The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-01

As Miss Yorlxe entered the Children's Aid office, the superintendent looked up from the newspaper she had been 1 T see that Mrs. Ritchie is dead. ' she said, ''I am afraid we shall have Ito take John away. He can live there alone with the husband He's been neglected enough as it is, while the wife has been sick.
 But it was with q heavy heart that Miss YorlSe took the train for Brook ton, and with 8 heavier one that she reviewed Jdhnis sad little history. John wasn't John Ritchfe, Or John lAnything-just John. He was a wist- fu1-eyed, brown haired little fellow of six, with one shoulder much higher than the other, and a pronounced limp. whom the Children's Aid had lresced. from a brutal father and a weak and helpless mother. They were not really his parents; he was a their door. The woman had taken him in and tried to raise him in the face of her husbands anger and cruel- ty But she herself had finally hand ed John over to the society,
 And they had taken him, and given him food and shelter. and baths and clothing every ything, in fact, except love, which a society can hardly be expected to provide in large qlantf- l ties.
 And he was very hard to dispose of No one wanted a child who was prac-s tfcally deformed, and who might never eb able to go out in the world and do I the work of men.
 At last the Ritchies had come. They were 3. rniddle-aged couple. a farmer and his wife, living outside Brookton. | whose two children lay in the little old Brookton graveyard. Ever since I the first hurt of their own bereave- ment had softened they had planned and dreamed of adopting a child. Now | they had come. full of expectation. Ewith the usual list Of requirements 1 a fair, cur1y-haired boy four years old, | healthy and of decent percentage.
 But John's little Iimping, timid fig ure went straight to Henry Ritshie' s Iheart.
 He's the one. EIIen,,' he had said, I We're going to take John home with Jus to be our little boy
 Ellen had been at first aghast, then dubious; btu in the end she had been
 won over, and the two had carried
 John, bewildered and yet radiant, of between them.
 A new John developed in the sun. shine of love and tenderness, a John
 who could laugh, and even sing, and
 who dug in the garden with his little | spade just as if his back had been like every other boys
 But now Mrs. Ritchie was dead, and
 John would have to come back to the shelter. The buggy drew up in front of the long white house. with it's old side porch, and. tears stood in Miss
 Yorke's eyes at the sight of the hang ing crepe.
 It was Henry Fitchie himself whc l answered her knocEbI1t a Henry
 Ritchie how changed from the well.
 preserved srniddle-aged man she ha6
 known. His suit of black hung shock.
 ingly about his lean figure; he needed | y,ic -riT11 med and sunken.S
 You came to see about John, I sup
 pose?'' he asked in g. husky voice a.
 soon as they were seated. Yes Mr. Rftchie,'' ansewred Mis-. yorke gently, Miss De1mar wanted to know what your plans were .1.m going to keep right along Hv ing here. Can't John live with me 2 } sfTm afraid not, Mir RitchiA-no
 unless you get housekeeper to lool . after him.
 IT can't get housekeeper. no novv,' and Henry's voice tremb1ed. sThen I'm afraid we'll have to talk him. I'm sorry-dreadfully sorry. Blu : you can't, alone take care of him a. our children have to be taken car of.s
 '1 wish I could leave him m''-Berth' , Yorke laid a comforting hand on hi ] arm-''but those are my orders The man rose heavily. All right, : he said, "Il1 dress him and pack hi 3 things and bring him down } As soon as Miss Yorke saw John sin realized that she must take him. H still wore the pretty clothes tn FRitchies had bought him. but his -hai should have been cut days before } there was a hole in one of his stock l ings-altogether he showed the lac l of experienced care
 Good afternoon, Jofan,'' said Mis- . Yorke. brightly, but bit unsteadily Don't you want to go up to the eft { with me
 Yes, thank you answered John. f : his quaint. unchildish way, And wit , +a ther.''
 That father cut the visitor to tn heart. 'sNo, fathers not going" sh
 managed to say. The man arose