The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-03-22

bear to be thought that, for / never
begged a penny in my life. I have
been seeking for work-everywhere
but cannot find any one who will
employ such good-for-nothing old
man. You see, child, after the body
has become broken by hard labor, the
face aged by time, no one wants you
about. They think an old person
can't work. But / could work and
work well if only had the chance"
I'm sure you could" said Mary,
all sympathy. II know you are an
honest man. We want such man to
work for us. Please go round to our
house and tell my mother that T.
Mary-sent you. I'll be there as soon
as / can find that poor kitten"
well, I'll go, and thousand
thanks to you, little girl" said the
old man. eff | we're more sprightly,
I'd hunt the kitten for you, bit my
legs are not very nimble any more.
If your mother has work for me, I'll
see you again, and thank you a thou
sand times more"
Then the old man, repeating the
name, Stone and the number,
eleven" went off round the corner
of the block, and Mary continued
looking for the kitten. She went on
down the alley, and just as she was
about to give up the search for sec
ond time she came full on the kitten
crouching against fence, while some
boys from across the alley threw
stones at it. 1t seemed to have lost
all it's strength, and crouched there in
it's misery, waiting for death Mary,
shaming the boys till they sneaked
off behind barn, stopped down and
stroked the kitten tenderly. Then, as
the little thing did not try to get
away, she picked 1t up in her arms
and went homeward as fast as she
could run.
When she entered the living room
she was little surprised at the sight
she beheld. There, seated In COM
Portable chair, his hat on the floor
beside him, was the poor old man she
had befriended in the alley, and talk
ing to him as though he were an old
friend was Mrs. Stone. And while she
talked she busted herself making Q
cup of tea for him.
Now, Mary had expected her moth
er to find some light employment for
the old man, but she had not expected
to see him seated-like some privi-
legged friend-in the living room, a
cup of tea being made for him by the
/ lady of the house. But her mother
was not long in explaining how it
happened that the old man had not
been sent round to the kitchen door,
where Cook would see that he was
supplied with food.
"Well, dearies," said Mrs. Stone,
II shall now introduce you to an old
friend-my fathers most faithful
servant, one who lived on our farm
when I was a little girl, like you are
now I used to call him 'Somas, not
being able to say Thomas. And |
knew him the moment | laid eyes on
him at the door a few minutes ago,
and before he had spoken three
words, said, Why, it's old Somas.'
And / had not seen him for fifteen
years, not since my marriage, when
came here to live, such long way
from the old home. And then, as you
have heard me tell, father and mother
sold the old place and went to live
with my brother, where they both
died few years ago, as you remem-
Der. But we had all lost sight of good
Thomas-and here he comes in, so
unexpectedly. And am SO glad to
have him with us. He's worth his
weight in gold. And such gardener
as you used to be, Thomas. Oh, such
strawberries as you did raise!"
"And I'll do it again, if you'll give
the chance" declared Thomas, his
age seeming to slip from him while
the hot tea he was now drinking was
warming him Up. Eyes, I'll be as
happy as any man can be if l may
work for you, Miss Lucy, excuse me,
| mean Mrs. Stone. l always think
of you as little Miss Lucy" And the
old and trusted servant smiled like a
happy child.
"Oh, you shall never leave us"
said Mrs. Stone. 'But-Mary, dear,
where did you get that poor kitten?
1t looks as though it were half dead"
"Oh, I'd most forgotten my poor
little waif." said Mary, putting the
kitten down on the floor. Its a lit
tie orphan and have adopted it," she
said "And while you are fixing up
dear old Somas I'll take kitty to the
pantry and feed her. We've increased
the household by two new members
mammal"
Eyes, and my little daughter is to
be thanked for both man and kitten,
for it's her good heart that found
them both. Washington Star.