first, but he evidently
needed the food and ate bungrily.
Bob's eyes frightened as she saw him
unfold his napkin with a little shake
and lay IL across his knee. and move
his knife, fork and glass OF milk little
TO one side and back again. Slice after
slice OF cold beef and ham disappeared,
and when he cut the raw tomatoes in
slices in the small plate and covered
them quickly with the rich mayonnaise
dressing Nell had made that morning,
she covered her mouth again and in
dulged in silent laughter.
When the last bite OF apple pic van
ished, the man got up and looked
about
Thank you, little one! Cood-by,"
he said.
"No. you mustn't go yet" answered
the child. "Come 10 mother"
He moved restlessIy and shook Lis
head.
Mothers don't want 10 see tramps or
peach plucks," he said.
The child looked at him gravcly.
"You are my brother Jim" she said.
The man snatched his cap from q
chair and turned, but she was toe
quick for him.
''If you go. III scream. and that Will
frighten mother, and she's sick. Oh,
aren't you my brother jim"
what makes you think so" he
asked unstcadily. Bob laughed hap
PLY.
"'Causc you never asked mo where
the holder was. and you fixed the fire
Just like Nell does, and you put the
kettle in the basin without being told,
and you knew where the coal was.
was almost sure you were Jim. for
we're always expecting you, you know.
And then you didn't go TO the pump TO
wash; you went 10 the little room
where Jim made the water run before
was born. But | was certain sure
when you shook your napkin and put
the dressing on the tomatoes, because
mother said Jim shook IL like that, and
he loved them that way. and father
told Nell TO keep lots OF things in the
pantry. cause Jim would be hungry
when be came in; hc always was.
And watched. and you ate every
little tccny bit"
The man hid his face in his arms
against the door, but Bob pulled him
impaticntly.
Come To mother" she coaXcd
Together they went through the long
hall and across the sitting room to
the shady porch. where Nell was ar
ranging her mothers pillows.
Mother called the eager little
voice. "Tve brought Jim" And Bob
glanced around the group, where Jim
and Nell and mother were all together
on the sofa.
Later ON she sat happily on the lap
OF her peach pluck, eating huge slic"
OF bread and rich. dark peach butter.
and listening as Jim told OF his runninc
away because he wanted Go sec III"
world: how he had wandered and
worked and trampcd for ten whole
years. until the bitter homcsickncSs
had driven him back again. He had
not meant any one TO see him, for he
wns ashamed, hut thought some one
else had bought the farm when he
saw the child there. He had not
known II was his own little sister
whom he had seen and whose quick
ness had kept him from wandering
away again.
81 thought IL was Jim," she chucklcd
radantly. but | just knew FOR sure
when | gave him all the things to eat
and ne ate them all'-Ncw York
Tribuup