Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-08-01


waited until he was so hungry he
could wait no longer he invaded the
kitchen to find a cooked supper baking
on the back of the stove, while Mar
garet with red eyes nursed a pair of
demoralized white kittens.
"Is supper ready?" he asked.
1T has been for an hour" answered
Margaret.
"Why didn't you call us?"
That "us' had too much comrade-
ship in it. 1t irritated Margaret.
II supposed it would take you even
longer than that to fix things decent
again. AS for my turkey and my poor
little kittens they don't matter"
II am mighty sorry about them, Mar
garet. you know that. Billy is very
bright, and be will soon learn
"Soon learn" cried Margaret. yves
ley Sinton, you don't mean to say that
you think Of keeping that creature
here for some time?"
mo; I think of keeping a decent,
well behaved little boy
Margaret set the supper on the table.
Seeing the old red cloth, Wesley stared
in amazement. Then he understood.
Billy capered around in delight.
"Ain't that pretty?" he exulted. IT
wish Jimmy and Belle could see. We,
why, we list eat out of our hands or off
a old drygoods box, and when we fix
up a lot we have newspaper. We amt
ever had a nice red cloth like this"
Wesley looked straight at Margaret,
so intently that she turned away, her
face flushing. lie stacked the diction-
airy and the geography of the world
on a chair and lifted Billy beside him.
He heaped a plate generously, cut the
food, put a fork into Billy's little fist
and made him eat slowly and properly.
Billy did his best. Occasionally greed
overcame him, and he used his left
hand to pop a bite into bis mouth with
his fingers. These lapses Wesley pa
tiently overlooked and went on with
his general instructions. Luckily Billy
did not spill anything on his clothing
or the cloth. After supper Wesley took
him to the barn until he finished the
night work. Then he went and sat by
Margaret on the front porch. Billy ap-
propriated the hammock and swung by
pulling a rope tied around a tree. The
very energy with which he went at
the work of swinging himself appealed
to Wesley.
Mercy, but he's an active little
body!' he said. There isn't a lazy
bone in him. See how he works to DAY
for his fun -"
"There goes his foot through it,"
cried Margaret. wesley. he shall not
ruin my hammock
"Of course he shan't!' said Wesley,
swat, Billy; let me show you"
Thereupon he explained to Billy that
ladies wearing beautiful white dresses
sat in hammocks. so little boys must
not put their dusty feet in them. They
must just sit in them and let their feet
hang down. Billy Immediately sat and
allowed his feet to swing.
"Margaret,' said Sinton after a long
silence on the porch, '.isn't it true that
il Billy had been a half starved sore
cat, dog or animal of any sort that you
would have pitied and helped care for
it and been glad to see me get any
pleasure out Of it I could"
EYES," said Margaret coldly.
"But because I brought a child with
an immortal soul there is no welcome"
"That isn't a child. It's an ANIMAL"
"1ou just said you would have well
coined an animal"
"Not a wild one. I meant a tame
beast"
BILLY is not a beast,'' said Wesley
holly. HE is a very dear little boy.
Margaret. you've always done the
church going ana Bible reading for TIL.
family. How do youreconcile that sui.
fer little children to come unto me-
with the way you are treating Billy?"
Margaret arose. 81 haven't treated
that child. l have only let him alone,
l a barely hold myself. BE needs
the hide tanned about off him."
IF you'd cared to look at his body
you'd know that you couldn't find a
place to strike without cutting into a
raw spot" said Sinton. Besides, Billy
has not done a thing for which a child
should be punished. He is only full of
life, no training and with a boys love
Of mischief. He is Just a bully little