Arizona republican., 1907-10-29

ing a crowded street was knocked down by a passing street-car and so badly Injured that now his life was dispaired of. Soon after this terrible accident the landlord of their little fiat seized the furniture for rent and Neddie found him self on the street parentless, penniless and homeless.
 At first Neddie. heart rt-heavy, was dazed. Which way to turn, what to do to sustain life, he did not know. He wandered
 about the streets the first day of his homelessness, his mind and heart so full of his poor injured father that he forgot he had nothing to eat and nowhere to
 sleep or shelter himself from the night But at last tired-out nature asserted Itself. As the darkness fell Neddies weary limbs gave ont and hunger cried aloud within him. He had no blood rela- tives to whom he might apply for imrle-
 diate help. He was too proud to go to ,, strangers who would doubtless call him beggar. So he hunted about for some place where he might creep for the night On the morrow he would hunt for work By chance be found the old tumble down tenement house that had been condemned and which stood silent. empty, waiting Its final destruction at the hands of hired despoilers. Into this abode the child Scrept and slept on the bare floor And here he slept each night for whole month. earning few cents each day sell , ing papers, The money went for food food of the worst kind At the bakers Neddie would buy cheap sweet cakes and from street vender he would buy -hoi.y- poky and pickles. So you will not won der that soon the child became pale and weak. feeling each night as he lay down to sleep on tine cold floor of the silent tenement house that nothing short of a lire could arouse him again to action
 But each morning there was the thought Of his father and the cry of hs gnawing
 stomach to send him forth into inc street
 again.
 And thus the time passed. arriving at the morning on which this story opens the day preceding Halloween.
 By nine o'clock Nedde had sold out
 his stock of papers and bad a p.oht of
 seven cents. With this splendid sum for it was more than Neddie usually made
 of morning-he went to q bakers and
 bought some cakes. Then. having three
 cents left he wandered about till he saw
 a hot-coffee vender measuring out steam ing black stun from a sort of oven pail
 Men and women and children were buy
 ing this liquid and drinking 1t to keep
 out the cold and check their hunger. Ned
 dle bought three cents worth. which was
 given him In an old tin cup which he
 handed back to the vender after having
 drunk the contents.
 Now" he said to himself. "Tll wan
 der round in the park till time to go to
 see poor father once in the park Ned
 die made bold to wash his face and hands
 in the playing fountain. He wiped them
 dry on a bit of paper be found lying on
 a park bench. He was anxious to look as
 neat as possible when he called to see his
 father.
 At the hour when visitors were allowed
 to call upon their sick at the charity
 hospital Neddie was admitted to his
 fathers bedside. The poor man lay like
 one already dead. so colorless he was. But
 he opened his eyes when Neddie whis-
 pered Father dear. its me-Neddie, come
 to see you.' Then in a very weak voice