Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-26
ing ROOM presently emerging with
awe upon their faces to stand before


ing room, presently emerging with
awe upon their faces to stand before
a tall mirror surveying themselves.
Endlcott presently bade the little
company farewell and with a con-
science at ease with himself and all
mankind left them.
They issued from the clothing
house with scared expressions and
walked solemnly a few blocks. Then
Buck called them to a halt before a
large plate glass show window.
Take a good look at yersers,
Kids" he ordered, IAN we'll go up to
the Park an shine around, an see
how ther swells feles, then Wen go
down to Sheeny's an sell 'em."
Sell 'en,: Can't we keep 'em 81
pitifully demanded Bobs who had
never felt warm in winter in all his
small life before.
You wouldn't hev 'em long"
sneered Buck. THAT father O. yourn
would hev 'em pawned 'afore night.
o better enjoy EN- a while, an
then git the money. It's safer!"
The children with wisdom born of
their unhappy circumstances recog-
nized this truth. They surveyed them
selves gravely in their fleeting gran
deur n then turned to walk up to
the aristocratic part of town, a curl
Gus little procession. They finished by
rounding the Madison avenue brock,
marched up the alley, and gave the
salute with new hats toward the win
dow where their Prince and Leader
used to be. He was no longer there,
but his memory was about them, and
the ceremony did their bursting little
hearts good. Their love for Milky
was the nnh1ocf fhino tho< hoI ca Fa -
entered their lives. i.
Jimmie suggested that they must let
Jane see them before they disposed
forever of their elegant garments, so
Bobs. minus coat, hat, stockings and
shoes was sent to bid her to a seclud-
ed retreat at the far end of the alley.
Bobs hurried back ahead Of her little
tapping crutch to don his fine attire
once more before she arrived.
Little Jane, sallow of face, unkempt
of hair, tattered of clothing and shiv-
ering in the cold twilight stood and
watched the procession of pride as it
passed and repassed before her de-
lighted eyes. The festivity might
have been prolonged but hat the
maudlin voice of Bobs' father reeling
into the alley struck terror to their
hearts, and with small ceremony they
scuttled away to the ~pawnshep, leav-
ing little Jane to hobble back alone
to her cellar and wonder how it
would feel to e a warm coat like
one Of those.
Gee" said Jimmie as they paused
with n consent before the shop
door, and looked reluctantly down at
their brief glory. "Gce! ! wisht we
could keep jest n coat fer little
jane"
Couldn't we hide it sone'ere's?"
asked Sam, and they all looked at
Buck. deeply touched for his sis
ter's sake, nodded.
Keep Jim's," he said huskily, "it'll
do her best"
Then the little procession filed
proudly in and. gave up their gar
ments to the human parasite who
lived on the souls Of other men, and
came away bearing the one coat they
had saved for jamie, each treasuring
a pttiful bit of money which seemed
a fortune in their eyes. -.
Little Jane received her gift With
true spirit when it was presented,
skilfully hid it from her inhuman ia
ther, and declared that each boy
should have a turn at wearing the
coat every Sunday at SOME safe hour,
whereat deep satisfaction reigned
among them. Their grandeur was
not all departed after all.
Meantime, Milky, in his luxurious
berth in a sleeper, smiled drowsily to