Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-19
il n.
a JOY OF a sn4ALL BOY.

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th or buried every one he loved and
tlived all his old friends. A negro
imam kept house for him-one of
pse "mammies" Of the south be had
ought with him soon after the civil
when he had come north to live.
e had nursed his children, and after
ey had gone OF to make homes for
emselves and his wife had died she
all there was left Of those who
d made up his household.
On the morning Of the seventeen an
Versary of his birth Brown was sit
g before fre reading his morning
per when the postman brought a
tier
Cora" he called to his housekeeper,
DO was washing the breakfast dishes.
ere's an avalanche coming down
u.s."
'Wha' de matter, Mars BrownY'
This letter says that some one-I
MT make out who-has the audacity
send me a child of Eve to take care
an orphan. What right has any
e to infilct such thing on meY'
Cant help yo'r'
Help me? That isn't 1t. It's the
hposition."
Air they sendin' the baby by ex-
less"
mo; in care OF a train conductor.
N requested to meet It shall do
such thing"
''What'n the little tot dor
''Do? Go to an orphan asylum. of
Purse. shall pay no attention to 1t
hatever"
But when the clock struck 10 John
rown arose, took his hat and went
t, shutting the door after him some
hat testify. In an hour he returned,
aiding a small boy in blouse and
hickerbOckers.
as this my new homer asked the
bid, looking about him with eyes in
eating a profound interest. 'Got a
ay room upstairs, with lots O. toys
nd things? Hello, there's a dorg!
bn't he a big fellow7 He and are
pin to be mighty good friends, you
Ct What's your name, Mr.. Dogf
" names Jim" And he put his arms
round the brute's neck. which wagged
s tail In response to the hug.
John Brown went into the kitchen,
here he found Cora.
This is the most rascally imposition
ever met WITH" he said. '"The little
Rscal Is making himself at home Just
3 II he belonged here. And yet I'm
My going to keep him overnight"
For Lord sakes! What yo' goin' to
o with him, Mars BrownY'
Turn him over to the asylum folks I"
The dialogue was interrupted by the
Joy, who came in with the dog.
i've told him my name" said Jim,
but he can't tell me his. What is itT''
Hes Buck" said Cora.
"BuckI. Buck. What a funny manner
Then, seeing that he was in a kitchen.
be added, "Golly, I'm hungryT"
'Yo' sit down there by that table, !"
aid Cora, land I'll get yo' a piece O.
bread and butter. We don't hab lunch
To- more'n an hour yet"
The boy did as he was commanded,
ind when handed a big piece Of bread
md butter covered with sugar he d.
Fided it with Buck. who watched ear
hestly for alternate mouthfuls. Dur
ng the refreshments Jim asked Cora
many questions about his new home
and received a number Of kind words
from her. When he had finished bis
bread and butter he rushed into the
adjoining room like a whirlwind and,
Ending Mr.. Brown sitting before the
fire. threw himself upon him like an
avalanche, clasping his hands behind
the old mans neck.
In the afternoon Brown went out to
an orphan asylum and made arrange
|ments for Jim to be transferred the
next day. He returned to his home in
time for dinner. and for the first time
I'm years a human being sat opposite
him at table. Jim chatted, asked all
manner Of questions. made comments,
and Brown found himself eating q bet
ter dinner than usual. Then the two
went into the sitting room. and Jim
forced his host, Willy nilly, to tell him
stories till Cora had finished her even
ing work, when she came in to put
him to bed. Giving Brown a good
hug, he threw himself into her arms,
and she carried him upstairs. When
she came down she handed Brown q
piece Of paper she had found pinned
to the chld's waist under his blouse.
Brown read it and. looking mp, ex-
claimed:
my gracious, the boy Is my grand
son! He's Edgar's. who left me ten
years ago. These directions were writ.
ten by the mother Just before her
Death a month ago"
When Brown went up to bed, there
In crib that his children had slept
In years agone lay Jim In the sweet
sleep Of childhood. The old man
looked at him, bent over him and
kissed him. Then he went to bed. but
not to sleep. He lay awake tin mid.
night when the bedclothes were raised
and tiny figure got in beside him
A pair Of little arms enclrcled him