The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1912-01-12

obu, puSsiH6 turouSu Tue ydEu. GeBdIueu
the street. Stopping at restaurant
ON wheels, bought cheap breakfast
The proprietor looked surprised when
handed him my I've dollar bill and
scrutinized 1t carefully. but he gave me
my change, and went out to find some
way Of making living
Most little boys thrown upon the
world to take care Of themselves fall
into the business of selling papers.
Seeing number of these gamins on
the street. asked one OF them the
process by which he worked. and It
occurred to me to invest my capital in
that way. Going to newspaper office.
bought papers. sold them and In the
evening found myself q little better
Off pecuniarily than ] had been In the
morning.
l will not dwell on this period that
was far more miserable than my life
at home. ! spent two years at 1t with
out finding myself In the end any bet
ter OF than when l began. The boys
with whom ! associated we're repel-
lent to me. There was q difference
between them and me. IL not in educa.
tion. at least In constitution. Poor
children, they were not only forced to
live without refinement, but had been
born Of unrefined parents. / learned
afterward that ! was made of too fine
material to thrive in such an atmos-
phere. had no heart for either my
associates or my work. l had no 6x-
ed home. ] lacked proper food and
clothing. In winter especially suf-
fered from the cold.
One day while was selling papers
l caught sight Of my father passing
In street car. ran after the car,
but had not the strength to catch it.
After l had failed l remembered that
1t would have been no use to catch
one who had Intentionally deserted
me.
Being now fourteen years old,
began to read the papers / sold.
lived In a newsboys' home, and when
l went there at night. instead of as
sociating with the other boys, read.
One night what was my establishment
to see my own name in a personal. 1t
had been inserted by my father. Ill
should see the notice l was to address
a certain number at the newspaper
Office. A faint hope that my father
had not intended after all to desert
me elated me.
The next morning l went to the Of
fee Of the paper that had contained
the advertisement. and a clerk put my
address in the box intended for re-
plies to the advertisement. That even
ing my father came to see me. He
seemed very much pleased at finding
me. When I asked him why he had
not come back to me after leaving
me he made no reply, but told me to
come with him. Calling carriage, he
took me to the residential portion of
the city. stopping at handsome dwell
ing. 1t stood in a yard, and through
that yard l had gone back to the
stable where had slept the first night
after having been deserted. l told my
father this, and he replied:
II left you near this place on pur-
pose"
We went up the steps Of the house
and my father rang the bell. We were
admitted and were ushered into hand
somely furnished room such as l had
never seen before. An old gentleman
came In and looked inquiringly at my
father
IL have found him." said the latter.
The old gentleman looked at me.
Eyes. this is he." said my father. 81
AN prove his identify"
you need not do that" said the old
gentleman. He is the image of his
MOTHER"
AS he spoke he took me by the hand
md fancied l detected tremor In
lis voice. Then, turning to my father.
,e said: leave him here. Come and
lee me tomorrow" My father turned
md without q word to me left US.
Then the old gentleman put his arms
lround me and drew me down beside
Inn on sofa.
MY boy" he said. II must tell you
he meaning Of this. That man is not |
our father. He was formerly one of
ny servants. When your real mother
married. your real father l was very |
ngry with her and would have moth |
ng to do with her. Your father soon
lied and your. mother, was starving.
orced her. as condition to taking her
ome. to give up you. her child. and
aid this man and his wife to take you
nd bring you up as their own. He be-
anne excessive in his demands and |
roke with him. He brought you to
his house and left you before the door.
ut said nothing to ME or to you as to
our being SO near your real home. A
ew months ago fell III and believed
was about to die. This made a great
hange in me. I sent for you. but you
'ere not to be found. gave your re-
uted father money with which to
rosecute . search for you. and you
re returned to me through an adver-
sement."
He pressed the electric button and a
'oman came In, to whom he gave In
tructions to furnish me with a bath
nd put me to bed. l went with her
pstairs and was put In beautiful
Dom and through an open door en-