Under the Lilacs

me is Ben Brown, a

are you

es to ge

of work c

. I'm used

uch a little

legs;" and the small boy gave a nod that seemed t

the sunburnt face was very thin, the eyes hollow with hunger or pain, and

I-run away." The last words seemed to bolt out against his will a

me you. But how d

up here at the big house would take me in. But the gate was locke

Mrs. Moss, while the children looked de

nkle in spite of his forlorn state as he went on, whi

w them little girls playin'. The vittles looked so nice I couldn't help wanti

lly at the poodle, who half closed his eyes wit

him put it bac

ou was racin' after Sancho, and then clim' up

laughed?"

es

zed?" add

es

wn the roses?

u liked 'em,

What made you

lancing at his tatters as if he'd like to

ed Mrs. Moss, suddenly reme

in. The glass was broke, and I only pulled the nail out. I haven't done a mite of harm slee

me back

emed kinder like home, and I could hear 'em talkin' outside

ays and nights with no bed but musty straw, no food but the scraps a dog brought him, was too much for her. "Do you know what I'm going to do with you?" s

to me, and we 're fond of one another; ain't us, old chap?" answered the boy, with h

you in a good bed; and to-morrow,-well, we'll see what'll h

to work for you. Ain't you got a hors

but hens

would like to join in if he only had the strength to do it. But his legs shook under him, and he f

le. I'll see to the boy," commanded Mrs. Moss, waving off the children, and going up to feel the pul

and cool, and the black eyes were clear thou

he rain last night, and I've jest about lived on water lat

t your

ook it in again

had a mite but what Sanch brought, for three

derstood all that was going on, and recommended a speedy march toward the promised food and shelt

y this. I'm sorry Sanch took it, and I'd like to give it back if I knew whose it was," said Ben,

e bits your queer dog ran off with. Come along, I must

rain. Sancho was in great spirits, evidently feeling that their woes were over and his foraging expeditions at an end, for he frisked about his master with yelps of p

y cheek, while Bab was cutting away at the loaf as if bent on slicing her own fingers off. Before Ben knew what he was about, he found himself in the ol

oyed, Mrs. Moss beckoned the little girls o

o to the Cutters, and tell Miss Clarindy I'd like a couple of the shirts we made at last sewing circ

s, that Ben hardly knew himself when he emerged from the back bedroom half an hour later, clothed in Billy Barton's faded

od scrub while Mrs. Moss set a stitch here and there in the new old clothes; and Sancho reappeared, looking more like the c

were greeted with smiles of approval from the little girls and a hospitable welcome from the

had a tidy look that pleased her, and a lively way of moving about in his clothes, like an eel in a skin rather too big for him. The merry black eyes seem

, ma'am," murmured Ben, getting red and bashful un

uest, and just as Ben spoke Bab dropped a cup. To her great surprise no smash followed, for, bending q

?" asked Bab, looking as if sh

wing so rapidly that Bab and Betty stood with their mouths open, as if to swallow the plates should they fall,

way he could, Ben took clothes-pins from a basket near by, sent several saucers twirling up, caught them on the pins, balanced

tureen if he had expressed a wish for it. But Ben was too tired to show all his accomplishments at

wise nod, for she saw the same look on his face as when he said his n

ard of the World, and I learned some of his t

't like to do that, for he is a harsh sort of a man; so, if you haven't done any thing bad, you needn't be afraid to speak out, and I'

and if I tell, may be you'll let 'em know where I be," said Ben, much distressed

ldn't. Tell the truth, and I'll stan

truly!" cried Bab and Betty, full of dismay bein

'em," said B

e little girls hastily sat down together on their private and particular bench opposite thei