The Republican journal., 1909-08-26
Miss Keziah's Fresh Air Child

81 can't see what folks want O. them
Fresh Air Kids" snapped Miss Keziah
Ashley. "Cluttering up the house and
making noise enough to have one coming
to the next house, This speech was
made to Miss Keziah's confdant, Tom, a
large grey coon cat who took all these
remarks seriously and purred his acquies-
cence to all his mistress's statements.
The fact was, several Fresh Air chill
dren had arrived in Benton and Miss
Keziah was exasperated at the thought
of any more coming into town. What
made it worse, still, Mrs. Josiah Souther
her nearest neighbor-had written for
one child to entertain, and Miss Keziah,
thinking how the children of the village
raided her orchard and broke down her
fences, could hardly control her temper
when she found that another was to be
brought into such close proximity to her
fast-ripening fruit. To use her exact
words: Kids are worse than ants. I'd
a sight rather have hundred pesky
little ants on my table than to have one
kid around the place." And Miss Keziah
was the soul Of neatness, too.
The day appointed for the arrival of
Mrs. Souther's little guest opened in a
cloudy, misty morning. The sun had as
Miss Keziah expressed it-"hid his face
for shame;;" the clouds settled closer and
closer to the earth and drilling rain
set in. Never was the town of Benton
more dreary than when in rain-storm.
The streets were empty; the grocery
corner was deserted; and even the dogs
had taken shelter in sheds and barns. 1t
was no wonder that Miss Keziah' S temper
did not mend. Finally it grew so dark
that she had to light a candle in order to
see to sew on the new rug she was max
ing for Tom.
80 dear, what a trial it is to keep a
place a-goin in this town. If only the
her soliloquy was interrupted by the sound
of wheels. clark, Tom, she said, as if
he ever made the slightest noise. Don't
you hear wheels? Probably they are
bringing that Fresh Air-er to Jane South
er's, but | know she amt expecting it
it's so rainy. She's away this afternoon,
anyway"
Meanwhile the sound had ceased. The
driver, who was unused to the road had
driven along to Miss Keziah's door and
stopped. She did not hear the wheels as
the moist earth deadened the sound.
The driver still unheard- dismounted,
Knocked pushed a small child, not un-
kindly, into the hall, closed the door and
away.
On hearing the knock, Miss Keziah rose
up primly, Strengthened a bow of ribbon
on her cap, and opened the door.
She threw up her hands in astonish-
ment at what she saw. What she beheld
was small boyish figure with large, ap-
pealing brown eyes and yellow curls. For
a moment the little fellow gazed at her,
then taking off his cap he made manly
little bow and said:
please, Mrs. Souther, they said | was
to stay here with you awhile cause you
wanted me to. l am so glad, and now
might please have some supper cause
lost mine on the cars, and ] am so hun
Cry
who are you? ! am not Mrs. Souther,
either II m Teddy Mullum. Aren't
you the lady that wanted me?" and Ted
dy's eyes filled with tears. 'Never mind,
you can come with me for now" she an
swered.
What nuisance, - she exclaimed I'M
der her breath. did you say your name
was Teddy" she asked. "Y es'm Teddy
Mullum.' "Well, you may sit here a
few minutes and will see if | can find
you lunch. No, she corrected herself,
''boys can't be trusted" Then aloud,
Come with me, guess it'll be better. "
He followed her out into her tidy little
kitchen and sat down while supper was
being prepared for him.
When next Miss keziah glanced at
Teddy he was stroking Tom who looked
up trustingly into his face as he would
seldom look at stranger.
For a moment Miss Keziah' s eyes blaz-
ed with anger, then softer light came
into them. Nothing touched her heart
like kindness shown to Tom, although she
was angry at first to see liberty was
being taken with her pet.
Come she said in moment; her
voice was unusually soft, and sounded
strange to her own ears. Teddy sat down
to the snoW-white table on which was
plate of sweet, white bread, little plate
of golden butter. a dish of luscious honey,
two cookies and a glass of milk. The
hungry look in his eyes touched Miss
keziah and two great tears dropped from
her cheeks before size could prevent them,
and she turned away lest he should notice.
What was he to her? What had she to do
with such as he? Il hope | know my
duty, she said to herself, as she reflled
Teddy glass. Tomorrow | shall send
him where he belongs No doubt but
what he has spotted my finest pear-tree
already" In her heart she knew he had
not had time to do so. even if he had had
the inclination.
She sat down by the fire and thoughts
of her past life filled her mind; how her
parents had died and left her and John
alone; how they had lived happily TO-
gether till John had married and gone
West; and how she had since carried on
the farm and grown so severe and cold
that she was unioved by all the village
folk With a sob she arose and cleared
the table, and then took Teddy up to the
little bed which had not been used for
years.
AS she took up her candle and turned
to 60 plaintive little voice said: ''Wait
a minute, Mrs. - Miss Keziah," sup
piled that lady won't you please come
here minute, Miss Keziah?"
She went back wonderingly and Teddy
throwing both warm little arms around
her neck, kissed her on both cheeks.
Good night" he said softly. Miss
Keziah raised her head and looked at him
a moment, then took up her candle and
went silently down stairs.
Putting the candle on the table, she
deliberately stirred the fire, put Tom in
bed and then sat down to examine her
self.
Her mind was confused; a pair of large
To +