Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-10-01

or" he said to sinton, holding on,
the tail in amazed wonder.
Einton, caught suddenly, forgo(
everything and roared. Seeing which
Billy thought turkey tail Of no &C
count and flung that one high above
him, shouting with childish laughtea
as the feathers scattered and fsn.
Margaret, watching. burst into tears
Wesley had gone mad. For the first
time in her married life she wanted
| to tell her mother. When Wesley had
waited until he was so hungry be
could walt no longer he invaded the
kitchen to find cooked supper baking
on the back Of the stove, while Mar.
garet with red eyes nursed a pair Of
demoralized white kittens.
els supper feadyT he asked.
ut has been for an hour" answered
Margaret
"Why didn't you call usr'
That "us" had too much comrade.
ship in 1t. 1t irritated Margaret.
II supposed 1t 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 "a very
bright, and he Will soon learn
"Soon learnt" cried Margaret. yves
ley Sinton, you don't mean to say that
you think Of keeping that creature
here for some timer
"No; 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 prettyT he exulted II
wish Jimmy and Belle could see. We.
why, we ist eat out Of our hands or of
a old drygoods box, and when we fix
up a lot We have newspaper. We amt
ever had nice red cloth like this"
Wesley looked straight at Margaret.
SO intenny that she turned away. her
face flushing. He stacked the diction-
ary and the geography Of the world
on a chair and lifted Billy beside him.
He heaped plate generously. cut the
food, put 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 q bite into his 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 tree. The
very energy with which he went at
the work Of swinging himself appealed
to Wesley.
Mercy, but he's an active little
bodyw he said. There isn't a lazy
bone in him. See how he works to pay
for his fun"
There goes his foot through itr'
cried Margaret. Wesley. he shall not
ruin my hammock"
"Of course he shan'tp' said Wesley.
"Wait, 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 q long
silence on the porch, isn't It true that
II Billy had been q 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~
"Yes." said Margaret coldly.
"But because brought child with
an immortal soul there Is no welcome. I"
THAT isn't child. It's an animal"
"You Just said you would have vel.
coined an animal"
mot a wild one. I meant a tame
beast"
BILLY is not q beast" said Wesley
hotly. HE Is very dear little boy.
Margaret. you've always done the
church going and Bible reading for this
family. How do you reconcile that 'suf-
fer little children to come unto me-
with the way you are treating Billyr
Margaret arose. II haven't treated
that child. have only let him alone.
can barely hold myself. he needs
the hide tanned about OF him."
"If you'd cared TO look at his body
you'd know that you couldn't find
place to strike without cutting into
raw spot" said sinton. Besides. Billy
has not done 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 bully little
chap, and love him"
"OA. good henvensr' cried Margaret
going into the house as she spoke.