Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-08-15

warm sunshine of an April day.
Beneath the name was on inscription.
"These are they which passed
through great tribulation."
A queer smile did not improve the
mans expression as he read the text.
"Tribu)ation! That's it, he contin.
ue!. ''rve had ten years of It. And 1t
started somewhere about the end of
that fine entrance too. I wonder where
Sailor is. and that boy. He's man
now, mebbc twenty-six or SO, II he's
alive. oh, l hope he's alivel | hope
he's rich and healthy and engaged or
married to n nice young woman If
I've managed to live In purgatory for
ten long years, q youngstcr like him
should be able TO pull through with
youth and strength and hagful of
diamonds"
Without turning his head he became
aware that the policeman had halted
at some little distance.
"Of course I've got the mark on me.
said the man savagelY to himself
Hes spotted me all right Well, I'll
let him see don't care for him or any
of his breed I never did care. and it's
too late to begin now
He crossed the road. passed between
two fine iron gates standing Hospitality
open and paused ut the door OF the por-
ter's lodge. where stalvart commits
sionnaire met him.
"Have you called TO see one Of the
boys" said the official checrfully.
mo: I'm a stranger. It's a good
7 In,
before. In those days there used to
be news here and some warehouses
at the back. with u few old shops
ooh, I expect so, but that is long be
fore my time. The Mary Arson home
was founded ten years ago, and it took
two years to build. It's one of the fin
est charities in London. Would you
like TO look roundf'
as that allowcd?"
Certainly. Everybody Ia welcome.
II you 20 in by that side door there.
you'll find an old man who has moth
ng to do but take visitors to the chief
departments. Bless your heart, we
lose half our boarders that way. Peo-
pie come here. see the eXccllcnces Of
the training we give and offer situa-
tons to boys who are old enough"
The man appeared to be surprised by
she commlssionnarcs arfahility. He
did not know that civility and kind
ness were essential there if any en-
ployee would retain an excellent post
He passed on. measuring the tessol-
'atcd court with backward sweep Of
the eye. In the sunlit street beyond
he arch stood the policeman. The Wis
tor grinned again. an unamiable and
suky grin. and vanished.
The policeman crossed over.
What is that chap after?" he in
Quircd.
Nothing special" was the answer.
Last time he was here the place was
news, he said"
UNLESS l am greatly mistaken. he
has ticket in his pocket"
You don't say. DO you know him?'
"No. I'll look him up in the album
In the station when go off duty"
well, he can't do any harm here.
ORrien takes visitors over regular
round, and. in any case, the man SEEM
Cd to be honest enough in his curl
osity."
You never can tell They're up to
NIL sorts Of lodges
Thanks very much. I'll ring for
O'Brien's relief and tell him to keep an
eye on them, as the old man is blind as
bat"
Meanwhile the stranger was being
conducted up n wide staircase by 4
somewhat totterng guide, who wore
on the breast of his uniform the Cri-
mean and Indian mutiny medals.
AS he hobbled in front he told with
a strong Irish broguc, the familiar sto-
ry Of the Mary Arson home-how 1t
fed, lodged and clothed 600 boys Of
British parentage born in the White
chapel district how it taught them
trades and followed their careers with
fostering care how it never refused a
meal or a warm sleeping place to any
boy, no matter where he came from or
what his nationality, provided he salts
fed the superintendent that he was
really destitute or needed lis small
capital for trading purposes next day.
The great central hall where the 600
regular inmates ate their meals. the
dormitories. the Fairgrounds. the drill
shed and gymnasium, the workshops,
the library, the theater We're all point
ed out but the big man with the star
ing eyes was not interested one jot in
any of these things.
who was Mary Anson|' he asked.
when the we'll worn tale was ended.
land how did she come to build such a
fine place here?"
'Ah, We may well AK that" said old
OBren. Sure, she didn't build it at
all at all. She was a poor WILDLY Twin
alonest wild one son. Mr.. Philip that Is
now She was born lady. but she
KEN down in the worrud and died for
lorn an forgotten, IN a little shanty in
Johnson's News, as it was called in
those days"
Il remember it we'll"
''Ye do. Ell? Mebbc We know my ould
shop, the marine store near the en-
trance TO the courtY
Yes"
"Arrah, ye don't tell me so Me eyes
ere gettin wake, an l can't make out
yer face. What's yer name"
ooh I'm afraid we didn't know one
another. I can't recall your name
though | recollect the shop well enough
But, if Mrs. Arson died SO poor, how
was her son able to set this great house
itg lppco must hava noct m n