Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-01-08

All the color was gone from her cheeks
now aud her face was white and pite-
aus Ibid you come al the way from
Mexico To lind such a welcome MS
this: How thankful | am that your
father did not know
But what IL IL. grnndmotherf You
must tell me everything. You and
are all there is left. and you must let
me help you What is 1t about Maple
wOod:"
ut was sold long ago Your Uncle
Richard owed money and let the dear
old place 90. II took everything.
Poor Richard.'
The boys own face had grown color
less now; terrible suspicion was In
his mind.
what place is this:' he asked fear
fully.
THE poorhouse. Oh. Jacky. Jacky"
But with that heartbroken cry in
his ears the boy forgot everything else
all his hopes and expectations and
longings.
"Never mind. grandmother" he said
lovingly. "You have me. and am
almost a man. will soon make an.
other home for you"
poor J " boy. You are young yet
and do noi know how hard the world
is. And II is more for you than my
self care"
II am seventeen" he answered stur-
Oily as he drew his strong young fig-
urc TO its full height. Il went with
father TO his work In the mountains
every day. and he said WAS the
strongest boy OF my age he ever saw.
shall soon make nice home for
you"
Never mind It's being nice, Jacky.
4 hovel or woodshed-anything TO get
away from here. And 1t will not cost
so much to live. You have no idea
how little we can get along with-we
two" Her eyes were shining now.
and the color was coming back into
her cheeks. 81 was afraid that
should have to live here always"
When the rest OF the women began
TO file In from the kitchen the two
were standing by the window. talking
earnestly.
John picked up his hat.
"I'll come and see you as often as
can. grandmother" he said as he
moved toward the door. land II will
not be long before have home for
you"
As he went down the lane he could
not help contrasting his prospects with
those OF the boy who had passed there
n short half hour before.
He thought Of the long talks that he
and his father had had about his fu-
ture--the studies and college life and
the work to be done afterward.
Neither Of them had ever dreamed
Of the possibility Of his relatives being
unable to provide Tor him. And here
he was penniless and his supposed
wealthy grandmother In the Ooorhouse.
lie almost felt glad that his father
was dead and could not know.
At the head Of the lane he paused
and glanced back ~ the rambling farm
house and It's ouibuildings.
Poor grandmother" he said aloud.
81 must not keep her waiting very
long"
Although II was still March. the sun
was hot and the snow nearly gone.
Here and there In the fields he could
see farmers beginning their spring
wo,k-picking up stones and mendine
the walls aud fences
After awhile he went across To one
OF the groups and asked for work
Rni he was roo late The farmer had
already hired all the help he wanted.
A little farther on he tried again. At
last he found man who said he was
lust the sort 81 boy he had been look
ing for
one day In the latter part nf April Q
farm wagon drove M 10 the poor
house. and hoy sprang tightly 10 the
ground
sitting ON the stone wall was the
same man he had met before. SLOUGH
ing across the barnyard we're several
~ the dilatory hands
"rva come for Mrs. Carter" said the
boy respectfully
The man took straw from his
mouth
We'll. don't mind" he answered
gruiIly "D'ye think you can support
herr"
Yes"
where ye goin'T''
I'm working on the Taylor farm.
and we're going 10 have the little
house In the lower pasture"
THAR contemptuously. why. no.
body's lived In II for years, 'Taint
NJ to live in
"I've fixed up couple OF rooms so
they'll do very WE'LL replied the boy
quietly. "and Mr. Taylor says he will
have II repaired before another winter.
He isn't going 80 charge us any ~nt
until he has IL fixed"
"Shouldn't think he would. What
does he pay youf"
Three dollars week and lets me
have big garden where raise oil
the vegetables want"
"H'm, Well. that's pretty fair wages
for a boy. n we're clost guess We
can rub along An ! calc'late the old
lady will be mighty glad 10 git away"