The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-05-20
CHAPTER ong
which introduces the Shepherd OF
the @irds.

-
The day that Henry Sink met and
embraced Gasoline Power and went
np Main street hand fl hand with II is
nJf vet forgotten. Their little journey
produced an effect on the nerves and
TIE remote future history OF Bingviile.
They rushed at group of citizens
who were watching them, scattered II
hithcr and thither. broke down a sec
tion Of Mrs Rlsley's picket fence and
ran over a small boy. AT the end of
their brief mlsaillance, Gasoline Power
seemed 10 express is opinion OF Mr.
Sink w hurting him against a tele-
graph pole and running wild IN the
park until II cooled Its passion In the
fountntn pool, In the language of Hi-
ram Blenkinsop, the place was badly
''smiNed up Yet Mr. Sink was the
object Of unmerited criticism. He was
like many other men In that quiet vll-
iage slow, deliberate, harmless and
goOd,natured, The action OF his In
teileet was not at all like that OF a
gasoline engine Between the swift.
ness Of the one and the slowness of
the other, there was a Wide zone full
OF possibilities The engine had ne
complished many things while Mr.
Sinks intellect was getting ready to
begin 70 act.
In speaking OF this adventure, HI
ram Blenklns0p made wise remark;
"My married life learnt me one thing"
said be. III you are thinkln' of hltchin'
up a Wild horse with a tame one, be
careful that the tame one Is the stout
est or II viii DO him no good"
The event had les tragic side and
whatever Hiram Blenklnsop and other
citizens Of questionable taste may
have said of II, the historian has no
intention OF treating II lightly. Mr.
smlx and his neighhor's fence could
be repaired, but not the small boy
Robert Emmett Moran. six years old
the son OF the Widow Moran, who
took IN washing. He was Ia the ma
ture 81 a sacrifice TO the new god. hs
became beloved cripple, known a
the Shepherd Of the Birds and alto
gether the most cheerful person In tn
village. His world was a little room
on the second floor of his mother
cottage overlooking the big flower gar
den Of Judge Crooker--hls father hay
Ing been the gardener and coaehmal
OF The Judge. There were In this roof
an old pine bureau. n four-post bee
stead, an armchair BY the window,
small round nickel Cock that sui o
the bureau. a rubber tree and Yer
laxative little old tin soldier Of III
name OF Bioggs who stood erect on
shetf with gun In his hand aud wa
always looking out OF the window. III
day OF the tin soldiers arrival the be
had named Him MFR. Bloggs and d.
covered Ills unusual qualities Of mir
and heart, He was wise old soldle
II would seem, fer he had some so
or answer for each OF the many que
tlans u Bob Norm Indeed, as B'
l,new. he had seen and suffered niue
having travelled 70 Europe and ha'
with the Judges family and been SUI
Tor II year in frog pond and be-
dropped 10 jug Of molasses, b
through Il an had kept his look
lnextingilishable courage. The lone
lad taiked. now and then, with t
round. nickel clock or the rubber II
or the pine bureau, but mostly 90
MS condolences 70 the wise and gen
Mr.. BIoggs. When the spring !
rived the garden. With its birds a
aowers, became source Of joy q
eompanionship for the little lad. 5
ting by the open window, he used
talk to Pat Crowley, who was getu
the ground ready for sowing. La
the slow procession OF the now
passed under the boys window 9
greeted him with its fragrance 9
color.
But his most intimate friends "
the birds. Robins, in the elm tree
beyond the window. woke him ey
suaazneS morning. When as MADE