New-York tribune., 1903-06-09


natures gentlemen
Mr.. Trapp broke into a grin Of relief; almost
you could say that he heaved a sigh.
"Oh, that's alp" said he. why. Lord bless
ye. ma'am, I've been called that myself before
now"
So to Mr.. Trapp was bound. early next week.
before the ma gistrate sitting in petty sessional
division, to serve him and to receive from him
proper sustenance and clothing until the age Of
twenty-one. And I (as nearly could be
guessed, for 1 had no birthday had barely
turned ten. Mr.. Scougan arrived in time to
pilot through these formalties and hand me
over to Mr.. Trapp. but at a parting interview.
throughout which both wept copiously, Miss
Plinlinmon gave for souvenir a small Testa-
ment with this inscription on the flyleaf;
H REvEL.
from his aaectionate friend A. PLINLIMMON.
happy. happy days, when chiIdhood's cares
But now when dear ones all around are still tho
Where Shall we be in ten years time?
They were my own composition" she ez
planned.
Mr.. George bade me a gloomier farewell.
You might come to some good he said con-
templatively, and then again you mightn't
amt what they call a pessinist, but 1 thinks
poorly of most things. It's safer"
Mr. Trapp was exceedingly jocose he con-
veyed me home to his house beside the Barbi-
can. Plymouth; stopping on the way before
every building of exceptional height and asking
me quizzicaly how l would propose to set about
climbing it. At the time. in the soreness OF my
heart resented this heavy pleasantly, and TO
be sure after the tenth repetition or so the di-
versty Of the buildings to which he applied 1t
but poorly concealed its sameness. But in fact,
he was doing his best to be kind, and succeeded
in a Sort for it reused a childish scorn in me
and SO fetched back my heart, which at starting
| had been somewhat in my boots.
/ took it for granted that a sweep must in
habit dngy hovel, and certainly the crowded
filth of the Barbcan promised nothing better as
we threaded way among fishermen, hsn
jowters. blowzy women and children playing
hop-scotch with the heads of decayfng fish. At
the seaward end of 1t, and close beside the bow
fronted custom house, we turned aside into an
alley which led uphill between high blank walls
to the base of the Citadel and here, stuck as II
were martins nest under the shadow Of the
ramparts a freshly whitewashed cottage over
hung the slope, with a sweeps brush dangling
over it's doorway and the sign IS Trapp, Chin
ney Sweep in Season.
While I wondered what might be the season
for chimney sweeps. small bead eyed woman
emerged from the doorway and shook duster
vigorously. in the which act catching sight of
US she paused
i've a-got 'en, my dear" said Mr.. Trapp.
much as a man might announce the capture of
a fish, and though he did not actually lift me
for inspection his hand seemed to wayer over
my collar
! But it was Mrs. Trapp who, after a heeting
glance at me- caught her husband by the collar
And you actilly went in that state, you nasty
keerless hulks! Oh. you heart breaker"
in custody managed send
sidelong. humorous grin.
MY dear. thought 'twoud be a surprise for
you-business taking me that way, and the
magistrates being used to worse"
You heartbreak kerr repeated Mrs Trapp.
And me Shaving and night to catch up
with your messy ways! What did L tell you
the first time you came back from the hospital
looking like malkin, and with clean snlft OF
clothes laid out for you and the water on the
boi1 that 7 couldn't have taken more trouble,
no. not for funeral? Didn't I tell you twas
positively lowerng?"
Il hama doubt you did, my dear
That's what you are You're a lowering man.
And there by your own account you met lady,
with your neck streaked like hamrasher and
me not by-thank goodness-to see what her
feelings were; and now 'tis magistrates. But
nothing warns you. I suppose you thought that
as twas only fondlings without any father or
Mrs. Trapp though she might seem to talk
at random had wifely knack Of dropping a
shaft home. Her husband protested
Come come Maria-you know I'm not that
sort of man.
How do / know what sort OF man you are,
under all that dirt? For my part If I'd been
a magistrate, you shouldn't have walked on
with the boy till you'd washed yourself. not if
you'd gone down on your hands and knees for
it. and him with his face shining all over like
a little Moses on the Mount which does the lady
credit if it's the one you saw; though how they
can. dress children up like pickle herrings it
beats me- Your beds at the top of the house,
child and there you'll find suit o clothes that
I've washed and aired after the last boy. L
only hope you won't catch any of his nasty
tricks in 'en Straight up the stairs and the
little door to +ne left at the top"
'Unless"-Mr. Trapp picked up courage for
one more pleasantry-"you'd like to make a
start to once and &C up by way Of the CHM
bley.''
He was rash. AS a pugst might eye re-
covering opponent supposed to be stunned, SO
Mrs. Trapp eyed Mr.. Trapp-
''I thought I told you plain enough" she said,
that you're lowering man. What's worse
you're an unconverted one. On, you nasty, fat.
plain featured fellow-go indoors and wash
yourself this Instant!
I spent close upon four years with this couple,
and good parents they were 10 me as well as de-
voted to each other. Mrs Trapp may have been
cracked as she certainly suffered from de-
termination OF words TO the mouth: but. as a
child WILL took her and the rest Of the world
as I found them. She began to mother me at