The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-05-06

been so busy with the sick and the
dying and the dead have hardly had
time to think of you"
Against her protest he picked up
the tagots and carried them on his
own back to her kitchen.
He found the Shepherd in a sweater
sitting up in bed and knitting socks.
"How is my dear boy7" the good Fa-
Their asked
every sad" said the Shepherd. II
want to do something to help and my
legs are useless"
"Courage" Mr.. Bloggs seemed to
shout from his shelf at the window
side and just then he assumed a most
valiant and determined look as he
added: Forward march !"
Father O'Nell did what he could to
help In that moment of peril by say
ing:
"Cheer up, boy. I'm going out to
Dan Mullins this afternoon and I'll
make him bring you a big load of
wood. I'll have you at your work to-
morrow. The spring will be coming
soon and your flock will be back in
the garden"
It was not easy to bring smile to
the face of the little Shepherd those
days. A number Of his friends had
died and others were sick and he was
helpless. Moreover, his mother had
told him of the disappearance of Pau
line and that her parents feared she
was in great trouble. This had wor-
ried him, and the more because his
mother had declared that the girl was
probably worse than dead. He could
not quite understand it and his happy
spirit was clouded. The good Father
cheered him with merry jests. Near
the end Of their talk the boy said:
"There's one thing in this room that
makes me unhappy. It's that gold
piece In the drawer 1t does nothing
but lie there and SILVER and talk to
me. Seems as If 1t complained of the
cold. It says that 1t wants to move
around and get warm. Every time
I hear of some poor person that needs
food or fuel, 1t calls out to me there
In the little drawer and says, How
cold ami How cold amp My moth
er wishes me to keep it for some time
of trouble that may come to us, but
can't. 1t makes me unhappy. Please
take 1t away and let 1t do what 1t can
to keep the poor people warm"
"Well done, boysI" Mr.. Bloggs
seemed to say with look Of Joy as If
he now perceived that the enemy was
In full retreat.
"There's no worse company, these
days, than a boarded coin," said the
priest. 81 won't let It plague you any
more"
Father O'Neil took the coin from
the drawer It fell from his fingers
with a merry laugh as 1t bounded on
the floor and whirled toward the door
way like one overjoyed and eager to
be Off
God bless you, my boyi May 1t
buy for you the dearest wish of your
heart"
"Hal hal" laughed the little tin
soldier, for he knew the dearest wish
of the boy far better than the priest
knew 1t.
Mr.. Singleton called soon after Fa-
Their O'Neil had gone away.
"The top of the morning to you !"
he shouted, as he came into Bobs
room.
TITS all right top and bottom" Bob
answered cheerfully.
as there anything can do for you p
the minister went on. I'm a regular
Santa Claus this morning. I've got a
thousand dollars that Mr.. Bling sent
me. It's for any one that needs help. +"
"Weu be all right as soon as ouI
load of wood comes. 1t will be here
tomorrow morning" said the Shep
herd.
"Tll come and cut and split 1t with
YOU" the minister proposed. "ThC
eloquence of the ak is better thar
that of the tongue these days. Mean
while I'm going TO bring you a little
jag in my wheelbarrOw. How about
beefsteak and bacon and eggs anC
all that2"
81 guess we've got enough to eat
thank you" This was not quite true
, for Bob, thinking of the sick, whose
people could not go to market, wal
inclined to hide his own hunger.
; "Ho, no" exclaimed Mr.. Bloggs, fo
he knew very well that the boy wa
j hiding his hunger.
do you call that a lieH the Shep
. herd asked as soon as the minlste
had gone.
t "a little oneI But in my opinion 1