The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30

where the children played, and called, In
voice full of sternness and displeasure:
Fired! Toni Come here this minuter
The twins obeyed reluctantly. 'Oh,
please, mamma, let US stay and teeter!
pleaded Tom.
Yes, it's such fun. mamma" Joined In
Fred.
Come this Instant" commanded Mrs.
Andrews, taking hand of each and lead
ing them from the yard. Aren't you
ashamed to come over here without my
permissionp' she went ON, scoldlng them
1--WE just ran over to play with the
new boy who's moved in. He's awfully
We'll, ! shall be. the Judge as to his
fitness" declared Mrs. Andrews. Now
go home at once" and she turned them
toward their own. home, while she and
Lucy went on their way.
Now, had Mrs. Andrews taken the time
to look at the strange little new neighbor
she might have acted differently, but she
did not give him n second glance-only
was conscious that a third child. the size
of her own petted darings, stood by the
log and did not add his voice to her own
boys pleadings to remain.
As she led her twins out through the
gate the strange child stood, wide-eyed,
watching them He was about the age
of Tom and Fred. had delicate face
with deep, clear blue eyes full OF limo
cence; but, unlike his playfellows or the
past few minutes, his face shone forth
no mischief, only seriousness and earnest
ness that rarely are seen In the race OIL
Several DAYS passed and very little was
seen of the new neghbors who occupied
the tumble-down old house. Occasionally
a man with pale face was seen coming
and going, always carrying a small dark
covered package in his arm. The little
boy, too, would play-during the man
absence from the house-in the paen
yard but always alone. AS no woman
nor girl was ever seen about the place
the curiosity of the neighbors was reused.
One day as Tom and Fred played In
their big, grassy lawn they saw the tittie
stranger boy watching them through an
opening in the thick, green hedge. As
tie twins were greatly attracted to the
new neighbor they were irresistiDly
drawn to the hedge T near dni nun, ana smiling
through the foliage at the little fellow.
aHeilol; responded the child. returning
my what YOU doing?" asked Fred, down
on his knees to peep through an open
space. o.oa .,o no,
you can play with us-if you stay on
vour side the hedge and we stay on ours,
wit. "Then you won't be In our yard,
nor we won't be in yours; you see. =,
asked the child. IF you may do so we
can play teeter-totter."
Mamma won't allow US to-" frankly
Say" cried Tom, 1--WE got planl
s.noss we fix the teeter-totter through
this hole In the hedgei You can SIT on
one end in your yard and we can SIT on
our end IN our yard. Down In our wood
house is an empty nail keg It's Just the
thing TO put the teeter over I'll go
fetch 1t; shall |. Fred?"
"Sure. let's do that" agreed Tom.
But before the enthusiastic Fred could
start for the keg the strange child drew
quite close to the opening, a new express
sion on his race. -
wait" he said, addressing Fred.
why won't your mother let you come
sW'y. mamma don't like for us to pick
up with strange kids and she has for
faased t Gur e sDs n0 red he
added quickly, seeing that his words had
caused the child pain, ''she won't mind
after she gets acquainted with your
II haven't any mother" said the child
..She died when | was two years old
Papa says she's In heaven"
TOM na IN Ss sgmpath rahe ToIee aoe''ea
NO." and the child shook his head, a
world of sadness In the one little word.
what does he dor questioned Fred.
full of interest.
Hes a book agent now" answered the
child.
.'Oh. "Ahl oh-o-or" calculated the
twins in voice. Then Tom said In
low, eager way: "Don't-er-don't let
your papa-eyer--ever come-to our house
to-to-sell books, you know. Mamma
has such a lot Of books already-all she
wants-more than she really needs, you
know"
Though little Tom had no reason to
think his mother had more books than
she ueeded--or wanted-he had reason 10
wish the strange child's father would
not come to their house as agent. for his
mother had sort of antlpathy to vendors
of all kinds and Tom had seen many book
agents turned hastily from the door.