A Girl of the Limberlost

wash her Indian relics, so that she would be ready to accompany Wesley to town in the afternoon. Elnora hurried down the roa

reached the gate. She stopped at the bank with the box, and

him, "Hello, Sinton! How do you like the fat

one," said Sinton. "It looks so selfish

lee wiped

knew, but I see

he lunch box was repeated with pa

concluded M

had bought that box and furnished one of those lunches yourself, you

to support them, but they have no mother, and they run wild. I suppose they are crazy for

th little difficulty. House was the proper word, for of home there was no sign. Just a small empty house with three unkept little child

e your father

s asleep,"

" asked

wered Billy, "and y

l try," sa

here he is!" he said.

to be strong and well. Billy was right. You could not

rnity. Sinton went ou

elp," he said. "You stay here, a

"He's that way all the time, but he wakes up and gets us something

of complaint. He was

ly at Billy. "Are you twist

ch and the filthy little waist sank close to the b

you been twiste

ers. "When was it we had

morning," s

l gone?" as

, he was drinking some more, and he ate a lot of it-almost the whole thing, and it made him sick as a dog, and h

comes," said Sinton. "I'll send you some thin

" said

me. I'll take care of him," Sinton promis

uffled along beside Sinton, taking a kick at every

s master, and Billy ascended Sinton as if he were

on the walk, "but onc't he took me for a rat or somepin' and his tee

ttle face. The child was bright enough,

'nen laid a board on him and all of us jumped on it to onc't. You could a heard him yell a mile. Belle said mebbe we could squeeze the bird out of him. But, squeeze nothing! He was holler as us, and that bird was lost long 'fore it got to his st

ly understood it to mean that he might lose his companion and took a grip. That little hot hand clinging tight to his, the sore feet recklessly scouring the

be washed clean, and have all the supper you

yet! Them things is in heaven! Poor

you want to go with me and

nes

, ho

yer h

said

some to Jimm

and be my boy, I'll se

will p

't wake up, Billy," said Sinton. "I am pretty sure

ke up they're dead," annou

s," answer

e care of Jimmy

Sinton. "I'll take you, and see that th

id Billy. "Let's eat

d the clerk to give him as many glasses of milk as he wanted, and a biscuit. "I think there's going to b

authorities ending with the Women's Relief Association. He sent a basket of food to B

cried the girl. "Wher

time being, if not longe

id you g

n't seem so funny to me as it does to the rest of them; so I went to look up the father of Billy's f

broke in Billy. "He can't eve

" gaspe

ther who loved and raised him right. When it happens, the father alone is

ou are going to t

come in just about right ten years from now, and

doesn't like boys

about everything at our house ever since we were married. I am going to please myself a

all of us, Uncle Wesley; but Aunt Margaret won

me," corre

u want him?" m

beautiful, and he ain't so smart, I guess it's

e him. I'd rather see him eat my l

ou like him?"

got such splendid grit, and he's perfectly unselfish with his brother and si

him home the way he is," said Sinton.

id--" beg

. He's taken a sort of grip on my heart. I've al

ndered to the edge of the walk and barely escaped the wheels of a passi

walk, and held his hand clos

gone a long t

e she carried. "Have to ha

bout keeping all the money for myself, so I saved enough from the Indian relics to get a few things I

ct, Elnora?" asked

newspapers, and I thought it would cheer her up a little, so I just got his 'Innocents Abroad.' I have

a splendid choice. It will take her mind

nday, and set it on her little shelf of books the last thing before I go away. She must have all of them by heart. When, she sees a new one sh

t know what Margaret will say, but I'm going to take Billy

h the hitching strap tied to the railing of the dash-board, flourished the whip, and yelled with delight. At first Sin

e carriage, hitched the horses and went to explain to her. He had not reach

tanding in the carriage slashing t

he shouted as the wh

the lines at the first effort, but the dragging post impeded the horses, and he soon caught them. He led them to the barn, and

s, Billy," he said. "I wan

ing rather stupefied a

nse did you get that awf

ee told me about it at the store. It's happened three days running. The first time she went without anything, the second time Brownlee's girl took her to lunch, and the third a crowd o

d think so!" c

m, Margaret," said Wesle

ean," interpo

hought he was in a drunken sleep, but he was stone dead. I brought the little boy with me, and sent the officers and o

t anything t

es

did you

t much. All I got d

l when you work and sav

ve you got any hot water? I'll use this tub at t

them across the clothes line. Wild with fright the kittens were clawing each other to death, and the air was white with fur. The string had twisted and the frightened creatures could not recognize

take that animal back to

lf on the grass a

hicken for supper," he wailed.

nfuriated Margaret. His touch was so gentle. She reached for Billy an

d. "This little body i

ulated. "Sores? W

oes, or they might be bad blood, from wrong eating, or

n't!" sai

e me some

at the head scoured him. The boy shut his little teeth, and said never a word though he twisted occasionally when the soap struck a raw spot. Margaret wat

t any peroxi

she answer

a pint, but I'll beg

hat's fit for little men. I am going to put some medicine on you, and it is going to sting like fire. If it just runs off, I won't use any more. If it boils, there i

ted Billy, holding out a raw place. Sinton poured on the

d. "I guess they's poison. You'

andaged all he could. Billy's lips quivered at times, and his chin jumped, but he did not shed a tear or utter a sound other than to take a deep interest in

clean?" as

that we have to get out, but that takes time. If we put right things to eat into your stomach that will do away with t

nst Wesley in app

see me!"

nto the house, and l

tooped to set him on the floor Billy's lips passed close to the big ma

r, Margaret?" asked W

o keep him for s

r. It's likely he never had a good square meal of

wrap the bread. She put away the pretty dishes they commonly used and set the table with old plates for pies and kitch

th Billy holding the nails and handing the pickets. Then he f

t steady as the earth was packed around it. There was n

g sob attracted him to Billy. The tears were rolling down his cheeks. "If I'd a knowed yo

next time, so you can think over it, and make up yo

y was accustomed to holding his own, he never would have issued the challenge. Billy accepted instantly. He danced around with stiff arms at his sides and imitated the gobbler. Then came his opportunity, and he jumped on the big turkey's back. Wesley heard Margaret's scream in time to see the flying leap and admire its dexterity. T

off!" he said to Wesley, holdin

ly thought a turkey tail of no account and flung that one high above him

r mother. When Wesley had waited until he was so hungry he could wait no longer he invaded the kitchen to find a co

r ready?"

r an hour," ans

n't you

h comradeship in it.

his to fix things decent again. As for my turkey

garet, you know that. Billy is ver

on, you don't mean to say that you think o

eeping a well-beh

e old red cloth Wesley stared in amazement. The

y we ist eat out of our hands or off a old dry goods box, and when we fix

d properly. Billy did his best. Occasionally greed overcame him, and he used his left hand to pop a bite into his mouth with his fingers. These lapses Wesley patiently overlooked, and went on with his general instructions. Luckily Billy did not spill anything on his clothing or the cloth. Afte

he said. "There isn't a lazy bone in hi

it!" cried Margaret. "Wesley,

said Wesley. "Wait, B

e dresses sat in hammocks, so little boys must not put their dusty

had been a half-starved sore cat, dog, or animal of any sort, that you would have piti

id Margar

child with an immortal so

a child, it'

ou would have we

ne. I meant a

u've always done the church-going and Bible reading for this family. How do you reconc

I have only let him alone. I can barely hold

is only full of life, no training, and with a boy's love of mischief. He did abuse your kittens, but an hour before I saw him risk his life to save one from being run over. He minds what you tell him, and doesn't

d Margaret, going into

of the swing, came to him and leaned

to sleep her

are!" sa

ss Wesley's knee. "Come on," said We

announced Billy. "I like to be clean, yo

pecial tenderness as he redressed the ailing plac

sleep?" he a

don't know,"

a's coat on a store-box, and Jimmy and Belle they sleep on the storebox, too. I sleep betw

ounge. Then he brought an armload o

e boy should have, Billy," he said, "but we'll ma

y that time the blankets had to be refolded. Wesley had Billy take one end and help, while both of them seemed

nt to Wesley, and leaned against his knee. He picked up the boy a

s jabbed me on one side, and Belle on the other, and

them a fine supper, a clean bed, and

d and looked earnestly at Wesle

l I can manage, B

manage anything?" he aske

sley. "She has managed

"I just love you. I wisht she'd take Ji

at, Billy. They will grow into a

hen he stopped, and at last sat on the floor. Finally he lay down and closed his eyes. "This feels

y?" asked Wesley

like toward night as if a body got kind

d then closed his eyes so t

ht I had Snap," he said. "

board on Snap and jump

ht to heard him squeal!" Billy lau

that if he was here I'd give him a piece of m

do," sai

stantly. "Would

I would," s

course, she wouldn't, cos she likes cats, and dogs chases cats. Oh, dear, I thought fo

en. "Does it hurt to

after you are dead,

does it hurt ge

hurt your father, Billy. It c

came s

es

e fried chicken, and the nice soft bed, and-and everything, and I like to be clean, bu

they opened. Then he sat up. He looked at Wesley pitifully, and then

d boys," sa

ntly. "Well say, I'm a good

helpless kittens and pull out

e they'd act like that. And I didn't pull the turkey's tail. I ist held on to the first thing I grabbed, and the turkey pulled. Hone

you did, Bill

up a chair and lay my head in your lap. Like this, I mean." Billy pulled up a chair, climbed on it and laid his head on Margare

a good deal fatter 'an Belle, too!" He slid from

" he cried. The flood broke and

t him in her arms. She dropped into a chair, nestled him closely, drooped her fragrant bro

, where hav

been to s

e joy of

ng thing and she can

y. Elnora wiped his eyes, kis

u asleep?" she

rd cos I thought he wanted me to, but it ist wouldn't

go to sleep," a

uggested Elnora. "Haven't you an old dre

. Then she brought a basin of water and bathed his fac

ot a pa?" a

said E

dead li

es

hurt him

n't k

my pa," he boasted; "he ist died while he wa

lnora, pressing the small h

guess I won't go to sleep," he said.

nd singing between sentences. "It doesn't get lit

my pa

nk things. That was why he would forget his little boys and girl. If he had been well, h

and closed his eyes, an

would you cry?"

ipping him closer until Billy a

ht as that?" he que

aid Elnora. "Better than any

id. "She'd be glad if it would get me 'softl

is face against he

e me, do

you will g

ve me your dinner for the bol

lunch as I do after this. You will have milk, eggs, chicke

t want me. She thinks I'm a bad boy. She's going to whip me-if he lets her. She said

d told her about Wesley taking Billy home. Mrs. Comstock had some curiosity to see how Margaret bore the unexpected addition to her family. Billy's voice, raised with excitement, was plainly audi

appeared in the door. "Blest if I ever he

e. She was only thirty-six, although she appeared fifty. But there was an expression on h

ly intended to come straight back, but I thought I could rock Bi

ur ma?" dem

es

she lo

cour

and never came back. She don't care what happens to me. You wouldn

tock, "and I wouldn't lea

liding from E

e boys?" he

is a boy," said Mrs. Comstock as

u like

I am going to buy a dog as s

toward her w

nt a boy?"

retched out her arms,

want a boy!"

ke to have me?"

tock. "Any one would like to have y

ou take

ve Snap almost

mploringly. "Don't! Oh, don

uld be great company while you are gone. Blood soon can be purified with right food and baths, and as for Snap, I meant to buy a bulldog, but poss

her neck and gripped her with all his puny might. "You can

nd her hard face was softening;

ip a nice little boy like

ip me 'cause her cats fought, when I tied their tails together and hun

nd try as she would she could not stop s

t turkeys?"

vainly struggling to suppress her mirth,

ils fast?" de

so," marvelled

pulled, and its tail comed right off. She's going to whip me if he lets her. I didn't know the

ittle man like you than all the turkeys in the country. Let them lose their old tails if they want to, and let

each other rapturously, while their

and his head dropped against Mrs

y home, we must start right now," said Mrs. Comstoc

d braced himself. "I can

tock set Billy on the floor, and arose gripping his hand. "You take th

garet, then at Wesley, and aro

without even saying good-bye to

t to Mrs. Comst

asually. "I'll come a

smothered sob, and

ing at Billy while Elnora pulled back, but M

nk you are mighty smart

Mrs. Comstock. "I am smart enough to tell a dandy boy when I s

hat boy is Wesley's! He found him, and brought him here.

o beat, because he didn't know just how to handle things! Of course, he'll make mistakes.

our boy," ord

him, before he can go to s

t. "He's Wesley's, and nobo

he doorway, and she turned to him. "Make Ka

d she won't let any one else. You can have stacks of good things to eat

from Mrs. Coms

ildish wisdom. Necessity had taught him to s

to live here alwa

l the dogs you want,"

se enough so's I

unge up so that you can ho

me now?" ques

u, if you are a good

stay," said Billy,

went down the road in the moonlight; ev

understand you,

nger you will," said Mrs. Comstock. "Anyway, you

hought you were in earnest. So did Bill

I?" inquired

id you brought A

, did

underst

n I am recommendi

alone she knew the truth. She would have loved to have taken Billy. She would not have minded his mischief, his chatter, or his dog. He would have meant a distraction from herself that she greatly needed; she was even sincere about the dog. She had intended to tel