The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-04-13

hiSo ouuCu IhCi oOu5 W ludI VI Iuo
bees, saying over and over in dron-
ing way: "Run-away-llttle
Don't-ever-come-back-to TO ole -
Mammy-Jane."
A whirlwind came flying round the
corner of the house and famed the
slumbering fire. A little red flame
crept out on the dry bit of stick, soon
reaching the end farthest from the
bed OF Goals. 1t lifted its hot tongue
and tasted the frayed hem of the fad
ed calico frock, which lay so tempting
ly near The whirlwind gave 1t an
other little tanning; then disappeared
across the unkept yard, rushing wild
ly down hillside to try its strength
on the tender saplings which grew be-
side a creek.
i In the meanwhile the little sleeper
beside the fire forgot to wake and stir
the soap.
Away, away toward the Great Won
drous city ran the little black girl.
Away, away from the soap pot; away,
away from old Nanny Janet All, how
beautiful the world was! She entered
the city, butt was not so delightful,
so wondrous, as she had dreamed 1t
would be. There were crowds Of hur-
rying people, and they disdained to
notice her. She was very tired, but
nowhere could she find place to rest.
She cried out to several people who
crowded and iostled her, but did not
heed her. She fell to the hard pave
ment, for terrible pain was cutting
through her foot and ankle And, oh,
how the sun burned her flesh And
how the fumes from somewhere
smothered her! All, she would return
to Nanny Jane-good Nanny Jane.
Yes, she was sorry now that she had
fled from her own old home, so poor
and simple, but home for all that,
and one where a child could rest when
tired and sick. If she might go again
to her little bed in Nanny James
funny old room, where the brass can
dlesticks cleaned on the mantelpiece
"a gift to Nanny Jane from some
great lady many, many years ago!
And how she longed to set eyes once
more on the strip of rag carpet--so
warm to her feet in winter-that
stretched in front of her little bed.
And the four-patch quilt that spread
her bed so beautifully! oh, would she
30 Thin
again? But the pain in her foot and
ankle was so terrible that she forgot
Nanny Jane, even forgot that she had
run away from the place where she
had spent the ten years of her poor
life. Then she began to sob, to sob
as she had done on day when they
led her to black box to look for the
last time on the face Of her mother.
Inside that black box the one dearest
to her on earth had been shut from
sight, and she had then gone to
Nanny Jane. And on Nanny James
warm bosom she had wept out the
grief of a broken little heart And
now she wept in that same way, only
this time it came from agony of pain
instead Of agony of grief.
But of a sudden something cool and
gentle stroked her cheek. She OPEN
ed her eyes. To her wonder she look
ed into the loving face of old Nanny
Jane. And, strangest of ALL she was
on her own little bed. But what were
the strangers doing in the room?
Why, there were the white doctor and
Mrs. Jones, the landlady of the hotel,
where Nanny Jane worked for their
living. And then she saw that one OF
her feet was all wrapped in white
bandages, and both Nanny James
hands and arms were bandaged the
same way. 1t was one of Nanny
James bandaged hands that was strok-
ing her face. "Doan cry, honey sugar
lump" said old Nanny Jane. you'll
be peart again in few days, chile.
You done fallen asleep by the soap
pot an the fire done cotch yer dress.
An old nanny jes seen you in time,
and run an smothered out the flame
fore it cotch you above the knees. So,
go to sleep, III chile, an mammy'll
sing you song. Go to sleep, honey
chile"
The black child smiled, and as the
white doctor and the landlady, seeing
that she was all right again and in
safe hands. left the room, she whis-
pered: "Oh, Nanny Jane, lubs you,
| do, an | am glad it was jes the fire
an not the Great City dat got me.
wanted to run away fromyou Nanny
Jane. But now / know dat lubs you
as use to lub my own nanny. You
is my grand-mamy, an I'll stay with
you forevah an forevah, an I'll do all
youah work, Nanny Jane, as soon as
| get well, for you burned youah pore
hans savin' me from dat fire."
Tears streamed down old Nanny
James face as she bent over the child.
"You is all ole nanny has got, honey
chile. an I'm thankin' the good Lord
he sent me to cotch you out'n the fire
in time. Wen both be well soon,
honey, and we'll be happy, too"
Eyes, Nanny. an we'll have some
Cos