The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-13

thread with, though she knows | need the
money awful. | told her You was sick.
But she didn't seem to care. oh, Tim,
you don't know how your mother did hate
to come home without the ice and lemons.
We've got little sugar, you know, and |
intended TO make such a nice lemonade
for you this evening"
Tim gave no answering word lust then
but he reached out his little wan hand
and caressed his mothers cheek, wiping
away the hot tears. He sat with his own
big, pale-blue eyes closed, but tears
few moments he spoke, his voice full of
subdued rage.
ma, when I grow up to be big enough
| intend to take the best care of you.
You shan't do nothing but rest and ride
on the street cars whenever you want to.
You shall have silk dresses, too, finer'n
anything old Mrs. Brown ever saw. And
III pay the poor women what do the work
lot Of money. so shall. But, listen,
ma, III go up to that old Mrs. Browns
and III beat her nearly to Jelly for the
way she has treated my mother''
aush,1ush l said Mrs. o,Hara. You
ever think of striking a woman. child"
And Tins mother tried TO soothe the ex-
cited boy.
beat her and beat her--the heartless old
monster! And while I'm at that kind
Of work III go down to old Peter Packer s
la law office ar and III fog him till he yells
with his. old socks for you to darn and
his old shirts for you to mend and when
you. ask him 80 cents. for work what
Kept you busy all day long he gifts mad
you % cents. He's meanern old Mrs.
Brown . so he ls Wish could punch his
esad light FIGHT nova And Tim slnched his
git to be man. ! WIFI"
voice. and, looking toward tie door. "a Tim
the rich. mlserly old bachelor that Mrs.
| OHara mended and darned for, entering
the room with small parcel under his
arm arm MIS-; hara spnng to her feet,
| overheard all that Tim had said against
him. and she knew that 1t might mean
the ne. Withdrawal h,than,s Of his work. But Tim
! at the Intruder dehantly.
Now" said Mr.. Packer. walking delib-
erately into the room and placing hissbun-
die on the table, - must plead guilty to
preached your door | overheard you,
madam" nodding towards Mrs. OHara,
speaking between sobs TO your son. Not
c GS II stood beside eo the door oo w and
waited. OF course, overheard every
! thing you said, and also the remarks your
little son made concerning that cid Mrs.
contemplate old woman to say the least.
As for that old sklnHint Peter Packer
"Oh, sir, broke In Mrs. O'Hara, think
ing Mr.. Packer was speaking ironically
and was angry, please don't pay any
attention to what little Timothy says.
The child Is sick, you see."
"Well, IL he can show such spirit when
he is sick he'll be dandy after he gets
well. And he'll get well all right, for a
boy with his heart owes 1t to his mother
to get well and strong so he can carry
out his threats and protect her. II ever
tight-fsted, filnt-hearted old reprobats
liyed that same Peter Packer is--or was
till this mtnute--one. In fact I've been
TOO mean 70 notice my mcanness till this
little chap showed me TO myself naked. y
Then turning to Tim as he famed his
perspiring face with his hat the old man
continued to speak: Its too bad you are
not able to punch my b, ad for the way /
beat your mother down In her price for
doing my mending. But I've conceived
way In which | can make some amends.
want ant Just such boy as you to come In
my ONCE and learn my business. I'm get
ting old and need young shoulders to
lean upon; Yop have. this day taught me
a lesson that ! could not have Afforded
to miss learning-before going to meet
my Maker. In fact. you have taken me