The St. Mary banner., 1910-06-04

mas become broken by nard labor, the
| face aged by time, no one wants yor
| 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. Il know you are ar
honest man. We want such a man tC
work for us. Please go round to oul
house and tell my mother that I
Mary-sent you. I'll be there as soon
as l can find that poor kitten"
well. I'll go, and thousand
thanks to you, little girl" said the
old man. "If | were more sprightly,
I'd hunt the kitten for you, but 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 its 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 it 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 a COM
Portable chair, his hat on the floor
beside him. was the poor old man she
had befriended in the alley, AMI talk
ing to him as though he were an old
friend was Mrs. Stone. And while she
talked she busted herself making a
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,
cup of tea being made for him by the
lady of the house. But her mother
was not long in explaining how it
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 l was little girl, like you are
now. I used to call him 'Somas,' not
being able to say Thomas And I
knew him the moment I laid eyes on
him at the door a few minutes ago,
and before he had spoken three
words, I said, Why, it's old Somas.'
And l had not seen him for fifteen
years, not since my marriage, when I
came here to live, such a long way
from the old home. And then, as you
lave heard me tell, father and mother
sold the old place and went to live
with my brother, where they both /!
lied few years ago, as you remem-
,er. But we had all lost sight of good |
Thomas-and here he comes in, so |
And I am so glad to
nave him with us. He's worth his |
weight in gold. And such a gardener
Is you used to be, Thomas. Oh, such |
strawberries as you did raise!"
'And I'll do it again, if you'll give
he chance" declared Thomas, his
lge seeming to slip from him while
he hot tea he was now drinking was
warming him up. eyes, I'll be as
lappy as any man can be if 1 may
work. for you, Miss Lucy, excuse me,
mean Mrs. Stone. I always think
+ you as little Miss Lucy" And the
Id and trusted servant smiled like
appy child.
ooh, you shall never leave u.s."
aid Mrs. Stone. "But-Mary, dear,
there did you get that poor kitten?
t looks as though it were half dead"
ooh, I'd most forgotten my poor
title waif," said Mary, putting the
itten down on the floor. ''It's lit
e orphan and I have adopted it," she
aid. And while you are fixing up
ear old Somas I'll take kitty to the
antry and feed her We've increased
le household by two new members
"Yes, and my little daughter is to
E thanked for both man and kitten,
u it's her good heart that found
lem both. ."-Washington Star.
Happy.