The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-11-01
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BY MARY TALBOT CAMPBELL

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A young woman awaiting the open
ing of the Juvenile Court threw her
fur coat over the back of chair, be-
hind which sat a row of little proba-
tioners. Small hands stroked the
Jackets smooth softness, while low
toned bets were exchanged as to the
kind of animal it had once adorned.
Finally emboldened by the smiling
face turned partially toward them,
one youngster asks:
'TSay, what's it made outer?"
t'Seal"
"Gee! Real or play?"
A rosy flush mounted to her brow,
as feigning deafness she lifted her
merry eyes to the round reflections
dancing in wild gyrations of light
over the ceiling of the great room.
A majority Of the lads came armed
with circular mirrors which they
flushed in the sun as we'll as in the
eyes of the court officials, their nat
ural prey.
There's the old Tramway cop, the
fat Phoenix! Give it i'm in the eye!"
The good natured officer blinked in
more senses than sone at the dazzling
glare, as with a knowing leer at the
boys he turned out of range.
At Judge 'Findley's entrance the
glasses were pocketed by common
impulse. His brief address to the
boys, couched in language intelligi-
BILE to the most benighted, was fol-
lowed by the taking of reports and
partial clearing of the room, as the
first case on the crowded docket was
called. At 2.30 Eddie Collins name
was called, bringing forward white
headed, weazen-faced, bony child,
with eyes too big for his odd little
phiz.
"Tow-head!" was heard from some
of the waiting boys, as the little fel-
low stepped before the Judge. His
Honor smiled, genial s'armth light
ing his tired face, as he passed a
hand over his own thinning hair.
''It's better to be tow-headed than
bald-headed any day! Isn't it Ed
die?"
An old, automatic smile wrinkled
the thin little face, but no humor lit
the solemn eyes - and the Judge
sighed with renewed WEAKNESS as he
demanded the charges against the
child Eddie stood toeing in and out
with an absent minded monotony.
Drunkenness and frequenting sa-
looms, Your Honor" answered the
probation officer.
A heavy frown lowered between
Judge Findley's clear, dark eyes,
which despite all, still held some
message of faith and hope for every
little chap who sought it there.
"Can it be true, Eddie, after all
my talk about this most serious Of
fense?"
The tow-head nodded, while the
(. dow ncast, hungry eyes remained
fixed, in vague concentration upon his
shoes, through which bare toes
poked.
did your father send you to buy
liquor?"
Again the silently bowed head.
HE committed a grave crime, but
was that any reason why you should
drink the whisky even If you had to
buy it,"
No answer.
LOOK at me, boy!"
Eyes of dumb pain gazed unwink-
ingly from the stolid, changeless face.
aren't you one Of the boys that
promised to help me hold down my
job by playing square, after gave
you another chance?"
A mute assent was given.
"Well, I have done my part,
haven't I? Answer mel"
Eyes, Jedge!"
"But how about you, Ed? Have
you any further claim on my patience
and faith?'
mo, Jedge!"
"You know what this means, Ed
die?"
'Yes, Jedge"-and a slight culver
of life stirred the little stoic's face.
'Have you no excuse, my boy, fol-
breaking your word and going back
on the man who has been your
friend?"
Hope died hard with Judge Find
ley.
mo, less'n" - the great eyes
burned in hot scrutiny over the in
tent, listening faces of the other boys
'Bailiff, take those children fur
ther back. Come close, my boy"
She of the fur coat was thankful
for keen hearing and nearness to the
Judge, as alert, with downcast eyes
she waited, enguifed in waves of pit!
for the boy.
"Less'n being cold n hungry n
druv wild blows to the s'loons goa:
for somepen-I thought I'd iorgit fe1
a spell-like pan It felt warm
then I run up agin the coD-
Ibid your mother try and preyen