Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

who crowded and tostled her, but they did
not heed her. She fell to the hard pave
ment, for a terrible pain was cutting
through her foot and ankle. And, oh. how
the sun burned her fleshl And how tho
fumes from somewhere smothered herr
All, she would return TO Nanny Jane
good Nanny Jane. Yes, she was sorry
now, hat she had fled from her own old
home, SO poor and simple. but a home for
all that. and one where a child could rest
when tired and sick II she might go
again to her little bed In Nanny James
funny old ROOM where the brass candle
sticks cleaned on the mantlepiece-a gift
to Nanny Jane from some great lady
many, many years agol And how sha
longed to set eyes once more on the strip
OF rag carpet-so warm to her feet In
winter-that stretched in front Of her little
bed. And the four-patch quilt that spread
her bed so beautifully Oh, would she
never see any of those dear things againR
But the pain in her foot and ankle waA
SO terrible that she forgot the city, forgoJ'
her home village, forgot Nanny Jane,
even forgot that she had run away from
the place where she had spent the ten
years Of her poor life. Then she began
to sob. 20 sob as she had done one day
when they led her to the black box to
look for the last time on the face OF her
mother. Inside that black box the ono
dearest to her on earth had been shut
from sight, and she had then gone to
Nanny Jane. And on Nanny James
warm bosom she had wept out the grief
Of a broken little heart. And now she
wept in that same way, only this time iu
came from agony Of pain instead OF agony
Of grief.
But OF a sudden somethlnE cool and
gentle stroked her cheek. She opened her
eyes. To her wonder. she looked into the
loving face OF old Nanny Jane. And.
strongest Of all, she was on her own
little bed. But what were the strangers
doing in the room? Why, there were the
white doctor and Mrs. Jones. the landlady
OF the hotel, where Nanny Jane worked
for their living. And then she saw that
enc OF her feet was all wrapped In white
b~andages; and both Nanny James hands
and arms were bandaged the same way.
It was one OF Nanny James bandAged
hands that was stroking her face. "Doan
cry, honey sugar-lump," said old Nanny
Jane. "Youu be pert again In a few days.
chile. You done fallen asleep by the SOAP
pot. an the fire done cotch yer dress. An
ole Nanny Jes seen you In time and run
an smotheTsd out the flame fore it ootch
you above the knees. SO, go to sleep.
III chile. an Mammy'n sing you a song.
Go to sleep. honey-chils"
The black child smiled. and as the white
doctor and the landlady-seeing that shs \
was all right again and In safe hands
left the room. she w~hisperedI "Oh, Nanny
Jane, I lubs you. / do. An / an glad is
was Jes the fire an not the great city
dat got me, I wanted 70 run away from
YOU NANNY Jane, But now / known
Iiat 1 lubs you as 1 use to Tub my own
NANNY. You Is my grandmammy. an
Ill stay with you forsvah an forevah.
An I'll do all youah work, Nanny Jane,
soon as I get well. for you burned youah
pore hans savin' me from dat fire"
Tears strsamed down ole Nanny JansAs
face as She bent over the child. you
Is all ole Nanny has got honey-chle, an
I'm thankin' the good Lord he sent me 70
cotch you out'n the fire In time. Wen
both be we'll soon. honsN and wen he
happy, too"
yes, Nanny. an Wen have some fried
chicken an gravy for supper won't wsr'
asked tho child, smiling.
"rrus' ole Nanny Jane fob dat, hg1eH
You shall eat chicken an gravy ana
sumplin's while these ole hans can cook
'em fob You"