Arizona republican., 1909-09-01
THE KIDNAPPED BOYS PRAYER

CPoem by Will Carleton in the Au-
 gust EVERYWHERE) The deed was done-the game was
 caught; the robbers grimly
 smiled
 And chuckled at how easy twas to
 steal a helpless child. A lure into a carriage door a rush
 through gleam and gloom, A manufactured jail within a rude
 and dreary room; A warning to a hOmesick boy to keep
 of all he e'er had known. With threatenings from men who
 knew an hundred ways to kill; A letter to the stricken sire with
 money its demand, And hints of death if so the cash
 came promptly not to hand; And night fell down upon the scene
 and left the boy alone, With no one there save God Himself
 of all he ger had known. E Of you who read this simple tale, the
 stoutest must agree That 'mong all homesick, heartsick
 lads the wretchedest was he. This was the first of all his nights
 When none he loved was there; The first that he had ever known
 without his mothers prayer. But he, still brave in spite of all the
 terrors round him thrown, Pushed back a sob and said: T guess
 I'll have to pray alone. 70, Lord. of course you're on to this
 know all about the case, An why you let 'em bring me here to
 such a shabby place; It's goin' to make Pop rippin' mad
 and tempt him for to swear An Mom-I'm sure this instant now
 she's joinin' me in prayer. An Sister Mabe is grievin' cause this
 mornin' when we stood An scrapped about that little game
 she said I want no good An Brother Bob has one the less to
 tell his stories to, An Auntie Grace is worryin' round,
 not knowin' what to do; An baby's gone just half to sleep,
 quite sure things ain't quite
 right,
 Because, you see, I didn't come an
 kiss him sweet good-night'; An nine lives won't be half cat
 without me in the shed. To pick a romp and row with him be-
 fore he goes to bed; An when tomorrow mornin' boys
 come round there on the. sly, An gives our little curly squeal, they won't get no reply;
 An Teacher she will sort O nope an
 feel a little sad, An state that now she's lost the
 most mischievous boy she had. (An' yet she thought she liked me,
 too, an said twas very sweet That time with stones I plunked a
 dog that bite her on the street; In truth. Oh Lord, I think they all
 would love to see me back, Though not so glad as I would be to
 take the home'ard track; An if you'll help me out O this tell
 you straight an true, Whenever it is so I can read I'll do
 as much for you" Of course it was a rough young pray
 er-in neither prose nor rhyme, Or grammar, such as one might use
 in youths or manhood's time, But still it may have worked more
 good than words discreet and
 fair;
 For God knows many curious ways
 with which to answer prayer. The bandit guard-and old gray rogue
 was list'ning at the door. And caught some talk the like of
 which he ne'er had heard before. But echoes of a boyhoOd past came
 toling through his brain, And his rude heart had softnesses that
 worked the youngster gain. Come with me, kid," he whispered
 soft; the two foes sneaked
 away,
 Perhaps ten minutes from the time
 the boy commenced to pray. They crept through many hidden
 paths not fruitless of alarm. But when next morning smiled the
 boy was in his mothers arms.