The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-06-24
y NJ
A STORY OF a SMALL BoY.

ciation.l
1t was old John Browns seventeen
birthday. He had either quarreled
with or buried every one he loved and
outlived all his old friends. A negro
woman kept house for him-one Of
those ''mammies" Of the south he had
brought with him soon after the civil
war when he had come north to live.
She had nursed his children, and after
they had gone or to make homes for
themselves and his wife had died she
was all there was left of those who
had made up his household.
On the morning of the SEVENTEEN an
niversary Of his birth Brown was sit
ting before a fire reading his morning
paper when the postman brought a
letter.
Cora" he called to his housekeeper,
who was washing the breakfast dishes,
heres an avalanche coming down
on u.s."
"Wha' de matter, Mars Brown
This letter says that some one-I
can't make out who-has the audacity
to send me child of i've to take care
of-an orphan. What right has any
one to inflict such thing on meg'
Cant l help YOU"
Help me? That isn't It. It's the
imposition"
Air they sendin' the baby by ex.
press?"
NO; in care Of train conductor.
I'm requested to meet 1t. I shall do
no such thing"
| "What'l the little tot do?"
do? Go to an orphan asylum, Of
course. ! shall pay no attention to II
whatever"
/ But when the clock struck 10 John
Brown arose, took his hat and went
out. shutting the door after him some.
what testify. In an hour he returned,
leading a small boy in blouse and
knickerbockers.
/ as this my new homer asked the
child, looking about him with eyes In.
dicating profound interest. Got a
play room upstairs. with lots o. toys
and things? Hello. there's dorg
Isn't he big fellow? He and I are
goin' TO be mighty good friends, you
bet What's your name, Mr.. Dog
My names Jim" And he put his arms
around the brute's neck. which wagged
its tail In response to the hug.
John Brown went into the kitchen
where he found Cora.
This Is the most rascally imposition
I ever met WITH" he said. THE little
rascal Is making himself ut home Just
as IL he belonged here. And yet I'm
only going to keep him overnight"
For Lord sakesl What yo' goin' ia
do with him. Mars BrownY
Turn him over to the asylum folks.
The dialogue was interrupted by the
boy. who came in with the dog.
I've told him my name" said Jim
"but he can't tell me his. What Is ity'
Hes Buck" said Cora.
Buck Buck. What funny Manner
Then, seeing that he was in kitchen
he added. "Golly. I'm hungry
"yo' sit down there by that table,
said Cora. "and I'll get yo' a piece o
bread and butter We don't hab lunch
TO- more'n an hour YETI
The boy did as he was commanded
and when handed big piece Of bread
and butter covered with sugar he d.
yided II with Buck. who watched ear
nestiy for alternate mouthfuls. Dur
Ing the refreshments Jim asked Cors
many questions about bis new home
and received a number Of kind words
from her. When he had finished hi:
bread and butter he rushed into the
adjoining room like whirlwind and
finding Mr.. Brown sitting before th'
fire. threw himself upon him Ike ar
avalanche, clasping his hands behind
the old mans neck.
In the afternoon Brown went out u
an orphan asylum and made arrange
ments for Jim 10 be transferred the
next day. He returned to his home In
time for dinner. and for the first time
in years human being sat opposite
him az table. Jim chatted, asked al
manner OF questions. made comments
and Brown found himself eating bet
ter dinner than usual. Then the two
went into the sitting room. and jim
forced his host. Willy nIIly. to tell hin
stories till Cora had finished her even
Ing work. when she came in to put
him TO bed. Giving Brown a good
hug, be threw himself into her arms
and she carried him upstairs. When
she came down she handed Brown Q
piece Of paper she had found pinned
20 the child's waist under his blouse
Brown read IL and, looking up, ex
claimed:
My gracious, the boy Is my grand
son. Hes Edgar's. who left me ter
years ago These directions were writ
ten by the mother Just before bel
death a month ago"
When Brown went up 20 bed. Their
In a crib that his children had slept
IN years agone lay Jim In the swee
sleep ~ childhood. The old mar
looked at him. bent over him ant
kissed him. Then be went 20 bed. pur
not TO sleep. lie lay awake til aid
night, when the bedclotbes were raised
and q tiny figure got IN beside him
A pair Of little arms encircled him
one little leg was thrown over him
| ga !. fftef,. ntn.ts r,ufaI as,olaaf lta