Year: 1877


having a real love for his mother; more,
the moment that | saw his case was de-
serving one, was ready to exert myself
to the utmost to help him out of the mire.
My own mother had hard struggle to
keep her harum- scarum boy in order; but
sooner than cause tear to gather in her
eye, would have chopped off my right
hand. She was my idol whom l used to
worship in secret; and many times when
she thought me fast asleep, | have been
peeping out from under the blankets,
Watching her sewing, and wishing that l
were strong enough and big enough to
work for her myself. But let me explain.
received the following note one morning
as | entered the office;


Il missed my purse when | reached
home, so my pocket must have been picked
somewhere between the Mansion House
and Finsbury Square"


This brief communication was signed
by we'll known banker, II jolly old bach
eIor living in Finsbury square. Tie was II
little man and inclined to be fat; but he
had a large warm heart-as had discoy-
cred long beforehand seemed to live in Il
kind of genial atmosphere, marked by
everybody and envied by none. | soon
felt momcntary surprise that II thief had
found it in his heart to victimze such Il
man


Calling at his house, the following en-
sued:


"It is not so much the money that con-
Germs me-" he said; though the loss OF
that would be serious to q poor man, but
in the inner pocket | had slowed away
some papers and an old memorandum
which l shall miss very much. If you
Just get me them, you can let the poor
wretch keep the money"


This proposal was against all law and
order. and he must have known it; but
had to remind him of the fact.


"Ah, yes, l know" he said in his quick
way with merry smile. Its against
the law, of course, but you detectives can
easily stretch u point when you have a
mind 10; and besides. only throw out the
hint, Get the contents ofthe inner pocket
the rest also, if you can"


You did not feel yourself tugged or
ioslled on your way home?n


mo felt nothing, and did not miss the
purse till l came"


After eliciting all the facts | could in con
ncction with the matter returned to the
Office, determined to work with will to
trace his purse and its contents. But did
not even hear of it. No one among my
numerous acquaintance seemed particu'
larly flush of money; the empty purse was
not picked up anywhere or brought in;
and began to fear it had left London and
the thief with it.


But n little before ten O'Clock next
morning, while we were chatting away, q
slim morsel of boy made his appearance
with his eyes all red and swellcd with cry
ing, and asked if this was n detectives of.
flee. We all stared around and gazed At
the little intruder. The strangest thing
about the boy was his " shyness he was
mere shadow of boy, though he had Il
preposscssing little face, in spite of the
bleiring effect of the crying.


Being answered in the affirmative he re-
NAMED IL moment silent, during which
could see, by the quivering of his lip, thai
he was struggling hard to appear manly
and firm, while making his next speech
he then suddenly produced the purse o
Mr. $, the banker, and hastily go
out the words:


"If you please, m II thie(-and mother
is dead. and I've come for you to put mt
in Jail"


lie was choking and shaking all over a:
he got the words out, but it was no use. A
binding rush of tears came to his eyes ahC
the heavy purse dropped ut his feet


There was strange silence in the room
Nobody rushed forward with pair o
handouts, or grasped him by the collar tc
hustle him off to the cell. lie was so small
so forlorn and ptiful looking.


touched him gently on the shoulder.


whats your name?" asked; but
was not prepared for the change which
this question produced. His face flushed
up and tears burst out Of his eyes, as he
said:


MY name is Willie Bell, but they call
me Little Jinks now. That's why ran
away from the House. But | pitched
into them before | let-not for that, but
for something else And the recollection
SGCuOu W duOIu tllO lllllS llldl KIM OI
fierce pleasure.


"Oh, so you run away from the
House. suppose your mother was
pretty poor, Wilie-not well off-eh?n


That's it, sir" he cried with sudden
intelligence flashing out of his fearful
eyes.


" That's how she del-Im sure of il
because she hadn't enough to eat.
tried to save her by stealing the purse
after l ran away from home; but when
| got home-she couldn't eat and she
died without knowing what had done
Do you think they'll tell her in heaven
that stole it?"


/ He appeared so anxious for negative
that was forced to say.


IL don't think they will, Willie, be
cause that would be sure to make her un.
happy-wouldn' itpn


This brought fresh burst of sobbine
and then he said:


IL hope III be hanged. l want to die
now, It's no use living without mother
and everybody else is cruel. There.
nobody. IL Pm trying not to cry-I
made it all up before | came that
wouldn't cry but somehow, can't bell
! it, Ii seems yerV hard that God shouli