The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-18
FOR HER BOYS SAKE
By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER.

there came q knock AZ the back door.
The tender-hearted one rose and. pass
Ing into the kitchen. opened the door
We heard q murmur Of voices. Then tn
tender-hearted one came into the din
ing-room and began to heap a plat
with food.
Now, that is very foolish" salt
the unbelieyer. you will have a strin,
a them bothering the life out Of you.
An ominous glitter came into the'eyei
of tt, tender-hearted and rigid line
settled about her mouth. This is onl,
a boy" she said 81 shall give him some
thing to eat"
The worldly one understood. Year:
ago there was boy who was all in al
to the tender-hearted. The grass grows
on his grave now. but for the sake Of
that boy she is good to all boys. Hence
the heaped-up plate Of savory food she
now carried to the boy tramp.
| The unbeliever arose and followed
her. 1t is, perhaps. just as well to let
these tramps know there is man about
the house. The tramp was not very for
nidable in appearance. He was boy of
Is, possibly, with a nice face. dark. pen
etrating eyes and pleasant smile.
The unbeIiever began: "'Well. what
are you driving at now? What kind
of game is this?"
The boy told his story straightfor-
wardly. He had come from Chicago
Yes, he had beaten his way east on a
train. Had been to Buffalo looking for
work. Couldn't find any. Was now try
ing to get back to Chicago.
That's a pretty good story" jeered
the unbeliever. Now you know you
have run away. Why don't you tell the
TRUTH"
The boy stuck to his story as he ate
his supper like ravenous dog.
Meantime the worldly one surveyed
the Juvenile tramp through window
What she saw made her go to her
room and looked up her pocketbook.
That dead boy under the swaying
grasses reached out and touched her
heartstrings. too.
When she joined the others the un-
believer was still catechising the boy.
You are pretty well dressed for
tramp" he said; pretty gay necktie
you've got on; pretty high collar"
The worldly one interfered. His
collar is only celluloid and his shirt Is
ragged. He is very poor"
why don't you go to work." de-
manded the unbeliever.
How is he going to get job?" in
terrupted the worldly one will you
recommend him."
why, no." hestitated the unbeliever,
how can I? l don't know anything
about him."
"Just So" returned the wording.
who does know him? And who is go
ng to give an unknown lad job?"
HE might get some work on the road
suggested the unbeliever
iubiously.
Meantime the tender-hearted one
brought big dish of apple sauce and
,iece of cake.
where will he sleep to-night?"
lrawled the worldly one.
"He might sleep in the lookup" said
he unbeliever.
The boys face became terrorized. 81
lever was locked up" he gasped
well, you would have good COM
ortable bed" said the unbeliever.
But I'd be behind bars" said the boy
After that he was in hurry to be off
he worldly one, waiting until the un-
eliever's back was turned, slipped
ome money in his hand. He thanked
er and started off. IL
Later all three talked over the boy
lamp.
II ought to have asked him more
uestions," said the unbelieving one
am convinced he was lying"
"Yes," said the wording, you :
1owed your convictions very plainly. a
on went at him hammer and tongs a
ON the start. If the boy was not liar
our manner would have made him one n
! just about two minutes. That's no a
ay to talk to such person" 6
"Oh. you are so easily taken in"
"Ah! Am I? Let me tell you one b
ing. have had great deal more a
,perience with people from the
ums of big cities than you have My II
ork has often sent me among them v
nd I know 1t is no way to approach n
EN- as II you considered them liars l
ID knaves. They are human as much b
you. I don't believe that boy was g
ing"
We'll" said the unbeliever, per. tt
ps was little hard on him. But h
en- guess called the turn on him, all B
,ht. He was runaway boy" h
And II he had decent. pleasant. h
me-" spoke up the tender-hearted hi
e. "he wouldn't have run away" She to
Sc and looked out the window at the at
lck, threatening sky. II wish we al
d not let him go. Poor boy! should eli
e to take him. give him home and be
Ike him happy" WI
You gave him his supper" snorted
, unbeliever II should think that W,
S enough" ru
And the worldly one gave him some oil
,ney when you were not looking" eli