Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-01-05
5Af=]IE=FA
Ann, Fathers Helper
(copyrisht. 1911. By Associated Literary PrsssJ
By JANE OSBORNE

oclafed LiterarY Fress-l
a mothers place to the small boy
the child's gleeful ignorance OF the
whole situation Mentally Ann
dubbed the mother heartless. a brute
Then. you do want me sometimes.
don't your" she said finally. Il
know could help you make the boy
happy"
Before she went George made ar
rangements for her TO come every
morning at 10 to take the cherub
Patsy for two hours. I'D rather not
have the boy with other children"
he said honestly But II you'll just
keep him here at the house-while 1
try to write q bit-it would help me
ever so much I've got a very good
Irish woman to keep the house-but
she doesn't understand much about
the little chap. I'm afraid
You're ever so good" said Ann
And III do my best What's the
boys manner"
Archibald" lied George content
eddy.
George made his plans carefully
He could rely upon Patsy; the child's
vocabulary included only a few words
and he was totally incapable Of carry
| ing on any kind OF conversation Mrs
Msgoon was a little more difbcult;
but after George had explained that
be had arranged to have Patsy absorb
little education and refinement
every morning and offered to rent
the boy for a dollar a week. that
valuable child's grandmother gave In
and promised to say never a word to
nobody" She consoled herself with
the assurance that, though doubtless
out of his mind. Mr. Walton was
nevertheless gentle and harmless
AS for gossiping neighbors. George
did not have any as yet. and be vowed
that he would continue not TO have
any.
One morning a couple Of months
later Ann burst suddenly into Georges
study.
] -Oh. Mr. waltoni" she cried. do
come her Little Archibald has Just
learned a word 1--WE been trying TO
teach It to him for ever so long but
you know he's little backward about
talking"
Thank goodness be is muttered
George to himself as he followed the
girl to the living room. where Patsy
sat playing with his tin soldiers. She
got down beside him on the floor.
Archibald. dear" she said. SAY
the word Miss Anne taught you
There's a good boy
Archibald Walton. alias Patsy
Leary. looked up His blue eyes were
guileless as be lisped his first distinct
word:
-Divil at BIT" he said with convic,
ton.
Ann looked at George with fright
ened eyes. The corners OF his mouth
were twitchIng. but he said soberly
1T must have been hard to teach
him that"
"Oh." cried Ann. standing by him
II didn't" There we're tears 10 heI
voice Il taught him to say daddy
and thought you'd be so pleased.
"Oh. say" he said uncomfortabl
Ann, already miserable. felt thai
something was wrong
See here. Miss STAGE" he said
after a moments hesitation; things
, are in a mess. and ! don't see how
ever can get ont Of It But this non
sense has gone on long enough ~
, see. when I first saw you. ] knee
, wanted you
} Just then a stalwardt young maj
with freckles and yellow hair ant
| with murder in his clear blue eyes
stalked into the room from the direc
, ton of the kitchen In his wake wa
the frightened Mrs Magoon
/ whats this ! hear. Mr. Walton
I about me son Patsy?~ he demanded
= Ann turned pale: George turne'
E red; Mrs Magoon began to wiring he
! hands and Patsy threw himself raj
turously on the speaker
! Daddy, Daddy" he screamed
0 And hearing himself thus addresse
for the first time. Patsy's father. gait
n ering the child In his arms decide
that perhaps after ell the treatmen
q he had been daily subjected to hadn
!. harmed him. and retreated with tn
i historical Mrs Magoon to tn
A kitchen.
' The figs up Arm said Georg
Walton "YoU see what did
= rented that youngster so that I'd hav
!, an excuse to keep you near me FroI
the first wanted you
\ AIMS cheeks were pink again
= Perhaps" she said you coul