The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-04-03
Hates Birthday Present
BY LAURENCE CLARKE.

landing. This gave Tommy an oppor-
tunity TO display his celebrated valour.
He sprang after the culprit with
prompt brotherly vindictiveness. and
cuffed her as vigorously as his infer
ior size would allow.
Katy, in terror, knocked at door
whence the strains OF violin floated
out and mixed with the general hsb-
bub.
The music stopped abruptly and a
lank. sickly looking man. holding the
instrument In his hand. opened the
door.
Ere, what yer doing'?" he said.
shutting across the landing after the
manner OF walters, without lifting his
feet. He seized the heroic Tommy and
dragged him into his own room
"Wachter allus gettin' in trouble
for?" he said TO Tommy. Never saw
such boy! Allus quarrelin you
are"
This was only a formula OF Fiddle
mans. He was very fond OF the chill
dren, and their toiling mother was
often glad of his invitation for them to
stay in his room. For he was a rich
man. He earned IS shillings week
and ccald AFFORD fire every day.
Tommy remained silent for some
time; he had been busy arranging his
tousled hair.
"Mr. Fiddleman." he said. suddenly.
Il tried TO be manager today"
"You--what?"
Il tried to be a manager You said
managers got lots OF pay, and tried
The man looked at the boy for a
moment, then seemed to understand,
for he said
80 you wanted to help your mother.
did you? Why, my boy. you can't be
a manager; you are too young"
Then the man escorted the children
safely TO the top fiat OF the building
where their mothers poor lodging was
situated, and shuffied down the stairs
again.
Tie chifdren's mother was sitting at
the table with her head on her hands.
She had trampled all day In search OF
any work that would enable her TO
keep body and soul together. But
washing and sewing seemed as diff
cult TO get as II they were the most
remunerative of employments.
There was no fire In the room, for
she was too poor to afford one When
her children opened the door she
raised her head. Her white face was
furrowed and tear-stained, but a ray
OF pleasure lit her features at the sight
OF them.
: She looked at the bright-eyed boy
who was stroking her hand In silent
sympathy. He had told her he had
tried to be a manager, SO that she
need never look for work any more.
The tears came into her weary eyes.
You are very IKE your father"
she said sadly. taking his face fondly
In her hands and kissing him. He
vas always chivalrous and kind, Just
ike you will be when you grow to be
a man"
One day she had received a letter
in strange hand from the goldfields
on the Yukon river, where her hus-
band had gone. like many thousands
OF others, to seek for fortune. At
sight OF this unwelcome missive a
great terror had seized her soul. She
had rent II wildly open.
He was killed" IL said, "by the
premature explosion OF charge OF
blasting powder / was his chHm. He
left no money"
Taking her children, she had left
the pretty, Irish village of Stornway.
and had struggled YEARLY for living
in the great city. and none In the viii
Mge ever heard from her.
Physical weakness had followed
close on the heels of poverty. and to-
gether they had prepared the way
rhar-v11s 5pgcrresE1fetUu Despair
whose hard. fleshless fingers we're
already clutching ato her throat. Her
cheeks. once so flushed and rounded.
were now hollow and wan: her step.
so gaily elastic then, was weak aud
tottering now.
In the chill room where she sat. on
every inch OF battered mating. on
every inch OF WORKOUT board, on The