The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-25
THE EVENING STORY
Little Lady BountifuI.
(By Temple Bailey.)

II might as we'll be warm once
he murmured, and settled back in his
uncomfortable chair to pass another
day in pain and loneliness.
1t is bad enough to be sick even in
| the midst of luxury, but to be sick
| and poor, that is enough to make G
man groan and writhe. Tom Stevens
alone in the big city, too proud to
| write back home and tell of his HARD
| luck, looked at the gray skies and
the gray streets and wished he were
dead.
And just then he heard the rustic
of paper, and, looking toward the
door, he saw that note had been
slipped under it.
Painfully he crossed the room, and
painfully he returned to his big chair.
Then he opened the sheet of paper.
Across the top was painted a wreath
of tiny rosebuds, and underneath was
the verse:
There is ever song somewhere, my
dear,
Through the skies above be dark and
drear;
There is ever a song that our hearts
shall hear,
There is ever song somewhere. my
dear,
There is ever a song somewhere.
AS he read Tom felt as if the sun
were shining and the birds singing
on a June day. Who had thought of
him in his loneliness? Why, it was
than fire and warmth.
Its girls handwriting" he said
to himself. He felt as if he wanted
to get right up and hunt for her. but
when he tried to move he sank back
with groan, and the little neighbor
hood doctor, coming in, cautioned
him.
The next morning the janitor's
wifi 70 hT-nI n h &c
1t was sloppy and badly cooked and
Tom turned from it with a sigh. So
the janitor's wife carried the tray, but
left a crack in the door
And it was through this crack, an
hour later, was slipped a tiny tray.
On it was a steaming cup of coffee,
two slices of hot toast, and soft
boiled egg.
Tom, making for the door, threw
it wide open and faced an empty hall
way. He dragged himself to the apart
ment across the way and knocked. The
janitor. passing through the hall, ask
ed curiously. did you want any help,
who lives in there?" Tom de-
manded.
'.An old man and his wife, said
the .janitor. And he works and she
works."
Tom sighed and went back to find
on the tray little note
Little Tommy Tucker sings for his
what shall he sing for, white bread
and BUTTER
Tom ate, the toast and the egg
drank the coffee and laid the note
carefully away in his bill book with
the one which had come the day be-
fore.
Just wait till I'm WE'LL" he muir
INJURED.
He resolved that he would watch
the door. and lie in wait.
"Rut 7 wOnder-when she'll come - /.
was his eager thought.
The day passed and the night was
well advanced, when Tom. lying |
awake, heard in the hall little |
sound. He sat up and listened, and |
he was aware of light shin !
ing under the door. Gathering his |
dressing gown about him, he rose |
from his couch, opened the door and |
looked out. On the threshold was a
Tied to the handle was |
a card and on the card was written: |
How far that little candle throws !
his beam, so shines a good deed in a |
naughty world
Tom went back to bed and labori-
ously made his stiff fingers pen his !
sentiments:
Dear Lady Bountiful:
81 can't write poetry, but 1 can say
n plain, everyday words how CRATE
Jul I am. And how I wish-but you
know what I wish-that Fate will not
De unkind and that-some day-when
ell you what l. is not easy to say
on paper"
He signed it Tommy Tucker" and
put it in the hall and shut the door.
And when an hour later he opened
he door the note was gone.
Aha said Tom to himself shes
1ot far away, and that's something
% think about
After a time there came a quick
tap, tap and Tom got out of his
hair in hurry, but by the time he
cached the door the hall was empty,
out there was note lying waiting for
lin.
1t said: 81 am going to send you a
grandmother must be nice to her
Tom whistled. well of all things,"
lie calculated.
At precisely a little, gray-haired
ady hustled in.
.sGracious.'' she said, without wait
ng for any formalities, you poor
10Y This won't do at all. You ought
o be in bed, covered up, with hot
water bags and hot broths and,
"But really. can't" Tom stam-
nered.
Nonsense" said the brisk little
ady 81 have four sons of my own,
md I knew what to do with sick
,oys Now I'm going over across the
IaII and heat some water and when
come back I'll tuck you up COM
ortaEle. and take care of you until
GU are WE'LL
But Tom gasped, st can't
"Nonsense,'' said the little lady
gain. you do just as I say. I'm
sed to bossing boys"
An hour later Tom, tucked up in
ed with hot water bags to the right
f him, and hot water bags to the
Eft of him, and with his appetite
atisfed by the most delicious broth