The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-01

 sky He had been christened John Brandish, but of course he was Johnnie the members of his mmedi- ate family just he was "Jack" to the "gang"-the moderately dsreputable collection of street boys whom called his friends-and to
 He was a solemn little creature in the house. and among the members of the company; but the street, from the weight of his professional dignity. he was veritabe little imp of mischief In every lads being there are two boys-the whooping yelling goa swimming. hang behind, hthim-agaln small scala wag is one, and the other is ambitious when-rn- aTnan dreamer of dreams motherloving, sensitive, dumb Jack did geton well with his tall sister, who years older than himself of that large body of people who would gladly welcome second Herod the face of the earth. For me, Jack had sort of frisking, laundering, puppy-dog affection Secretly sewed up many a small jacket shirt before his mother saw them, and in return he would pat my shoulder and synpathize with my own great trouble Say I'm awful sorry your mother won't-but I'd think you'd like snort skirts bettern draggy tailed dresses. When you got lem you wouldn't be any good any more, but just like Blanche, full of airs"
 Jack in his character street gamin mortified his mother cruelty. On these occasions did not know which of the two to be sorriest for.
 Once, when were all our way to rehearsal we turned find ourselves in the heart of crowd of raganufins yelling "Cear the way" Clear the way" Tn the middle of the excited throng Jack bareheaaed in shirt sleeves with precipitation pouring down pale little face. straning to the harness of reekng garbage cart-the owner of which ran by his side holding Jacks coat and hat and the penny demanded for the svFeet-scented privilege
 Mrs Brandfsh came to a full stop, quvering mighty Jelly quaking it's fall, and in voice choked with passion commanded him to leave the gutter and his unspeakabe occupation and wait her coming 1t home.
 But his eyes were big and troubled, and he turned homeward without backward look
 But behind us, as we resumed our walk we had left a sudden tornado of discord. As we had pro
 
 rnen aggravated by the dignity of her mind provoked the sarcasm of one of the gang" who pointed after her yelling
 Say! Get onto the haystack! Amt she the big gest thing on ice?"
 me words were scarcely uttered when little Jack with the fury of a young benst had dashed his puny fists into the offenders face, and in return he was beaten and battered almost of shape But before he seriously injured the other boys intervened. Hey BiH hold on there She's his old woman- that's Jacks mudder, Let up say! He's all right she's going to lick him herself for hauling Paddy's cart"
 had two peculIarities of speech. He invariably added syllable to the word mother, making it "nothcrer', and instead saying q never for get" heeEer and always exclaimed "Oh, shall remember the time" Now as his mother stopped looking down him with the curled lip of contempt, expressive of her loathing for fighting he put out an unsteady hand touch skirt and stamnered in Gepreeating way; ''N1otherer-now you see mother er@tv But she pulled her skirt away. "No, sr,"
 
 u-seairs"
 Her meaning unmistakabIe and throttled impulse to intercede-but the excftabe Irish girl broke out with, Sure, num- you'd never be cruel to strike the poor bruised body of him that's only Been fshting boys big enough to ate him becaze they insul5ed you, mum, account your size". could. not see that the implacable bulk of IIrs. Brandish affected, but pointed to the girl with face red with anger, "Aw-what do you want to ten her that for?" he snapped eff mother Vants to lick me-let her belong to her, don't IT' And he IiIn2ed painfully after her up the stairs.
 TS red 6t their door minute, mrs V>-andish her gloves, bonnet and wrap, while -ce watched her with biz, anxious eyes, his little thin legs trembling from their upward climb She did not speak for minute, and when she did, it only fo Come here, Johnniew Then she took his hand and led him, still in silence, to the wash basin where she bathed lis cut head and bruised face In my roo-I heard several touches" but nothing indicating thrasting-for Jack apt to be fairly noisy these heart-toh heart interviews with his mother.