The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-04-25
W. c. 7. U.
Patsy, the Boy That Lost Three Years.

medal at the matron's contest last
week. To Miss Kate, who IS traln-
ing go poor little waits in kinder
garten. appears dirty, ragged. de-
formed little boy craving admission.
She objects on the ground of his
age, as her children are quite young,
under six. Patsy replies that though
he is nine by the book, yet he is real
" only six, as he lost three years by
reason Of a broken back, through
being thrown down two flights OF
stairs by his father. who was drunk
and fighting mad.
His mother took care of him when
she was not washing. but she died
worn out, as soon as he was able to
get up. All the folks he had was
jim, who took him for brother.
They stayed at Mrs. Kennett's and
worked for their board.
Eyer bet yer life | don't want no
father in mine," said Patsy. He
knocked me down them stairs n
then he went off in ship N | don't
go a cent on fathers. | want to
come to kindergarten bad, but
p'rhaps | can't come every day, yer
know, cause might haye fits. |
has EN- bad; kicks the footboard
clear off the bed, It's all along O.
my losing them three years"
This is a brief sketch of Patsy's
history, he and Miss Kate will give
the remainder.
"Now, Patsy, | must be going
home, but you shall come tomorrow
at nine and the children will be so
glad to have another little friend.
You'll dress yourself nice and clean,
won't you2''
"Well, / should smile! but these
is the best got. | got another part
to this hat, though, n another
pocket goes with these britches.
Amt clean? l cleaned myself by
the feeling"
Here's glass, dear; how do you
think you succeeded?
"Jimminy! l didn't get much of a
sweep ON that, now, did |? But
don't you fret; l got the lay of it
now, an I'll polish her off red hot
fer tomorrow.
The next morning Patsy awaited
me with a clean shining face, glow
ing with anticipation. From this
time on he was the first to arrive In
the morning and the last to leave at
night. He took the whole institu-
ton under his guardianship and de-
lighted in helping all he could. But
as the winter days slipped by. his
pale face became paler, and he was
often kept at home by suffering too
intense for a child to bear.
One night Jim came to say that
Patsy was dying and that he wanted
Miss Kate. / dressed hastily and
went to his bedside. Had years
passed over Patsy's head since | saw
him last? He seemed to have grown
old with the nights pain, but the
eyes shone with new lustre and bril-
liancy. making ready, l thought, for
the heavenly visitor.
II knowed you'd come, Miss Kate;
| knowed you'd hurry up. You's
alters hurrying up fer US boys. Mrs.
Kennett ses l must have priest,
but | don't want no priest but you.
What does priests do when folks is
sick, Miss Kate?"
''They pray"
What fer?"
"They will pray for you, dear, be-
cause they will want to talk to GOD
about the little boy who is coming
to Him."
God knows the hull thing 'thout
his telling of it. You pray, Miss
Kate"
20 thou dear loving Father in
heaven-Patsy's and mine-who Civ.
est all the little children into their
mothers arms, if one of them is
lost and wandering about the world
forlorn and alone, surely Thou wilt
take him to better home. We
send little Patsy to Thee and pray
that his heart may be filled with JOY
and thankfulness when he comes te
live in Thy house."
"Tell i'm bout them three years
what lost, soft He'll make 'lowance
jest as you did,"