Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-11

- olden days, and~SAs he finished
the last page he sighed and put the
book aside. His mother, sitting by the
window sewing, heard the sigh from
Tommy, and, turning to him, asked
what occasioned his sadness.
Mamma, I'd like to be hero" de-
clared Tommy, emotion in his voice.
But one cannot be hero in this day
and age-there's nothing to call out
heroism. In the old days there were
strenuous times-times TO try men
and-and--boys. too -,
Tommy's mother sat silent Tor 1uil
minute. then said Son, think We are
all prone to look upon the past TOO
much and to regret the passing Oh
those days. but IL the truth were
known there was less occasion TOT
heroism in the past ages tnan there
Is today. On every hand we hear the
call for heroes-boys and men--and
also the call for heroines-girls and
women. And we have the heroes and
heroines, too, in greater numpers thah
you have any idea of.
"But, mamma, how is one to De
hero nowadays?" asked Tommy, eager
". 1--WE have no invasions, no RAIDS
on towns and cities, no bandltti 10 De
captured, no pirates and freebooters
to be reckoned within fact, nothing
but good old times of peace and
plenty" declared Tommy, with some
disgust In his voice.
Mamma sewed on a little while, then
said: Son, i am going to send you ON
an errand-an errand of heroism. you
may go in any direction you wish IN
the city, for on every hand you VIII
find the need of real nero. WINE
you have been reading Of the need or
heroes has not. diminished one whit.
Butt am going to let you find out for
yourself just where hero is needed,
and ask you to apply yourself to the
cause earnestly"
need of heroes any more" Moderated
Tommy Heroes have gone with the
past"
Mamma shook her head. 81 tell you,
dear boy, heroes are need as much TO-
day as they were needed In the old
times, and they are with us IN vast
numbers Didn't you read to me just
yesterday of that brave fireman who
risked his own life TO save that of a
helpless old woman who had been left
in the attic of a tenement to perish in
the fire that was sweeping with such
fury over the entire building? Well.
was there ever greater heroism than
that?"
Tommy was obliged to admit that
the fireman of whom his mother spoke
was indeed a great hero, and then he
began to understand his mothers mean
ing when she said there were as many
heroes today as there we're in the past.
Tommy got his overcoat and hat and
set out to find a call for heroism. He
turned into side street, not selecting
any quarter of the city, but following
involuntarily wherever his feet might
turn He was too busy thinking to no
tice his surroundings, and had passed
IL i al oil
when a child's sob caught his ear.
Turning quickly. Tommy entered the
shop, for the child's voice came from
there.
Crouching close to the counter and
sobbing bitterly was little girl about
8 years of age. Upon Tommy's enter
ing she quickly rose to her feet ana
rubbed the tears from her wan face.
Her great gaunt eyes looked up into
Tommy's face inquiringiy.
whats the matter, little girl!'
asked Tommy, his heart filled with pity
at the child's apparent distress.
MY papa is sick. an won't speak TO
me any more" explained the child.
aHe got sick yesterday, an couldn't at
tend to the shop. He went to bed an
told me to watch the shop, an l didn't
know how to sell things. Two men
came in an took coats and ran OIL
without paying for them, an my papa
and i are TOO pOOT W iooC e'tiJ sAaiA'o'
Again the little girl sobbed bitterly.
"Where is your motherT asked
Tommy, thoughts Of his own dear
mother coming to his mind. mother
could always look after everything, he
knew, and wondered why this. little
girl should have to mind the shop II
She had a mother.
"My mamma died year ago, an
rye been alone with my papa" she
explained. TITS very lonely, but my
papa is very good to me and sends me
to school when he is we'll"
"Iet me see your father" said Tom
nv. his pity for the child growing
since he learned that she had not
mother,
The little girl led Tommy to dark,
unkept room In the rear of the shop,
and there he saw poor man tossing
about on a wretched bed. In the same
room were a cooking stove, cupboard
containing few coarse dishes, plain
deal table, a few chairs and another
little bed in a corner, where the child
probably slept. All spoke poverty