The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

Jack was HIS name. Jack Bennett. He
was red of hair. freckled of face and de-
termined of mind. Also, Jack had gen
erous disposition and deeply sympathetic
heart. Jack was only 10 years old, but
Jack was as capable in many ways as a
boy several years his senior.
Jacks parents belonged to the well-to-
do class; therefore, Jack seldom knew
what It meant TO be denied anything he
wished for. But he was such a sensible
little chap that he never asked for things
unobtainable, as many another child often
does, and consequently never knew what
disappointment meant.
One day as Jack was on his way from
school he decided TO make a short cut
home, going through an alley part of
the way. He was fond of finding new
roads to and from .ehool, and knew that
part Of the city lying between his home
and the schoolhouse pretty we'll But In
this alley he found new sights. In a
dlngy window of a dlngier old house was
the sweetest face be had ever seen,
little girls face framed in soft, fair curls.
As he passed the. house the little face
smiled at him, smile such as one inno
cent child will greet another innocent child
With. Jack stopped and nodded his red
head, n smile changing his plain freckled
face into one of almost beauty. The little
girl nodded in response and placed her
palms against the cold and dingy window
pane, question in her great blue eyes.
Jack stood wondering whether or not he
should go to the door and knock for adj
mittance, asking to be allowed to play
while with the pretty little girl; but he
refralned from doing so, for he knew his
mother would be looking for him. So
smiling and nodding good-by TO the
pretty little face at the window, JACK
hurried down the poyerty-laden alley to-
ward the better part of the town where
he lived.
The following day Jack took the alley
route to school that hes might again see
the strange picture of the BEAUTIFUL child's
face framed in the griiny window pnne.
As he drew near to. the weather-beaten
house he looked in vain for the sweet
face of the little girl that had so attracted
him on the previous evening. Instead ne
saw an aged woman with snowy nair
standing at the windc V looking into the
street. Her face bore the signs OF Illness
and suffering from poverty. As she
glanced at Jack her face frightened and
she smiled to him. Jacks cap was of in
an instant, his red head bowling low In
reverence to the aged woman at the WIN
dow. Jack had always felt the deepest
respect for the aged, but especially did
he revere this poor old lady with the
snowy hair and saddened face. lie knew
that in some way she was related to the
beautiful little girl whom he had seen
at the window.
To his surprise the old lady beckoned
to him to come to the door. lie fastened
to obey, and stood with cap In hand,
waiting for her TO appear. She opened
the door and asked in a gentle voice,
voice very much like his own dear
old grannys: My little boy, your face
is so bright so kindly, that l am going
to, ask a small favor of you If you have
time to grant 1t. l have been i'll and
fear to go out in the snow and my only
companion is a little granddaughter of
eight, child so beautiful and so limo
cent that l hesitate to send her out on