The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-04
One Touch of Nature
"p--paper, sir?"

ened little wall that Dwight Maynard
did not heed 1t until he felt a slight
tug at his coat. and the words were
| repeated accompanied by an unmis-
taxable sob. Dwight turned. AT
| his elbow stood forlorn little piece
| OF humanity. with long golden curls
and pair of deep brown eyes, look
ing rnournfully out from face which
probably was white. but which now
Dor" very streaked appearance, as
If a pair Of dirty, chubby fists had
been frequently rubbed across It.
Paper" repeated Dwight. "A
little lad like You selling papers?' He
took the unresistIng hand in his and
| led the boy forward where an cleo
| trie light gave him clearer view,
lie saw the youngster was clad in
suit of rich black velvet, the lace col
lar and cuffs of which matched the
tiny face IN colorings Say, there's
something wrong here! You're only
baby and an aristocratic one at
that Where do YOU live? Your
mammH. and probably half a dozen
servants. are very likely nearlJ fran
! tic searching for you. What's your
Nance"
81 don't want to tell. I'm not
baby. either, now and no-no one
Is looking for me- The quivering
lips could hardly frame the words.
and In spite OF hitlseif Dwight felt a
big lump rise in his throat as the pitt
iful little wall came again. "W-will
YOU please buy paper?"
Sure | will" was the ready an
swer. as Dwight took the proffered
paper; then. as his eye rested on the
date. Look here. this Is nearly
month cid"
rs It? ! couldn't fisd any newer
ones Does does that make any
difference? Oh, won't You please
buy III" and without waiting for a
reply the curly head went forward
against DwIght's knee and the food
gates opened.
Nov, now, sonny" raising the
child until the golden curls rested on
his shoulder, tell me all about 1t and
maybe well find way ont Of this
awful predtcament," and he marched
along the street to his rooms carry
Ing the hesrt5i oxen little news ven
der with him
Not a word was said until the door
closed behind them, and seating HIM
self In the big lounging chair he
gently rocked the tired boy TO &nd
fro until the qpiverng sighs almost
ceased and then he said softly:
Now. laddie, out with It. Why
were you selling papers?"
II had to make my livins some-
how and th-that was the only way
knew
Make your living! Where are
your father and mother
Home b-but there's someone
else there, too baby sister! She
coined last night, and she's going to
stay always And there's something
the matter with my nose. cause
rursie said so. Mamma didn't come
to hear my PRAYERS last night, and
when asked papa why, he said My
little chap Isn't mammals baby any
more he'll have TO shift for hsn-
self That was just what he said, so
| ruined away and I'm not going
back there ever again"
For moment Dwight said moth
Ing He well rem" nbered those mis-
cradle first days when he himself had
learned he was no longer baby" and
he understood iusI how great and
oyerpowering was the pain In this
tiny lads heart, Then he told him
OF his own little sister, of the good
times they had had growing up to-
gether he tried. In his bunglins
way. to show him how much better
1t is TO be the man than the baby OF
the family He hnally convinced
him there was love enough for him
and the new sister too, and he was
rewarded by hearing the sighs cease
entirely aud resigned little voice
say:
Wei. If that's all baby sister Is,
guess perhaps I'd better go back
aud try it again Do you s'pose you
could show me the way?"
IF YOU tell me your name | think
/ can"
Harold Winfield. .
And is Jack Wihfield your papa?"
Yes. sir do you know him9"
Indeed | do Come along little
man. and well be home safe and
sound In no time"
Il glad cause II want 10 see
mamma aud papa. "a pause, then
radiant smile lighting UP his face):
And gee, yes | want to get another
ook at that baby sister!"
New York the American Venice,