The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-10-30

/ a fltiNaissAia 70 tue fAtssAfF f1ese -
,r,tns mark Nth lhs child al ksF siiss
Ihs nan l.shlni the hpsiee khse wy
| iitIlo aiaui iaiesurss, bot he iaheaeai this
aas Iafluts worthy siassF ihsIsril9sn,
| ile aTisslrs he Nay forward aloi,s We
ss.l lshini the ihlfk bridge uhlil he e"uii
m. Vs.uns Aoman Mas singing, The
man i.ehind HE hesisr didnI IeeoFnisr The
sag. He aas quite snIr 4 aasnt q Top
1 ulai fa1afiie. There VAS sonlfi hang ~ y
Ai.ou, baby AMI dNams and t~fs a'ta' h'
/ iahfifsl Il masi h. cradle sahs,
The Sauns wnniann Nulre MAS sait AMI
NrN srntlo, II SEEMED 10 harmonic VAN
lie nistlins am0nF iise maple lfaNrs, "
Was saolhius and frsiiul, Il made the
man laiind the hedge feel dtoNs{'
''llrzs ! ga sevp non, mamma, sa'i ihs
child.
TI.ts Mas a hammock hung from the
marie ttrr that shaded ihs raslle seal
aeisiss 10 q smaller tire,
Tie Young mother lifted the chad anu
pni him Ia The hammock and senlls
sNagri il 10 and ifo,
"Musi say iiilr payer, mamma
'nnlV Ahrh the shadows come, dear,
HN8a. mamma. l'i1 down cor head.
Then the slurpy voice family rhahlNl
"nrar God. make George dpoi hoy an
b'c.s mamma, an bning PAPA home soon
fbc mother stopped quickly and Kissed
the child. Ilcn drawing back che srniiy
sway,d the hammock,
"pbpd night. mamma,
Good night, dear one,
Presently the fWaying ceased aud The
Young mother stood quite silll Tor me
mrnt, her dark cyc, irndrily iffaflins
the sleeping child. Then she drew aNay
and fast a swift glance about hrf, aud The I
man lprhini the hedge shnnk tlosc 70 the !
earth. 90,
With another look at the child she I
turned about and went ~ the path 10 the 4
house only a little distance away.
Tho man bthind the hedge ciept 10 an /
opcnins aud cnwlri through. lie was
opposite the path 10 the house aud close
10 the hammock and the child. 49,, -,
He sat on the soft tuii for little while
a. Il debating some question OF moment
III. brow was wrinklci, his upper Up Wa
slightly lifted from his white teeth. lie
VA. not a progressing person His face
was flushed and scanned by dissipation.
His hair was unkempi. his hands grimy,
hi. clothes Old and soilei. Crouching on
4 he sod. his restless eyes kecnly waichiui,
he was a decidedly unloyely object.
"Hullo. man" i
The yagabond on the grass started
quickly. III. first impulse was 10 crawl
into hiding Then be- looked around. Inc
child had raised up IN the hammock ana
was intcnjly regarding him, his bug black
eyes expanding with curiosity-but not
Nitb fear. The yarabond on the grass
was clad al that. He noted. too, that the
rhild's EYES were like the young mothers,
but the mouth and the firm little chin,
and the shape Of the face were curiou,ly
Ike those 81 someone else-someOne the
yagabond had lately met,
"Hullo." the vagabond answered, soft
ming his hoarse voice. I
How do 90 do. man. said the child
With prim politencss.
I'm pretty hearty replied the vaga'
,onh. "How's yourself:'
Pity. well. What's cor name!
Jim"
Dim
Yes, Jim"
DO 90 like little boys!'
yes"
Have 90 any little boys at cor house:" I
NO" growlcd the vagabond sharply. q
The boy laughed. his checks dimpling
nd his black eyes half closing. :,
What funny grow y noises 90 make
10 said Can 90 swing me!
The yagabond crawled a little nearer
wung the hammock.
ats pity fine" said the child. MY
apa swings me. too. Have 90 seen my !
apaE -,
Hes gone away-but he's tummin d
ack cause ] want him, an cause Il
mamma cries Dor funny lookin' man, n
Guess | am the vagabond agreed, II
18th a quick smile. a
"Dess 90 amt dot no mamma to maxi,
o wash CORSET an put on clean clothes a
That's true too said the vagabond, Il
ut this time he did not laugh, NO..
when grow up" said the boy, I'm
DIN to take dood care of mamma cause q
he amt dot nobody else but me. Ats y
hat makes her cry" II
II see" said the vagabond gravely.
You're a fine laddie. You'll take good n
are of her. How old might you be-"
"Dess four How old is oo! q
The vagabond laughed unpleasantly. :,
I'm twenty years younger than l look,
c growled. 800. n
Il tant count so much as dat said the n
mid. Il can count ten. I'm going to k
arm everysing an 'en my papal be so fc
prised when he tums back" "
'"Fine.'' said the vagahond, and he q
odded so suddenly that his dingy soft t
at fell on the grass beside him. Whereat
he boy gurgled with laughter and clapped II
is chubby hands.
DO it some more" he cried. IN
But before the vagabond could reply he
card football in the pathway. He lie
oked up The young mother was staring
,wn at him with frightened eyes and OF
Hing cheeks. "
who are you?" she unsteadily demand I'll
|, and came swiftly forward as If to bar yC
i'm from the child. I'll
Hes Dim" cried the boy. to
The vagabond picked up his hat. ly
I'm not going to harm the child" he q.
id in his sulen way. Il happened to or
e him here in the hammock an came W
tie closer. / amt going to touch him. or
on needn't look at me So" be
800 mustn't look at Dim So" cried the yc
W. Poor Dim. He amt dot any
tivver to make him wash hissef." And m
e little face was turned to the stranger WI
it'll a deeply sympathetic expression.
A duller red covered the vagabond's tit
ce. hi
George" said the young mother warn tn
gly. ST
'"That's all right, ma'am," said the vag-
ond quickly. "An' it's true. | had ca
other, but there were too many, of us,
; she was always too busy No doubt |
eded father more than | did mother. SCI
1t he ran away from US
He paused and twisted his dingy hat in so
. grimy hands.
The boy, his big eyes expanded, stared fel
the man wonderingy, and deep flush fai
ept into the mothers pale cheeks. en-
My farver is tummin' home pity
on" said the child. tn
The vagabond saw the young woman lal
e seemed little more than girl-lay her a