Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-16

fewer. "Oh, it's very, very hard to be |
without home and-without-w with
out Another" The last word was
spoken with a sob, and from beneath |
the old cape came a thin little hand
to dash the tears from her eyes.
Then she wandered on and on, paus |
ing occasionally to look through an
open window or to catch a fieetin2
glimpse through some door which
might be opened for moment And
little 10-year-old child that she was,
she felt happy to see others enjoying
the comforts of life, even though she
was suffering the pangs of want.
At last worn out from fatigue and
hunger, she turned into an alley that
ran in the rear of some elegant homes.
There she found shelter from the
fierce wind by crouching against the
southern side Of a barn. Seeing no one
about, she felt free to rest there and
gain strength to pursue her way to-
ward the country, place she knew
only from hearsay. "If I can reach the
country and ask some good farmer to
take me in and let me work for my
board" she said to herself. 81 am sure
will not be turned away. Mamma al
ways said the country people had
hearts, but that the city people were
cold and selfish. And mamma should
have known. for she had come from
the country
Then, so weary and cold, she fell
into deep sleep, from which she did
not awake until evening. And when at
last she stirred her limbs she felt
numb and cramped. Then she opened
her eyes to see the snow falling fast.
The day was almost gone and in the
windows of the homes all about her
she could see lights cleaning. And
over her was thick white spread,
ooh. I've slept too long" she cried.
half rising. cts almost night and I
should have been in the country be-
fore this. Now shall have to wait till
tomorrow before going to the place
where people with hearts live. And as
this spot is the warmest place I can
find in which to sleep ! might as
we'll remain here. And what nice
white cover l have. too The snow
isn't so cold after it has covered one
like this. feel very comfortable. Only,
can't move my feet very we'll they
seem SO heavy, just like great iron
weights"
Then, Internationally, her eyes
closed and again she was fast asleep
A few minutes later she was awak-
ened by a rough hand shaking her
Here, kid, what you dom sleeping
here in the snow? Be you little beg
gar? Come, git out O. here. Do you
mind? Git move on yourself. Come,
lift out O. this. Yer can't sleep on our
premises"
The child looked up, rubbed her
eyes and tried to separate the rough
man from the pleasant dream of a
warm home and food she had been so
rudely called from. Then she sat up
in response to the mans order and
asked in a frightened voice, "Must |
really leave this place, sir? have no
home-I must sleep somewhere to-
night. Tomorrow I will go to the
country where the people have hearts.
But tonight I shall have to stay in the
city somewhere, and this is the best
place I have found. I'll do no harm
here, sir"
But, kid, you'll freeze to DEATH
said the man. Come, git up out'n
that snow. Why, you can't git up
alone, can yer?' And the man took
hold of the child and assisted her to
rise. Say, yer little mite of girl,
amt yer? Amt yer got no folks-no
pap an mother?"
The child shook her head. "My
father died when was two years old,
Ny mother-died-only two days ago
She was taken to the city hospital n
month ago with a fever. I never saw
her again until two days ago. Then
she-was-dead" Sobs shook the
child's form as she told her sad story
so briefly, and she buried her face in
the ends of the old cape to stife her
weeping. The rough man stood watch
ing her for amoment, then his grimy
hand went to his eyes and he dashed
something from his lashes.
Say, little un, jest you wait here i
minute I'll go to the house an tell
my mistress bout you. You see, I'm
the groom what attends to the horses
what belongs to the lady what owns
this stable and that big house to the
front of the grounds. I have mas
ter, too, but at present he's out OF the
city on business, so I have to go to
my mistress about everything while
the master is away"
'Oh, no, don't go 10 ner, lot II she
lives in that fine mansion she'll be
cruel and heartless. --Ae has nevni
been cold and hungry, and can't know
how it feels. She'll tell you to drive
me away
THAT shows you don't know my
: mistress, little girl said the man. ~
you're never drove away till she does
it-well, you'll stay about this place
as long as you want to-providin' yot
have no other home"
ooh, SIR sobbed the child, "while
mamma was alive she worked in fac
tory for Sc week. With that she rent
ed a little room from an old woman
who had two rooms in a tenemen
house, and had enough left to buy fooC
; and clothes. But when she was taker
so i'll all our food gave out and the olf
woman told her she must go to TIL
hospital where they doctor people
: free. So mamma was taken to tn
l hospital and the old woman that WI
rented the room from told her | nigh