The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-30
j I III
a STORY OF \ SMALL pOY
; + + /. + :. i, !. + + !. f. !.

IL was OH Jbnn Brown severn lfll
birthday. He had either q,larrniei
with ar buried every one h" loved and
outlived ali his old friends. \ negr"
woman kept house for him ono Of
those "mannics of In" south h. had
brought with him soou after the civil
war when hc had come north t" live.
they had gone off to make homes for
themselves and hiH wife had died she
was all there was left of these who
had made up his household.
On the morning of the sc>ent fcth an
nivcrsary of his birth Brown WAS sit
ting before a tire reading his morning
paper when the postnau brought Il
letter
Cora" he called to his huusekecrer
VIII" was washing the breakfast dishes
here's an avalanche coming down
on us
"Wha' de matter. Mars Brown"
"ThiS letter says that some onc-l
cant make out who-has the audacity
to send me Il child Of five to take care
of-an orphan What right has any
one to intict such Il thing on me-"
Cant help yo':''
Help me? That isn't it. It's the
imposition.
Air they srndn' the baby by ex-
press
NO: in care of train conductor
I'm requested t" meet It, | shall do
no such thing
"WhatlI the little tot do?"
"b"t Go to an orphan asylum. Of
course. shall pay no attention to it
whatever"
But when the clock struck To Joh,
Brown arose. took his hat and went
out shutting the door after him some
what testify. In IN hour he returned
leading y small hoy in blouse anu
knickerbockcrs
rs this my new homc?" asked the
child. looking about him with eyes in
dicating profound interest scot a
play room upstairs. with lots q toys
and things? Hello. there's Il dory
Isn't he Il big fellow? He aud | arc
goin' to I've mighty good friends. YOU
bet What's your name. Mr. Dog?
My names linn" And he put his arms
around the brutc's neck. which wagged
Its tail I'm response to the hug.
John Brown went into the kitchen
where he found Cora.
This Is the most rascally imposition
l ever met WITH" he said. "Thc little
rascal is making himself ut home just
as If lie belonged here And yet I'm
only soiu. to keep him overnight
For Lord sakes. What yo' goin' to
do will, him. Mars Brown"
Turn him over t" the asylum folks"
The dialogue was interrupted by the
boy. who came in with the deg.
"Ivc told him my name said Jim.
"but he can't tell me his What is it:
Hes Buck" said Cora
Buck! Buck. What funny name,"
Then. seeing that he was in Il kitchen.
he added "Golly. I'm hungry"
"Yo' sit down there by that table"
said Cora. land III get yo' Il piece O
bread and butter. We don't hah lunch
TO- more'n IN hour yet
The boy cid as he was commanded.
and when banded Il big piece of bread
and butter covered with sugar be di
vided ii with Buck who watched car
neStly for alternate mouthfuls. Dur
ing the refreshments .Iiin Il 9ard Cora
many questions about his new home
and received Il number Of kind words
from her. When he had finished his
bread and butter he rushed int" the
adjoining room like whirlwind and.
finding Mr. Brown sitting before the
fire. threw himself upon him like an
avalanche. clasrin- his hands behind
the old L.ahs neck.
In the afternoon Brown went out t"
an orphan asylum and made arrange
ments for Jim to he transferred the
next day. He retur~led to his home in
time for dinner. and for the first time
In years human being sat opposite
him at table Jim chatted. asked all
manner Of questions. made comments.
and Brown found himself eating a bet
ter dinner than usual. Then the two
went into the sitting room. and Jim
forced his host willy nilly. to tell him
stories till Cora bad finished her even
ing work. when she came in to put
him to- bed Giving Brown good
hug, he threw himself into her arms.
and she carried him upstairs. When
she came down she handed Brown Il
piece Of paper she had found pinned
to the child's waist under his blouse
Brown read il and, looking up. cx-
claimed:
"My gracious. the boy is my grand
son. He's Elgar's. who left me ten
years ago. These directions were writ
ten by the mother just before her
death month ago"
When Brown went up to bed. there
in crib that his children had slept
in years agone lay Jim in the sweet
sleep Of childhood. The old man
looked at him. bent over hin, and
kissed him. Then he went to bed. but
not to sleep. Hc lay awake till mid
night. when the hcdclo:hes were raised
and Il tiny figure got in beside him.
A pair Of little arms encirc!ed him.
IL