The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-05-27

knew Banner street well; the
place was not more than ten min
utes' walk away. Come on with
me-" l said, "and l will see your
mother. I am doctor, you know,
and perhaps can do her some good"
Without more ado the little chap
gave himself up to the new idea, and
trotted off by Ey side, his tongue
waging briskly the while. Here was
an adventure, or at least, an event.
He managed to keep up a never fail
ing stream of small talk which, l
could not help observing, always
came round, often by very sharp an
giles, to the nice gemman!"
We soon reached Banner street. A
few minutes then brought us to the
corner of a dingy, pestilential look
ing court, lined on each side by tum-
BILE down two story houses which
looked as though they had been or
iginally jerry built, and had been out
of repair for many years back. They
were noisome in the extreme, fetid,
reeking of slime and neglect. No. 13
presented set of creeky and very
filthy stairs. My guide hooked his
small hand firmly into mine, and
without delay we began to climb up
and up, unit! at last we reached a
back room on the top floor. The boy
ran in first, while l waited outside.
Only a minute elapsed, when the
door was opened, and IN response to a
muffled Come in, SIR" entered
The room was literally devoid of
furniture. There was no chair to sit
down; no table to fill up the bare
floor space. Yet there was a mar
velous air of peace, and even of COM
fort, in that empty garret! All, for
instance, was wonderously clean. And
one felt that there was decent and
gracious air about the place which
spoke we'll for its human occupants.
1t was sometime before my e5es
could take in my surroundings. But
presently l saw a figure lying near
the window, on the floor, on a heap
OF rags. 1t was that of poor, decent
looking woman. A few words of SYM
pathy and explanation, and l learned
her simple story The woman was a
widow of about forty-fivo. She had
injured her leg, and the wound, III
stead of healing, apparently had fes-
tered. A large, unwholesome ulcer
was exposed to view as / examined it.
She had gone twice as an out patient
to the nearest hospital, but she could
walk no longer. Her work as a char
woman had had perforce to be given
up; so there she lay, helpless to move
hand or foot on her own behalf! By
her side stood little girl of about
six years of age-"our Bess." she
called her-a bright-eyed, winsome
little lassie.
But Billy was the bread winneri
He it was who kept the wolf from the
door. 1t was he who had boldly gone
into trade in the endeavor to supply
mother, sister and himself with
bread. Deeply affected, l listened to
the simple, homely, heroic story. Men
are inclined to the belief that heroes
are made only on special occasions.
Yet in truth the finest heroes are
homespun, and often hidden in OBJ.
scurity. Billy was of the true stuff
and his modest struggle might have
made an epic.
| Why, l asked OF the woman, did
she not go to hospital? The ques.
tion was hardly asked when l felt re.
buked. What would become of the
children" said the poor woman
Billy might do for bit by himself;
he is brave lad But our Bess-,'
And then the poor soul fairly broke
down. Yet in minute the tears