West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-29

"Si'of oy pirth ana an Investigator by
profession. went inside 20 analyze the
scream. He returned with the news
that Mrs. Murphy's little boy. Mike,
was lost Following the messenger.
out bounced Mrs. Murphy-2Oo pounds
In tears and Mysteries. clutching the
air and bowling TO the sky for the loss
OF thirty pounds OF freckles and mis-
chief. Bathos truly. but Mr. Toomey
sat down at the side OF Miss Purdy.
millinery. and their hands came togeth.
er In sympathy. The two old maids,
Misses Walsh, who complained every
day about the noise I'm the halls. In.
quired Immediately II anybody had
looked behind the clock.
Major Grigg. who sat by his fat wife
on the top step. arose and buttoned his
coat The little one lostY' he exclaim.
ed. IL will scour the city" His wife
never allowed him out after dark. But
now she said go. Ludovicr' In bar.
itone voice. whoever can look upon
that mothers grief without springlng
TO her relief has heart OF stone"
Give me some 80 or--6O cents, my
love-" said the major. Lost children
sometimes stray far. 1 may need car
fares"
Old man Denny. hall room. fourth
foor back, who sat on the lowest step
trying TO read a paper by the street
lamp, turned over a page to follow up
the article about the carpenters strike
Mrs. Murphy shrieked TO the moon.
"Oh. ar-r-Mike; fr Gawd's sake. where
is me little bit av a boyY'
"Wen'd ye see him lasti" asked old
man Denny. with one eye on the re-
port OF the Building Trades league.
"oh," walled Mrs. Murphy "twas
Yesterday. or maybe four hours agol
l dunno. But it's lost he is. me little
boy Mike. He was playin' on the side
walk only this mornin'-or was IL
Wednesday, I'm that busy with work
It's hard to keep up with dates. But
I've looked the house over from top
to cellar, and it's gone he Is. Oh. for
the love nv hiven"-
Silent, grim. colossal. the big city
has ever stood against its reyilers.
They call it hard as iron: they say
that no pulse OF pity beats I'm its
bosom; they compare its streets with
lonely forests and deserts OF lava. But
beneath the hard crust OF the lobster
is found n delectable and luscious food.
Perhaps a different simile would have
been wiser. Still, nobody should take
ofrense. We would call no one n lob
ster without good and sufficient claws.
No calamity so touches the common
heart OF humanity as does the straying
OF little child. Its feet are so un-
certain and feeble. The ways are 30
steep and strange.
Major Griggs hurried down TO the
corner and up the avenue into Billy's
place. Gimme n rye high" he said
TO the servitor. Haven't seen a bow
legged. dirty faced little devil OF a
six-year-old lost kid around anywhere.
have youY
Mr.. Toomey retained Miss Purdy's
hand on the steps. Think OF that
dear little babe" said Miss Purdy.
lost from his mothers side, perhaps
already fallen beneath the iron hoofs
or galloping steeds. oh. isn't Il dread
ful?"
"Ain't that right" agreed Mr.. Too
mey, squeezing her hand. "Say / start
out and help look for umw
Perhaps" said Miss Purdy, you
should. But, oh, Mr.. Toomey. you are
so dashing, so reckless. Suppose I'm
your enthusiasm some accident should
befall you, then what
Old man Denny read on about the
arbitration agreement. with one finger
on the lines.
In the second floor front Mr.. and
Mrs. McCaskey came to the window
TO recover their second wind. Mr.. Nc
Caskey was scooping turnips out of his
vest with a crooked forehnger. and his
lady was wiping an eye that the salt
OF the roast pork had not benefited.
They heard the outcry below and
thrust their heads out Of the window.
"'Tis little Mike is lost" said Mrs.
McCaskey In n hushed voice, the
beautiful little trouble making angel of
n gossoonw
"The bit OF boy mlslaid." said Mr.
McCaskey, leaning out of the window.
'Why, now. that's bad enough. entire
ly. The childer, they be different II
twas woman I'd be willin', for they
leave peace behind 'em when they go"
Disregardlng the thrust. Mrs. Nc
Caskey caught her husbands arm.
"Jawn." she said sentimentalIy,
'Mlssis Murphy's little bye IS lost
'Tis great city for losing little boys
Six years old he was. Jawn, it's the
same age our little bye would have
been II we had had one six years ago"
1--WE never did" said Mr.. McCaskey,
lingering with the fact.
But II we had, Jawn, think what
sorrow would be in our hearts this
night with our little Phelan run away
and stolen In the city nowheres at all .
"Ye talk foolishness," said Mr.. Nc
Caskey. "'Tis Pat he would be
named. after me old father in An
trim"
Eye lie!" said Mrs. McCaskey, With
out anger. me brother was worth tin
dozen bog trottlng McCaskeys After
him would the bye be named" She
leaned over the window sill and looked
down at the hurrying and hustle b..
low.
'Jawn," said Mrs. McCaskey softly,
I'm sorry was hasty wild ye"
Twas hasty puddin'. as ye say"
said her husband and hurry up tur-
nips aud get a move on ye coffee.
Twas what ye could call quick
lunch. all right. and tell NO lie"
Mrs. McCaskey slipped her arm In
side her husbands and took his rough
hand I'm hers.
Listen at the cryln' OF poor Mrs.
| Murphy" she said. "Tis an awful
thing for n bit Of n bye to be lost I'm
this great big city. n twas our little
Phelan. John, ia be breakIn' ms
| heart"
AwkwardIy Mr.. McCaskey withdrev