Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-08

but 1t seems to me that the bad boys
need a mothers care more than the
gooq ones"
They may need 1t, Caroline, but I
could never love a sinner and what's
more won't have one in my house.
Wen, the next day | tried another
boy He was dark with big black
eyes and curly hair. He was
a bright-looking little fellow
and real affectionate but the
same afternoon that brought him
here, he got into fight with the boy
across the street and almost killed
him. He did not get to stay all night
under my roof. And so you see how
1t is"
Miss Peabody looked sympatheti-
cally at her friend and said, chow
about the boy you have now"
"oh, Harry? Well, there is nothing
to say one way or the other. The fact
OF the matter is can't get acquainted
with him. He has been here four
days and don't know him yet He
is such quiet child. When l talk
to him he hangs his head and the
first chance he gets he will sneak out
OF the room as though he had done
something wrong. l don't believe the
child likes me although l have never
said cross word to him and I have
tried to be as kind as know how
| see him watching me with his great
hollow eyes as though he wanted to
say something and was afraid shall
keep him here till the week is up and
then back he goes, too. unless I sud-
denly change my mind"
II the two women had known that
under the open window the subject of
their conversation was sitting, they
perhaps would have lowered their
voices
The boy arose with heavy heart
and went out to the barn where he
sat long time in deep thought. His
face was very sad and his breath
came in signs.
II have been happy here" he said
looking about him and l thought she
wanted me to live with her always
But she is going to send me away"
and the young eyes filed with tears.
He was more silent than ever at
dinner. Miss DeLane watched him
closely out Of the corner Of her eye
and wondered If he was going to be
sick for he had no appetite at all.
Il will take him back tomorrow
morning" she said to herself" l do
not want the care of sick child, es-
pecially when am not going to adopt
him"
Harry went up to his room after
dinner. Miss DeLane thought he was
going to bed but she found out differ
emily when she went up little later.
She thought she heard him talking,
SO she stole quietly down the hall and
paused before his half-opened door.
The boy was on his knees and this Is
what he was saying,
Please, dear God. If you can hear
me, listen to me tonight. | am a lit
tie fellow and am all alone in the
world. / don't remember ever having
father or mother or anybody. I
have just been kicking about the
streets all my life till was run over
and they took me to the Orphans
Home. | didn't like 1t there. It
wasn't the kind of a place l had read
about, not the kind of home boy
wants, But when Miss DeLane came
ana t0ck me, was nappy, on, SO nap
py, because / knew loved her the
minute saw her. And she has been
very kind to me-only she doesn't
know that love her. Somehow l am
such a queer fellow. can't say what
| want to. just long to kiss her but
I'm afraid. Oh, God, II you would just
let me do something for her before I
go away l would be 80 thankful
would risk my life for her. 1t isn't
much to give and nobody would care
but it's all have to give. Amen"
Miss DeIane crept back to her room
Martha DeLane" she said looking
at her wrinkled face in the glass. :"
You have an angel in your house to-
night and you are sinner If you
don't keep him here for good"
Miss DeLane was so overcome with
emotion that her heart began to beat