The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-10


 pass on and. never spent thought on that 1t looked sad and hungry.
 When the day was gone, the child had her nosegays still, withered and useless now; and of all the money wasted on that wild day by that wild multitude. only few pennies had been thrown to her.
 At last when they were quite penniless they came upon guady van in which travelled the famous and artistocratic. Mrs. Jarleys s3aceompanied by other vans that held such distinguished persons as bis Majesty. King George the Third. Mary, Queen of Scots. MT. Pitt. and Mir. Grimaldi, the celebrated clown, not to mention such lesser but still noted indi- viduals as MT. Jasper Packlemerton of atrocious memory who courted, married and destroyed II wives in fatal succession, Wild Boy of the Wood and the old lady who died from over dancing at the sprightly age of 1S9.
 Mrs. Jareys great companions were in wax. They, comprised that stupendous collection known to the British Isles as Mrs. Jarleys Wax Works" which, as she remarked often in chatty moods, Realized to the utmost the expectation held out in the hand bills and formed an effect Of imposing briliancy hitherto 1n- rivaled in the kingdom"
 Mrs. Jarley's association with great characters had not undermined her native kindliness. She fell in love with Nell, and installed her as the lecturer, invess- tI,f 1t ing her to desorfbe the surprising effigies, beginnging with the unfortunate Maid of Honor of Queen Elizabeth's time who "died from pricking her finger in conse- quence of working upon Sunday. ob- serve the blood which is trickling from the finger: also the gold eyed needle of the period.'
 Mrs. Jarley's generosity, though wholly honest, was not devoid of that sound business sense which guarantees the in- tegrity of the social system. She knew that the beauty of Little Nell, with her gentle and innocent bearing, would have no small effect, and her judgment was justified on the first day, when not only were all the older folk interested in the young lecturer, but some score of little boys left inclosures of apples and nuts. directed in small text at the wax work door.
 II seemed to Nell that they had come to rest at last; and her prayers each night were prayers of gratitude and joy. Even the old man, vacant and feeble though he was, lost his dread of pur- suit and seemed happy and at peace. But one night she awoke and saw him creeping to her side and stealing little hoard of pennies that she had saved from the gifts of visitors. She watched him hurry away. and next morning she saw that he looked haggard and white and crazed as he had looked so often in the old house.
 He could not keep his secret now. He l begged her for more; and when he found she had none. he raved, and she learned of the madness for gambling that pos sessed him still.
 She was not afraid of him. She could not quite connect her dear old grand father with the skullSing creature that crept in to steal. When he was asleep, she went softly to his room and saw him, no passion in the face, no avarice, no wild desire, her dear old companion, her harmless fellow-traveler. She stoop- ed to kiss him, and thought: "They would indeed part us if they found us out, and shut him up." In her fear for him, it came to her that if he would rob her, he would rob their benefac tress: and she knew that they muststake to the roads again.
 The old man, still as helpless and obe- dient as a child save when his mania controlled him. went where she led him. Once more they turned their backs on shelter and friends.
 He never saw that little Nell was wan that the great eyes was far too bright, and that the slight figure that supported him so watchfully, was grow Ing very weak. He knew only that his