Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1918-02-14
D~HAanaHnn Mn
IA CHILD SHALL LEAD
BY ETHEL HOLMES.

.XAu ~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ - ~
I'm mt isiI. western Newspaper unionI
!. Mrs. and Mr.. Van Wrinkle were pre-.
pairing for breakfast. They were rich
the Van Wrinkles; In fact, they had
never known time when they had not
been rich. There was one thing, how.
ever, which money could not buy for
William Van Wrinkle. and that was
good health for his dearly loved wife. In
order to give her every advantage they
lived almost entirely at their beautiful
country home. where she could spend
her enuie time In the fresh air.
Then. too. Mr.. Van winkie and his
wife were very fond Of country life.
and devoted much Of their time 10 the
cultivation OF rare flowers and fruits.
Their roses were the finest In the coun-
tryside, and every morning his wife
found beside her plate al breakfast
fresh flowers.
On this especial morning early In
June not only were magnificent roses
waiting for her at her place at the
table but some Of the finest and most
luscious strawberries from their own
garden. The breakfast table was set
In the pagoda, which az this time In
the year was covered by q mass Of
roses. In full bloom. As Mr.. Van
Wrinkle entered the pagoda the butler
reported that the strawberries had
been stolen from the table while the
maids were indoors.
'sThese brnts who live about herei"
Mr.. Van Wrinkle exclaimed. let me
know II II happens again. John. and
wen catch the thieves, even II I have
to-hire special detectives for the pur-
pose"
The next morning as Mr.. Van Wrinkle
was returning 10 the house from n
walk before breakfast he espied the
figure Of child some distance away
darting through a grove OF trees. In n
moment the stolen berries came 20 his
mind and he made a dash In the direc-
ton Of the flying figure. He soon
caught MP with little girl just as she
was outside his hedge and close 20 the
door OF a nearby dilapIdated house.
which was evidently her home.
"Stop. you little thief"
The child came back, and In a pIte-
Gus voice said:
''Please, sir. don't let mother hear;
sft'rxxlck and can't eat the food we
hare. Good food costs too much now.
Tfhought these berries would help
make her eat"
'where is ur fatherf" asked Mr..
Van Wrinkle.
"Father died last winter"
"who supports you and your
motherf"
II have a big brother; fifteen; he
earns six dollars n week but somehow
there never seems enough 10 get mother
nice little things 10 eat" There was
plteous look OF distress on the thin,
pale faceh
SLOW old are your
"Nine and half, sir"
"Come up to the house every morn
ing and I will leave orders with the
gardener to give you fresh berries for
your mother, and cream as well."
Mr.. Van Wrinkle had always been
hard man 10 the poor. Born rich him
self. he looked down on those In pow
erty as OF an entirely different species
from himself. devoid Of the same feel
ings as the rich. He had once sent a
poor man 10 prison for n small theft
and felt that he had shown himself an
unusually good citizen by so doing,
This morning he had the awakening Of
his life. Was not the mother Of his
own children dellcate7 On reaching
home he went upstairs TO his wife's
room.
Louise" he said. "you know that
strawberries were stolen from the
breakfast table yesterday morning. IL
happened again this morning and
caught the thief"
SrOhl am sorry for that; wish he
had escaped. What did you do with
himf
"The thief was little girl about a
year old,- than our Ruth. What did
with her was 10 tell her 10 come every
morning and fresh berries would be
given 10 her"
"Ohl how love you for that" cried
bis wife. do tell me about H."
BY the time the story was told there
were tears In the eyes Of Mrs. Van
Wrinkle. Her husband seeing her dis
tress and for the first time harhorlng
similar feeling. told her that he
<wonld provide ample funds with which
she could provide for the little girl and
her sickSmother while he would look
out Tor ~ hoy himself.
III find him 20 be a promising lad"
he continued. 81 can easily place him
IN a position where he will have "A
chance 10 rise"
The next spring iirs. Van Winkle
was much improved, and the woman
she and her husband had helped had
-s4..l.. ...a..~.I H. eh..