Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-09-17
:. Oh, Little Son Of Nine
BY Anne Story Allen.

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1t was very dark in the brass cage,
and the little bundle of yellow feathers
moped unhappily. There weren't any
cheerful nice sounds about the room;
there hadn't been for many days. 1t
seemed to Sixpence that the world had
some to an end.
And then OF sudden it was differ
ent, for the horrid black thing that
made it always night was taken gent
ly Off, aS,d the beautiful day shone all
over and around Sixpence. He chirped
feebly in response. He tried a few
notes Of his long disused voice, and
then he burst into a triumphant resur'
rection anthem, joyful thanksgiving
for the light that had come.
Poor little chap a voice said,
mans voice.
Sixpence stopped a second, then be-
gan once more.
There was a quick step across the
hall; the door opened, and a black
gowned, white-faced woman stood In
the room, tense and questioning.
''The bird! He mustn't sing
.'Why not?' The man who had TAX
en- the dark cloth from the cage re-
turned. He asked the question only
with his eyes, but the woman under
stood.
"I can't let him sing It's too soon.
It's too cruel" She shut her lips
tight in an effort at self-control.
"It is cruel" agreed the man. That's
why / took this Off, and let in the day.
don't want to seem arbitrary, Alleen,
but must ask you to let little Six
pence have all the JOY and happiness
he is entitled to-
VERY well.'
Alleen Trent went slowly back
across the hall. Alec, her husband,
watched her till she disappeared IN
the library beyond. Then he turned
to the brass cage again.
The bird hoped to the side of the
cage. Trent reached a finger between
the bars. Then ensued futtering and
scolding and a final descent on the
Alec Trent smiled sadly. 1t was at
this point that the boy would always
shout with glee, and poke his tiny
finger into the cage in disastrous imi-
tation.
Out into the hall, past the library
door and up to his own den walked
Trent slowly Then he took some pa
pers from his pocket, some books OF
reference from his revolving stand, and
seated himself at his desk. One long
look out through the window into va
cancy; then he sighed and plunged in.
to the work before him.
Below, by the library fire, the moth
er Of his boy lay on couch and under
her closed lids the tears were creep
ing. The clock on the mantel struck
four. Aileen raised languid hand,
and rang the bell
"Order the victoria, please" she said
to the maid Have the roses come
from the florist's?' Then she got
up slowly.
Six months tomorrow" she said.
Six months!
"Aileen!"
She turned to see her husband in
the doorway. He wore his riding
clothes.
II couldn't work. 1t is too beauti-
full out of DOORS Won't you come
with me?"
Aileen opened her mouth to reply,
but he stepped her.
"Oh! know where you're going, but
does it do you any good-or him?
Come out with me, like good grill
will put the roses in your cheeks.
cant bear to see you SO pale
He took a step forward His hand
some face was full of longing.
Come on, little girl, can't we-cant
things be as they used to? Can't we
jog about together again. and be
happy?'
Happy"
He started back at the bitterness OF