Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-17

frosty haze
About noon, Miss Jane Virgins, tail,
sour-visaged spinster, who prided herself on
being church worker" and given to deeds
of charity and Christian help in dire time of
need, honored the Danas with a call. She
way, on an errand of mercy such as she
deemed Mrs. Dana and her mother would
snap at In short, to offer the material as
sitance she thought the poor family must
OF necessity eagerly accept.
Miss Jane entered like one who felt her own
superiority, and took the chair Mrs. Ogden
rather. coldly indicated with condescending
urbanity.
Miss Virgins carried covered basket,
which she placed on the floor beside her with
an air that seemed to say: sIater you shall
know, and, hope, be grateful for its contents;
but must speak my mind first, and that, too,
in plain words.
II have always, whenever circumstances, in
my Judgment, required it, Mrs. Dana, stated
facts just as they are" she began, argumen-
lively. Now, you are poor, very poor-we
all know that; and there. is no denying that
something effective must be done right away.
bringing up these boys as they should be
brought up. So I've been talking with Squire
NeH, about it. He is Overseer of the Poor,
you know, and also takes an active interest in
and he thinks just as do, that the best thing
for you to do is to put the boys in the home
Tommy is rather young, but I'm sure / can
manage that" This with a most selfimpert-
ant nod in the direction of that scared and
wondering youngster. who had edged behind
Winch in vague alarm of some impending
danger, to himself especially.
Yes, I'm confident / can manage that little
matter with another personal nod at Tom
poor Tommy was visibly trembling now. 1.-THE
Haven Hill Home is exactly the place for
them, where they will have proper Christian
training Boys are hard to manage They
need restraint. to be early taught obedience
thinks the same. and he will some for them in
Ia day or two"
Not word said grandma to all this, but the
rising color In her cheeks and the glean in
her eyes BODIED no ready acquiescence in Miss
James humiliating proposition
yes" persued Miss Jane, suayely. ''They
will have right training at the Home. The
rules are very strict; so is the discipline. The
boys are bound out at 10 years of age. That
will be in less than year for 5you Trux. You
will be taught some useful trade, or perhaps it
will be work on farm. You will get only
your board and clothes until you are 21 I'm
til that time the Home reserves its right to
your wages, whatever they may be. Nothing
could be more fair, am sure"
Mrs. Dana stared aghast at this cool dispo-
sition of her young SONS. Her bright ener-
getic, brave hearted boys, whom she SO de-
votedly loved and was SO proud of, despite her
poverty.
Tommy clutched Winch's leg more tightly,
| if that were possible. Trux gritted his teeth
and doubled his fists in silent wrath, but was
thoughtful enough to quietly shut the kitchen
door, that Miss Jane might not see the turkey
on the table with its long neck hanging over
the edge. and very stiff of legs and plump of
breast Gale grinned 1nalevolently behind Miss
James back and made furtive motion to
lkick the basket, in this wise expressing his
contempt for whatever it might contain OF
that worthy spinster's bounty.
'You see, went on Miss Virgins. serenelv.
apparently not noticing the ominous silence az
her listeners. "that it is chance in a thou