The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-02
THE AWAKENING OF
 A MOTHER-HEART
BY JESSIE WADE MANNING.

 (Copyright. 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles-) We have lived for twenty years in a flat over the stables provided by the superintendent of the Brixton park. My husband, William Newman, is now one of the head gardners. l was brought up to work, and as good, nom est, hard work keeps one out or mis- chief, I'm none the worse for doing the washing, ironing and housework all these years for my little family of two.
 Well. I started out to tell about the tenants, and especially the boy, In the adjoining flat--the new undergardner, Norman Gray, and his wife and small son. They've been there now going on three weeks, and, as I never cousin strangers, haven't spoken to any or them. only twice I've shook my finger at the child, and motioned him 10 keep on his own'side of the yard. Unfortunately, we are obliged to dry our pieces" in the same yard' l so 1t is a tug-ofwar each Monday morning to see which will get ahead: I must admit she has no new-fansieo | ideas about hanging up clothes-wooI-
 ems and stockings are always the rlrst
 on the line.
 The boy Norman is called by the foolish name of "Nibsey." and If childless life of twenty clean, neat mo- | notonous years hadn't put crust on me like the bark on tree, l might | be tempted to notice the handsome child although he's frightful forward | and mischievous.
 Only yesterday looked up from cut ting my old pieces of carpet into strips for a rug. to see Nibsey punching boy. head and shoulders taller than himself. The blood was trickling down the big fellows face Calling up to the window. he said. proudly;
 Say, Mith Newman. did you see me do him? I gith him a buggy nose like everything"
 suppose I would have lived right along, finding fault with all the moth | CT and child did, If Mrs. Gray didn't | been taken suddenly III, Norman Gray called me at midnight. | The doctor was already there. and IL did not take him long to order her removal to the hospital, where he said an operation for appendicitis would be necessary. I disagreed with the doctor, and told him that disease was | only a fad of the profession, and few old fashioned remedies for inflamma- tion of the bowels would soon put her on her feet. and not to be so tast TOT a knife and a reputation.
 As the husband and doctor tenderly lifted the young thing into the ambu- lance, she looked up at me, through all her pain, her big. brown eyes 0ust like Nibsey's, I noticed) full of tears, and whispered:
 Please be kind to my little boy"
 Sure" I replied, all kind of choked up; T guess my bark's worse than my bite, child"
 began by carrying Nibsey home with me. It's awful for strangers to upset you so. yet that boy looked like cherub sleeping.
 The operation was successful" said Norman Gray the next morning, as he drank the coffee I offered him. But you can't make me believe anyone Is quite the same after losing q portion of their anatomy.
 In the week that followed, I lived twenty time twenty years Such a racket in the house. The bird sang for the first time in years. and such whirl as Nibsey led me!
 Bless his little heart. there's really some good in that boy, after all!
 Strange. he took to me like a duck ling to water.
 Late In the afternoon of the third day Nibsey was missing I got hot and cold at the same time. William said I tore round as though the boy belonged to me. But it was sheer nervousness. nothing else By happy chance I telephoned police headquar- ters and found him at Station No. 2. sitting on a bench with his little head on my old carpet bag, fast asleep. I'd brought that bag down from the attic in the morning to cut up for the rug. How he got 1t and carried 1t such distance was a mystery. "Nibsey,' I called, softly. "Nh! Mith Newman" he cried. jump ing up and throwing himself Into my arms, T toudent find Dr. Johnson"
 Find Dr. Johnsonw l exclaimed. l knowing his mothers doctor lived on the other side of the city. "Yeth, Mith Newman, he div me five cents the udder night and said if I'd come and be his little boy I tou'd drive his horse"
 Well. where's the five cents?" oh" he said, beginning 70 cry T Giv-it to the man on the -car and tolded- him -I-wanted-to go to Dr. Johnson's and after-a- long time he- Nput me off and told me-to wait-in- here-for- my mamma"
 took his little hand and then