The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-22
OLD JIM

W
There was outside the door. Jim flung open
roughly and listened stick
laughter greeted his peered the
twilight from under his shaggy eyebrows Again
shr cry this time from the of the landing kit
ten in bundle of rags He stopped pick up
hands flew up, and baby
Ola Jim, derisively known the "Old Crank
been young and good looking but
foundry had settled all that and the death his
lett him alone to hard iascble
rom an achihs spine Hence his one little ROOM at the tp
of the third long flight of
he emerged to groW under provocaton without
numerous chnoren VINO sWarned the stairs In fact he had
more than once been heard that e
kept and children drowned would
better off, whereby he earned the enm of the mothers
the tenement 1t the irony of fate that brought
helpless baby to his door
The innocent babe delighted held and
and waved its amess Jim poking it cautiously
to see note of explanation
OF such astonished to have his finger grasped
firmly in the tiny wandering baby fingers. little
and yet so strong the clasp the old and
settled around his heart The baby gurged softly That
enough The old looked cautiously the hall to be
that grinning stepped
and closed the
Mrs. Flaherty had five small children
and large motherly heart;
went that night after the children all out playing the
to ask advice the food for the baby and she
would sell him clothes
Sell We Faith give EN- to We gladly,
if it wasn't that Dicks out of work again. you don't
mean to kape the little thing do ye? You bein
so, all day" ''
How I about that Mrs. Flaherty? All want
whether O m
to put it's clothes
"Ah We helpless I'll up right
I
And the next day she confded to her neghbor, Mrs
Schlitz: Eye ought to of wax
dear. To be sure, there gu
changin
clothes handy little white baby
coon away up black, face, he
it's guardeen angel he, cross creeter
smlin, actually smlin'. Why it TUX aback
fered to kape it with little just
soon have two babies roin feet one'
you was Elm goot neghbor, Mrs Flahery,' said Mrs.
schitz II dnk forget he promised preak little
Tommy's neck if he oop those stairs again.
I've done the same meself manny's the Time said Mrs
Flaherty "rommys~a tormint and trile to Me
hearts broke wild him. and the poor oud sinner kapng the
babe from gon' to home I'd hate to have
go home, tell you that, schlitz.'
Strange say, the child lived fattened
of the old Day times he rolled the dirty floor
of Mrs Flaherty's kitchen with NANCY
that belonged to the children At night he returned to the
spotless where he cudded in old
brought infantile graces
erto barren life Flies in bottle amused him by the hour
he played in the last sunbeams trying
flooring by slapping them with his little
He knew fear and all the world his friend His
shine filed life of the old into all
homes the Thus it that his digestion
nearly ruined by surrepttou sticks of dirty candy from
the while lovely disposition caused him
surfeited all the natonaes
together with harmony under the roof Old
Jim Worshpped him. His keen softened when looked
at him. his gru voice took tone, and Mrs schlitz
said: HE quite agreeable since dot baby came.
night Jim neared home returning the
foundry, engine the belching
and steam vague fear filled him. He hurried fast
could him. Other
along the street water in big streams thru the gutter
ladder dashed the changing
furousy pushed his thru the crowd It the
tenement that was burning
keep old fool you've got to get out of the fire
lines" Jim glared at him and The
filed with fremen, pipes and running
driving them back. Jim pushed DO
if baby?" he croaked.
q dunno. I guess So Which floor do you live on?"
-choked fireman. But Jim
"a The fell in.
herty walled the opposite pavement "Ah whan
and have to tell him the fremen
broug tsout smothertd intrey?" 81
gone home
PUZZLED POMONA.