The Newark journal., 1922-03-30

scattered i'll wild confusion half over the room. The washbo@l, with two long singing books across it, she dis covered to her horror. was serving as a prison for small green snake. The Bible and the remaining hymn books, topped by "Baxter's Saints Rest" lay ill a suspicious-looking pile on the fioor Under these Miss Wetherby did not look. After her experience, with the snake and the wash bowl, her nerves were not strong enough. She recoiled in dismay also, from the sight of two yellow, paper-coyered books on the table, Haunting shame lessly the titles: Jack the Pirate of Red Island" and Haunted by Headless Ghost"
 Ann Wetherby never forgot that Fourth of July, nor for that matter, the days that immediately followed. She went about with both ears stuffed with cotton, and eyes that were ever on the alert for all manner of creep ing, crawling things ill which Bobby's soul delighted.
 
 of the entire neighborhood, held cir GUS in Miss Wetherby's woodshed, and instituted Wild Indian camp i'll her attic. The poor woman was quite powerless, and reconstructed all In vain. The boy was so eheerfully good tempered under her sharpest words that the victory was easily his.
 hut Co by, returning from a neighbor's, found two cats, four dogs, and two toads tied to her parlor chairs, together with three cages containing respec- lively canary, a parrot, and a squir- rel (collected from obliging house holds) she rebelled in earnest and summoned Bobby to her side.
 Robert, I've stood all I'm a-goin' ter. You've got to go home Monday. Do you hear?"
 "Oh, come of. Miss Wetherby. 'tain't only menag'ry, an you don't use the room none"
 Miss Wetherby's mouth worked con- vulsiyely.
 Robert '" she gasped, as soon as she could find her voice. T never, new CT heard Of such dreadful goin son You certainly can't stay here no long er," she continued sternly.
 An hour later, Miss Wetherby had a caller It was the chorister of her church choir. The man sat down gin geriy on one of the slippery haircloth chairs, and proceeded at once to state his business.
 'I understand, Miss Wetherbv, that you have an-er-young singer with you"
 Miss Wetherby choked, and stam- mered "Yes."
 He sings-er-yery well, doesn't 1 he?"
 The woman was still more visibly embarrassed.
 1T don't know" Ehe mdrmured then in stronger tones. "The one that looked like him did,
 Are there two?" he asked in stupid amazement
 Miss Wetherby laughed uneasily, then she sighed
 Well, ter tell the truth, Mr Wig | gins, I s-pose there asnt; but some | times I think there must be. I'll send Robert down ter the rehearsal tonight, and you can see what ye can do with him." And with this Mfr Wiggins was forced to be content Bobby sang on Sunday. The little church was full to the doors. Bobby was already famous in the village The witchery of the glorious voice entered again into the woman's soul, and indeed, sent the entire eongrega- ton home in an awed silence that was the height of admiring homage.
 At breakfast time Monday morning, Bobby came downstairs with his brown paper parcel under his arm. Ann glanced at his woeful face, then went out into the kitchen and slammed the oven door sharply.
 "Well. marm, I've had a bully time -sures gum" said the boy wistfully. following her.
 Robert" she began with assumed sternless, trying to hide her depth of feeling, you ain't a-goin. home ter day-now mind what I say Take them things upstairs. Quick-break- lasts all ready r
 A great light transigured Bobby's face. He tossed his bundle into q cor her and fell upon Miss Wetherby with a bearlike hug.
 "Gee-whiz marm-but yer brick An I'll run yer errands an split yer wood, an I won't take no dogs an cats in the parlor, an I'll do ev'rythln' -evrythin' ye want me to. Oh, golly -golly I'm goin' ter stay-I'm goin' ter stay-Tm goin' ter stay!" And Bobby danced out of the house into the yard there to turn somersault after somersault in hilarious glee.
 A queer choking feeling came into Ann Wetherby's throat. She seemed still to feel the loving clasp of those small young arms.
 And Bobby stayed-not only Mon day, but through four other long days days which he filled to the brlm with fun and frolic and joyous shouts as before-and yet with change.