The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-06-11

GGA
ASKED. WHO Is THAT sNaISoY"
furnished living room OF Mrs. Watts
house and heard Elise sing
Mrs. Watts was widow, and Ellis,
and Clarence were her only children
A small pension partly supported thei
| wants, and Mrs. Watts aud Elise tool
In plain sewing when they could get II
but Little Watts earnings from th,
sale OF his papers were their CHIEF
source Of income.
II seemed to me that they might live
a little more comfortably, but one day
Little Watts con6ded secret TO me.
Were saving for Elise" he said
she's going to be big singer some
day after she's gone away and studied
and had chance. I'm saving up fol
that"
This was the reason why Little
Watts wore such shabby clothes, and
this was why their home was so poor
and bare and their table 80 scantily
supplied. This was why Little Watts
walked the streets In all kinds of
weather, crying his papers at an hour
when other boys slept.
One, two years passed. | was still In
the Leader office. Little Watts still
came before daylight for his papers
and .rnS oallaJ fttla Watts ctflt for
he was not noticeably larger or stron.
ger than when | saw him first. He
still lived next door TO my own home,
and-Elise was going away.
She had been singing In church
cholrs and at concerts, and some ladies'
who had become interested In her, but
who were unable to lend her money
for her study, had given her benefit
concert, which the Leader had widely
advertised without charge on account
of Little Watts.
But most of the money that was to
pay for Elise's two years Of study In
the east had been or would be earned
by Little Watts.
But when come back he shall
work no more" Elise said TO me, with
the tears In her eyes. II shall earn II
then, and he shall go to New York to
study drawing and engraving. He's
so eager to learn 1t, you know, but he
won't say much about II or even think
about it until | begin to earn money"
Quite little company of US went to
the station to see Elise off. OF course
Little Watts was there. His large eyes
We're shining through their tears, and
his white face was wreathed in smiles,
though ! knew his heart ached with
sorrow at the thought Of two years
without her.
But the boy cried his papers just as
loudly and cheerily as ever next day
the Leader In the morning, when day
was breaking, and the Times at night.
when the day was gone.
often met him hurrylng around the
corners OF almost deserted streets or
paying n last visit to the hotels. where
he hoped to sell another paper at an
hour when all other newsboys had
gone home.
Every paper he sold counted, not for
himself but for Elise. He and his
mother lived upon the pension and her
sewing.
Every month a draft TO the amount |
Of all Of Little Watts earnings went to !
New York TO Elise, and every week she |
wrote encouraging letters OF what her
teachers said about her voice and OF
her hopes for the future.
u knew they'd have TO say her voice
wasn't anything common" Little Watts
said proudly TO me when the first Of
ber letters came. Il knew she'd aston.
sh 'em!"
Twice the mountains changed from
green 10 white and from white 10
green. They were changing to white
lgnin when Elise wrote the letter that
old when she would start for home
Little Watts brought me the letter to
.ead.
Il shall reach home about the last
lay OF October" she wrote. you need
lot send me any more money. am
Ifraid you have sent me too much now.
I is time for me TO begin paying II
hack TO you. You must be here next
'ear and at home working and earn
ng money for you. II I'm not too
ired. shall sing for you and mother
he very night ! come. l'm so anxious
0 show you how well your money has
,een speniw
She was delayed little aud came on
he third day Of November. II was on
be afternoon of the first day OF that
1ontb that the man whose duty II now
sas 10 give out the papers said to me.
Little Watts didn't show up for his
apers this morning It's the frst
lorniug he's failed 10 come since I've
cen here. ! wonder II he's slckY'
"Not that know OF" replied III
fas a terribly stormy morning. you
now"
The weather has never made any
iference with him before He's been
D hand the first one many a morning [
sorse than this Poor little chap. I
low hes escaped pneumonia as long
$ be has Il wonder 10 me-"
The sun had not shonc for three
sys First rain and then snow had
allen nearly all the time A ierce cold
Ind had swept down from the noun.
slns. The barren town had never
sened W gloomy and cbeefiess and I