Middletown transcript., 1903-01-03

3 beside him.
3 "Now. where do you hve?" b
inquired.
Harry reused sufficiently t
; give directions, but immediatel,
} sank back almost fainting.
Mr.. Mayo suddenly exclaimed
as if q thought had just strucl
him which was very surprising:
Il believe the boy is starving,
and he stepped the hack in from
q restaurant and ordered a glasI
Of milk, glass Of sherry ant
some brandy and water, the only
things he could think of just then
The hackman said dryly:
"That amt no fitten stuff fol
folks whut's starvin'! The mill
will do, but bread and meats whut
he needs"
"Well, bring them, and q gen
erous supply was brought forth.
A slow smile dawned on the
face of the gentleman as the boy
ate.
"Ah, what a remarkably good
appetite! I feel surfeited N.Y.
self watching you."
Harry's appetite appeased,
they proceeded.
| Mr.. Mayo scanned the address
ses on the letters which he had
taken.
| "Mary Dsrwent-sounds f.
miliar, somehow"
They arrived at the mean tene-
ment and Harry asked Mr.. Mayo
upstairs. "For mother will
want to thank you," he said.
II don't care for thanks, but I
would like to see the owner Of
that name-must be someone I
have known"
They crossed the upper hall,
which was dimly lighted by o
poor lamp, and Harry opened the
door to the darkened cheerless
room. By the faint light from
the lamp they could distinguish
the two dropped figures by the
empty stove.
Mother" called Harry, "oh,
Mother, I bring good news. |
Here's money; your story won
first prize, and here's q kind gen.
tleman who saved me from being
run over, Now Mary and all can |
have something to eat"
Mr.. and Mrs. Derwent could |
not realize the sudden transition |
from despair to hope. They sat
as If dazed. Mr.. Derwent came
forward at last, and in q broken
voice tried to speak his thanks.
"Why, haven't you q lights'
inquired Mr.. Mayo.
''Oh, sir" said Harry, who had
revived wonderfully since eating,
"we had no madey to buy any.
thing"
Mr.. Mayo stared. He had never
come in close contact with pow
erty before. |;
"Here, take my purse and get
light and ah-something to eat. /,
Mr.. Derwent was again thank
ing him, while Mrs. Dsrwsnt was
weeping tears of joy and thank
fulness.
She sprang up and grasped
both OF the young mans hands,
crying Historically:
"God sent you to save my chill
1ren from starvation. This even
ing ] begged for bread, begged
Il, and the baker refused me. But
what wouldn't q woman do for
ner children?"
Harry soon came back with q
light and q basket of food and
handed the purse back to Mr..
Mayo.
"Ionly took enough for tonight
or mother has money now."
Mr.. Mayo emptied the purse
N the bed, where Mrs. Derwent
vas already feeding little Mary
Who ate ravenously.
The mother had less to eat
han any, but mother like,
hought Of self last.
Mr.. Mayo bowed himself out,
promising to call on the morrow,
ilently wondering that he, of all
theirs, should be the one to play
'rovidence to poor family.
The second letter which Harl Y
rought proved to be an urgent
lvitation from Mr.. Derwent's
unit in the country for him and
is family to spend New Years
nth her, the second day from
MS. How gladly they left the
lose, comfortless room for the \
pacious old farmhouse among
40 hills! -
The day was glorious, the air r.