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Show Jf J THE PROVO POST znr PAGE TWO. - 'Henry sat him down to the froly air swirled past him. I thought you were talking just a mo-- ' inent ago about the universal brotherhood of man, that could bring, about peace soon-- . table. companying smile disfigured by bitterness. But one must use common sense. de- fended Emeline, in, a deeply hurt tone, be- cause I believe in. pacificationA is no reason to diwhy I shopll expose my house-hol- d sease by taking in the first tramp that comes along. But were you not just saying your peace plan demands sacrifice as well as does fighting for our country? the man laughed derisively. If ;! Vesbut- - . M I on my head gentle and tender, like mother usto, There, Boy he says, just whisperin .dont mourn, Ill look after youl It was the man Id seen through the winder. I settled down and went to sleep, but in the night I woke and hollered. I was feelin funny boat . Si an lonesome, too, fur mother, you know, then liere eomes this man again. He set he's idemeori the bed anrIold me things that Id get well, you know, sos I could get outer there and he told me stories Bible "ones" like mother usto. I was took with a fever that night an, had a long sick spell. Dont reclect much every time l. waked-up- , night or-d- ay, the big kine was with ne takjn jnan eare'ef Ine"an bein good to me like mother was. He washed me, and rubbed my ackiu limbs and turned me, and fed me. He even ang to me. 0, I never will forget bis sing-'i- n low an soft, some times sad and times funny, ne was Irish, you know, an oh. them Irish songs' was dandy. When I got better I says to him one day, 4 Who be you, anyway? Aro you the boss of this here you some where. grunted the small man, smil-inlikeaaLnotyou have. I was raised quiet poise. bi totber end of .this valley, an I been right Why, said the young man modestly, round here a good deal lately a till six I hardly like to decide, still if you leave it months ago. Yep, he sighed, I was born tome I should say over in S . My father "was a Ger.Drive the old parasite off, put in" man, jender but he died when I was a baby. MothHenry scornfully. er was a Yank she raised me a that is Oh, no, Jackson contradicted, Bring-hiraised me till I was in. J 1 (lie stopped and swallowed brung over The woman looked scandalized; . Henryz hard like the next words were hard to utbowed mockingly and triumphantly disaj- ter, then shrugging his shoulders he went tl Jpcarcd rough the door. Everybody felt on confidentially. Well, it was this way, I cross and disagreeable hut Emeline, from was alius sick, you know, ever since I kin force of habit when the job of being hostess remember onthrt bbd or huddled up in a her, began to warm up the vie- , threatened chair bavin - this rheumatiz, sufferin dur-bl- o iuals and relay the table. pain most the time. But mother Was In less than a minute the door was opened good to me she was awful kine and good to ' brtco more and the Boy, weary, torn, soiled me, mother was. He drew the back of his with mud and snow, shuffled haltingly into hand across his eyes, then looked pensively their, midst. All eves softened, and everv into the past for a moment. I jest had one heart was gripped in awed, speechless symbrother, Silar, he resumed. -- He was lots pathy as they looked him over. A more piti-older n me an when he got married an fill,. forlorn, ..harmless, crippled, - little fig- mother lived alone all .ura than they beheld would be hard to find. alone. An we hed seen good times together, His hack .was bent, his legs were woefully mother n me his voice lingered caress-inglhi ue, his-- h ands thin, his face pinch She was alover' the word mother --swollen, knotted and drawn almost together. ius kine an1 good to me, mother was; alius Ile met the looks that were turned toward filin me comfortable, an cookin me things liim with a strange, wandering shifting she thought Id like, an tellin me theings, gaze. Hetys eyes sought Jacksons as they an readin to me outer the Bible an Robalways did (though she did not know it) inson Crusoe, an other books the like of when she needed companionship. She edged that, you know. She was often sayin she near him. was powerful sorry I couldnt go'to school. Non compos mentis! she whispered She thought I could learn sumpin but Si commiseratingly. Jackson looked assent. says I couldnt. Henrys eyes soon found Emeline s, he She had lots of land an cattle an SI lifted lusThrows significantly and she .nodwanted her to sell some an live finer, but ded in harmony with the thought expressed mother wouldnt. She said she wanted to in his face. The Boys weak watering eyes leave plenty to take care of the Boy me, roved wistfully to the fire and rested there, you knQw when she was gone. I never a happy smile lighting up the withered featthought motherd go an leave me but she lScs. did. Yep, mother died an left me. Ilis Qt a' ve, stammered Henry, jump- voice trembled slightly words, he ing forward to lead the way, Come, warm stopped speaking but presently continued. Trusrself. That was a awful time fur me! I recIeet ri he stranger hobbled after him He. r mother savin to Si onct fore she died, Si. sfreHied out Jiis hands to the blaze and you kin have every thing I leave- ifvouIl onndledand chafed them witli all his might. ly take good care of the Boy me, you" Cant straighten em, belaid in an ojxm, know. Si said he would do so when mother L. rtiild like voIce"toHenry who was looking' was gone I was took to live with him. I on soberly. Rheumatiz! I'm all stove up done a lot a mournin that moth- Humph! g, 4 - i Purty soon a man come an lay his hand " . -- m e . - went-awayrme- an y ed-an- i J - at-thes- e - . ibeunmtiz. ; Had it long? inquired, "his host inyv 4 friendly way AH my life replied the traveler, all ' my fife. Fact, was alius twiet as bad a? this , never knew a well day never walked he lowered hardly any fur years till till his voice reverently till Ministerin Angel .again. Your supper is ready, - -- ajust ' . - gbim-e- s Emeline sail . The stranger turned respectfully, and watched her set a chair to the table, . He was not eger. I gotta wash, he declared sim way, glancing 'at Henry. ply in his child-lik- e e' .timed the ho,st apoloWhy, sure, getically, conducting hinr out' with . sincere consideration anil providing hot waterman ablutions were completed bevel.... When the guest loolcd, fresher, happier if po-- t o-- ''Ttbh fh - - - month, for er, you know, ah I needed someone to do things fur me like mother usto, cause when Id ask Sis wife shed say hard-likDont think to do but wait JPve got anything you , "Oq you, Boy? Their one night they put me in a cara riage and brought me over? here from here he winked ways hptli eyes knowingly jnd pointed towards the hill on the east. Over the lull to Poor House ' I knew where they was takin me soon s we stoped in front uf the big place an T was mu.-- t crazy. .Here lie laid down the knife and fork he hail been toying with, pushed back from the table and half arose, then sat down again, now on the edge of ' the chair. I riz inv head, be hastened on growing excited, Ids small, watering eyes traveling rapidly from one to another of his beavers I riz my head when I so .where .theyd took me an I cries, 0, Si; Mmr Jou aint takin me to the Poor nouse! . e, me. a hold a His. auditors exchanged meaning ffindly. " Poor House? . f Why, bless your sweet heart, no, Boy, he says, I aint boss a nuthin Im only a" likeyourself. - inmate, it Weirtbenis Si payin you fur takin care of me? I says, softenin more towards Si. i That was a treat Mie told them all as -- -- Si say he. wondering like, whos he? My brother what put me here I says mournful (I couldnt get over bein tdok to the Ifoor House.) ' I dont know nuthin bout Si he says. Well, whos payin you? says L Payin me, what? he asks 'with his smile a puttin me off. joky lie - e, git tin big pay. Him! took his own money saVed tip fur years, an' bought the r medi- P 1 cure you 9f ThenI:asked" him sumpin"Id v been thinkinl about a long time, What made you take care of a poor devil like me? I says mighty serious, tell me, Dad. BoyTLsayser-aisinkinhiavoicedow- 'ii loti?, when"! was lockin qufer that winder an see you comin here, sumpin awful n says to this yere rough old Irishman Take care o that Boy an fore knew what I was say in I answered right out loud I will, Lord, I will, Ill try. You done it alright, Dad, you been a brother to me I whispered, graspin his big band anworkin hard to keep back my feelin s, but Dad knew my gratitude an so-parted The boy pushed his chair further away from the table, rose painfully and straightened his poor old back as best he could. He had slraffled-t- a thedoor and gatberer up his battered, rusty hat before any of them could pull themselves together sufficiently to speak to him. Henry was absently strok-in- g Emeline s hand that lay companionahly on his knee, he coughed a little and finally burst forth, Well a well, where are you going now, this cold, dark night! The boy turned again into the warm, cozy room, Im goin back to the Poor House of my own accord, you' understand, Jthi time. You see, I heard tother day out yonder in the city, that Dad was sick an Im goin to him, to git him well like he did me. But the Infirmary is three miles from here, friend, admonished the host with real concern, and Im afraid that if you cant walk any faster than that youll get too com-pelli- . we back, d, anyway? me?1 says e, kinda thoughtful like, Why, bless you, Boy, I aint nobody Im just Dad. Everybody. calls me Dad call me that, Boy, call me Dad. Alright I says, , I will. Besides Ill call you Ministerin? Angel mother usto tell me. bout them an youre one of em. , Onct wjlien I was took in bad pain, I-he. Boy could It- joot proceed for- moment1 because--of-thsilent ticked laughter' that shook his little frame at some memory, ' I yelled out awful loud, Ministerin Angel, Ministerin, Angel an there was a' now matron there ah she was most soared to death the tale teller shook harder and snickered audihlvfinally his sense of Lumber appeased be went on,'1 she looked, at the goin out matron n says, Is he a P"-- whats took him? ' j - -- -. - -- . t ; I guess not. And anyhow it dont matter cause I must see Dad tonight, I whispers, plum took i , , - smiled the Boy blissfully. You see, this is Christmas Eve an I got to git back to Dad,- -I want to make him a Christmas present the old fellow chuckled softly his glee, gen- lljV shaking his small body Im goin to make him a Christmas present of my services as Miqisterin Angel, you know, like he was to me. An. Ive saved up enough money, here a gleam of sly delight lit np the poor watery eyes to buy his medicine. I been keepin what he might need in mind this whole six months I been gone, he smiled the smile of the just as he proudly rattled the coins in his tattered trousers pocket. Have you been gone six month? asked Henry, detaining his queer guest. Yep, replied the visitor simply, suppose youve been over in S with your brother, suggested the man of the house. . Si? queried the little man looking up with a vhhmvKi'l mjle. My, no, I .never went a nigh him.' He dont know "where T be. I been takin ca re of myself, he swelled out with the pride at this announcejnent, an n gladder anv man alive to do it, lie fin' '.77 7 ished...L . ti , "I I - I suppose you feel at your brother, Si, then? ventured'the host. very-cros- L s (Continued on Page Nine) , t what hed cine an give it to me.. Then he worked over me, washin me and rubbin. my limbs, an tryin me gradual, you know, till I really could walk 1 I was so surprised and tickled I could hardly believe it'myself. Party soon I was well enough to walk all around an work some an I left the Poor House the gladdest man alive Only I Iiated to leave my Ministerin Angel, he went down the road apiece with me an I coaxed him' to go, too, but he says, No, Boy,-- aint never goin to leave the Poor House, but if you ever git took bad agin come back an Dadll 0, no, above. be says, low like. How? Makin me feel polly-goolight-heart- d and full o song he laughed his gay laugh agin and cut up capers that he knew alius cheered me up and made me not care bout things. 0 I says, sinkin back and thinkin hard. I thought but never mind bout that. After while I says, But who be you,, 0, j lieve, he cold. Whos payin you say I clean amazed pointed Him, could walk, he says so VI-coul- d git outer there, ,the Poor House, you know. Dad says my kidneys was bad an he knew amedicine at would cure me. An then, do you be- - -- Money I says. Bless your good, little heart, Boy . he laughed his big jolly laugh, nobody aint payin me money says e. Well say L thats too bad. But Im gettin my pay, alright, Boy say one an that s what Dads been" to When I got back to my usual self a?in Dad begin to work on me to git me" sos I - d s g . 1 , r I!' close byjjer husband, pretty Hetty listening absorbedly with her soft;round chin in her hands at the end of the table and Jackson, all attention seated near her. He was talking to them all, taking in each with his wandering glance as he proceeded to relate his I may not know" ejery thing I says, winkin I knew what she meant .but I know a Ministerin Angel when I see 0, me. Poor House, be you? Then Si says, Be quiet, Boy, I aint hurtin you none, you IP , be better off here , starts fur the door He lifts me out and an I groans an? moans out loud, it hurts so, one thing, besides, it cut me clean through . to be took to the Poor House. When we got got most to the door I see a man lookin through one of the nighest winders He had awful kine .lookin eyes an he raised his hand an smiled at me. Next thing I was lavin on a bed sobbin and murmurin like a lost chicken Si had left me. queer, little tale. .'What started him was a remark of Hen-rys. You look, somehow, familiar to me, stranger, be said, .Have you ever been in these parts before? Seems like Ive seen insinuated if see all you dreamers are Henry, and alike talkabout the ideal but' want some other fellow to do the good brother act. Jackson rose from' the table slowly. So nse3 to seeing him was Hetfyshe did not evert know- that she smiled admiringly at his youd take care of 0, Si, you aint agoin to leave me to. the - r Well leave it to Jackson, is well provided,, tramp Contrary to expectations the did not eat greedily. He actually minced, than partakt daintily tasting things rather ing of theirt. He used his fork easily and talked volubly to his' host who sat beside him. In just a few minutes he seemed to have finished his eating and was talking to them all Emeline who had drawn her chair he scoffed, his.ac-- . er than preparedness You promised mothejr ! ,i |