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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-09-30, Page 7A lx.n :h, and the clean clothing made a wonderful change in the little !el- ides'', and when be wa,s fully dressed, and he,hair combed and brushed, Mr. Carrot permitted him to look in the glass. c An expression of astonishment lighted Iris face as he gazed at the reflected figure—a, pale,' spiritual - looking boy, with delicate. refined features, .and remarkably beautiful Vas- Close questioning induced the boy td tell what t he knew of his anteced- ents. He haei been an inmate of the poor -house, where continued 111 - treatment forced him to run away, and be became the associate of street gamins, newsboys and bootblacks, wthu passed their nights in a low dis- triet in the neighborhood of Wapping Way. He was called Jim, and having Gorr a time been in the lxabi tor sleep - log in a crockery crated,he bore the nickname of "Jim-o'he-Crockery- Crate." H'ibi only warm friend was a young man named Tom Dill, a fire- man. After a few. days, when Jim had recovered his strength, Mr. Car- mol put his young charge in a private school which was kept by a worthy wioman in the neighborhood ; and, by agreeing to pay an extra sum . for tuition, the lady promised to take especial pains with her now pupil. Tjhen Mr, Carrot endeavored to -find a (trage of Tom Dill. After a long search he discovered him in an hos- pital .for disabled firemen, a sufferer from an accident that had occurred nearly two years previous, causing a crippled leg. Otherwise the mane was In fairly good health. Mr. Carrot announced his business, sand Tom Dill told him all he knew regarding Jim, the waif. "It's a Iittl•e over six years ago," be said, "when the fire occurred at the Ardmore Hotel, in Castlemaine street. When our engine, No. 45, dashed up, the fire was all over the house, and 'twasn't no use to try to save the house. The most we could do was' to prevent the flames spread- ing into the other houses. Everybody was thought to be out ; but, all of a sudden there came an orful scream from a winder in the fifth story, and a big groan was let loose 'whets'twas Sound that a woman an' a baby was still in that 'ere burnin' shell. No- body wanted to risk goin' to 'em— for there was little hope of iver reaclrin' 'em, lot alone savin' 'em. I was ttie only man in the company th,a,t ) adn't a family, an' I said I'd try for it. Ladders were hoisted, an' up I went like a squirrel -- I was ' spryer'n I be now. iWthen I got to the woman she was whiter nor any sheet; but she was game, I tell yer. She reach- ed the baby down to me afore I got to the top. 'e'er stronger 'n I, an' surer -foot- ed,' she said ; 'save him an' Til take care o' myself.' "'Se I went fust with the young one, an she followed as close as she could. But, Lord !"—here the mane; lips grew tremulous and he turned his eyes away from his companion— "somehow, the little fellow's clothes del cats, refined features; hie glossy got afire in passim' a winder, where brown ,Bair was fine as eiik; his the flames burst out suddenly on us— hands and feet were small and sym- metrically formed, And now,. added to these self-evi- dent pexins, to learn that he had been richly -clad and stopping with his nurse in a first-class hotel on the night of the fire, were facts tbat afforded Mr. Carrot no little sati- falartioW., He wondered if the boy's parents had also )seen Inmates of the ill-fated hotel, and had perished in the flames, notwithstanding the fireman's asser- tion that it w,as supposed everybody "I don't think it, sir, they was scorched an' burned almost to a cin- der afore we got to the,ground, an' not worth tnppe,nce." ".Well, now tell me something about the woman," commanded the young man, with a regretful sigh. "Weal, sir, she was sick a long time, from that 'ere hurt on the head, an' when she did begin to mend, it was found that her brain didn't work right, and she couldn't remember anything that 'ad 'appened an' she paid no more heed to the baby! than Qf she'd never seen him before." "Do you mean that the blow from that brick left her an Idiot ?"' in- quired Mr. Carroll in a shocked tone. "Waal, suthin' after that sort, I'm thtnkin'," replied Tom Dill. "'She knew, enough to eat an' drink, wash, iron an' scrub, but.she could- n't tell her own na°rne, nor where she was from, nor notion' else the people wanted to know about," "Is she living now?" "Yes, sir, an' she be as well an' strong as yersel,." "Where is she?" "At the 'ospital where she has been ever since." "Can 'any ane 'get permission to vis- it her ?" inquired the young man, eagerly. "Yes, sir, but little good it'll do yer to sea her. Ye may ask ber ;forty questions an' 'she`ll look at yer in a dazed kind o' way for a minute an' then go on with her scrubbin'. I know, for I've tried to make her talk no lend o' times." "When did you go to see her last?" Mr. Carroll inquired. "It's six months or more, I reckon ; my rheumatiz have made me se lame an' stiff I couldn't git about very well,' glom Dill explained., "What name is she known by fatithe hoispital ?" "The help about the house call 'er `Crazy Moll,' but I've heard 'the pusses speak gentle to her and call her Mary. She be very good to work, mindin' what's told her, an' makes no talk." "Do you think she could be the Child's mother ? D:d he }sok like her?" questioned Carrot. "No, sir, lie 'didn't," the man re- turned in a positive tone, "S,he was no mother to him." "What makes you think so ? How, then, dad they happen to be toge- ther ?" t i• "'Twee plain encugh, sir, let alone the nurse's cap an' apron she hereon; an' that wear another thing that made me think the little chap was a blue -blood." Mr. Carrot at 'last began to feel that he was- gleaning some rays of light in connection with the little waif who had so strangely fal on into plus hands. , Everything, thus far, tended . to show that Jim had come from a' good. family. Carrot had felt sure of this in Isis own mind before this interview witty the f'reman, for ho was very far from be'ng a common -looking child. Ile had a well -shaped head, with though ebay put a stream on from below afore the woman got into it— an' the clothes were all ablaze in a minute and he yellin' like murder. i tried to smother It out, but the kid's poor little lege was burned orfuI afore we got down.." ! this explains how those un- sightly scars came on Jim's limbs," Mr. Carroll here interrupted. "Yes, sir ; are I'Il never forget tiolw I ,felt when I saw thiem great blisters on the 'poor little chap. 'If d it had .green me I wouldrl t ha'.flinch- had ersca pe . ecu, but to see that 'ere tender baby One of two things he felt sure squirmin' an' suff'rin' was more'n I must bo the fact : either they had could stand, an' I was just ready to fallen victims in the fearful conflag- blubber when the woman touched ration, or they could not have been ground an' reached out to take him. In the city. • a ,But just that minute a brick game tumbltn' down from, the wail, hit the ladder, boureed off, and struck her "'lamp on tho head." "Ah 1" ..ejaculated Tom Dill's listen- er, with a shudder. "She dropped like lead, where she 'stood, an' then she and the baby were both trundled off in the ambu- lance to tithe 'ospital." "Oh ! did she die ?"' demanded Mr. Carroll, with almost breathless eag- erness. "No, poor thing !" returned Tom with a sorrowful shake of his head. ''i was so cut up over the baby's ficin' burned on my' bands, I went to tho. Hahnemann 'Ospitai ivery bless- ed visitin" day to' see how heaves git- along. His feet an' legs were eternal sore for a, while, but they healed fust ,rate; though the scars used to make my eyes water. After a, while he got to know me,, an' wvateld dance an' orl,per, fit to make my heart glad, ivery time Iphowe,d my old/ mug inside the door,' and a smile of pleasure 'lighted the man's face at the remembrance. ' "Holy old was he ?" i'ir Carroll in- quired. "Nigh on .{to two year,I should; say, an' be wasn't no common sort o' baby ;either," Toni Dill continued, Impres- sively. "I could 'a,' sworn be bad blue blood in him,'. '",What made you think that ?" lo- wered his companion. I "tWall, ile looked it ivery Inch of him, an' J.n spite of the hubbub art' i danger, the night 0' the fire, I took note of ttl'xe clothes lie bad on, an' they was like some o' them fairs+ Wage ye'31. see In th'•babg- ; chaps, an Begrent street;"' ",l wonder if they were liresereed?" Sad stir, 04.11t0T1, InauiringlYs, , ., Ile asked Mem Dill what he thought abaut it. "No, sir—they never was burned," he positively asserted, "for no signs of any bodies' was found when the rubbish was cleared away." "Birt the woman must have been registered—did no one think to exam- ine the books to ascertain who elle was ?'! Mr. Carrel inctuired. "Yes, sir ; I went myself to the clerk, but the books was burned, and he told me there'd been no inquiries for the woman or tlue baby. It's a puzzle, sir—a puzzle that I fear me, will never be cleared up," tbe man concluded, w,ithi a grave shake of llis head. Mr. Carrot also feared that suet Cwould be tbe casae, but he lead no in- tention of reltnquis1iing his efforts. unt 1 1-e should exhaust every possible nxeatia to solve, the mystery regard- ing Itis protege's identity. He' thanked Tom Dill for his infor- mation and promised to bring James to e'ecc trim very soon ; then, slipping a, generous guerdon into the man's hand, he bade him good -day and went away. Tie proceeded, directly to the Hair,- nemann II•ospitalrwh>ere, seeking the superintendent, he continued to push .his .inquiries' still further. The man, however, did not appear to know; much about the case, as he had but recently succeeded the ere - vibes Manager, wil:o lira died souse six months before. But he said, the `head nurse in tbe • womanes department, who had been in 'the institution ''for ten years or r ore, might be, able to give him in - f t'matton regarding .diel: matter in gu ►stlroa. s, "Yes," the superintendent eeplled to id.. ewer auei:v. "there was a obore woman on the premises who was known as Crazy Moll, or Ittary, but she was little better than an idiot.. " , ° Then, excusing himself, he went to summon the bead nurse of whom be bad spoken. e , OO • CHA]?T$P. -1. The tread nurse of the woman's de- partment soon made her aPpearauce and said that she remembered, per- rectly, all the facts cr nneeted with the a enession of the poor victims of that terrible fire in Castlemaine street. The woman, who' had never been known 'by , any other name than Crazy. Moll, or Mary, had been Its a very. critical condition when she was brought to the hospital. She was unconscious, and re- mained so for a long time, and when she did finally arouse, it was was only to rave Tor weeks in the delirium of brain fever., The child, she stated, was very badly burned on his feet and legs, but he recovered very quickly, and being such an attractive child, be- came the pet of the children's ward. He was retained in the institu- tion much longer than It patient was usually allowed to remain, for it was hoped that the woman would ultimately recover and be able to identify the boy, when he could be returned to his parents. "`But when Mary at last began to rally," the nurse observed ; "we were shockecl beyond measure to find drat her mind was gone—or, rather, that she could remember nothing about her previous life, and did not show the faintest recognition of the child ; although he knew her in- stantly the moment we took him to her, and clung to her until she frightened him by gushing him roughly from her„ "As she grew stronger, she began to make herself useful about the wards. was quiet and handy, and the nurses petitioned that she be allowed to remain in the institu- tion as a servant, instead of being sent ,to the workhouse, `It was a sad day for all the nurses when it was at length de- cided that the boy must go. Several had made strenuous efforts to find a good home for him ; but without avail, and he was finally sent to one of the homes for the peo'r. I have only seen him a couple of times since then, for my ditties have been so heavy .I could not go to visit him," the nurse concluded,with a regretful sigh, Mr. Carrot then related something of wfrat Jamie's life had been, and inose he had at length fallen into his hands, when, becoming deeply interested in lane he had resolved to see if he could not trace his friends 'and restore him to them. "Bute' Ile concluded, with a doubtful shake of his head, "it looks now as if that would be ant impos- sibility "What would you 3 With hire, then ?" the woman inquired, ear- nestly. "pia !" she added, teelingly, 'he was such a beautiful chid ! I was sure that he belonged to a fine family, and it nearly broke my heart to have trim sent to that dreadful almshouse." "I have not yet decided what to do with him if I tlo -not succeed in gaining some new clue to his par- entage," Mr. Carrot gravely replied ; "I have no }come of my ewe -. no ' friends With whom I could place •lrlm ; but of one thing I am .sure— 'shall never allow. frim to drift back into the slums, whence lie came to me. You feel cure that the woman was leis nurse 1" "Certainly—she could have been nothing else; there was nothing in common between them ; and, be-, sides, she wore the nurse's cap and apron, while the baby looked the little aristocrat in every line and feature" "And arms now,- said her compan- ion, "in spite of his rude life. I was amazed, after he had been sub- jected to a vigorous bath and was decently dressed, to find what an interesting child he is. Will it be possible for one to see this weman, Crazy Moll, as she is called 1" lie in- quired, in conclusion, a 'Yes, if .you wash; althoughl 1' am! sure' you will reap no satisfaction from the interview.. But I will ar- range 'for her to come to ;7,c l," the nurse returned, with ready com- rpli.aoom.ne, as she arose to leave the c Site ivas absent some time, but finally returned, and was follow- ed by a woman of perhaps thirty- five years. She was a quiet, demure looking person, leaving a good, honest face, in spite oe its vacant expression, black hair and eyes. She was very neatly u:lad, had a plurup, well - formed figure, although she was somewhat awkward in ber move- meeots., "This is the gentleman who wish- ed to see you, i1tary," said the nurse, by away of introduction, and Mary made an awkward courtesy, but without betraying the slightest in- terest in her visitor. • ' "I suppose it wµll be of not use to question her ?" Mr. Carrot re- marked. "Not the slightest — that was tried, times ,without number, years ago," the woman returned. An expression of sadness swept over the young man's countenance; but after studying the unfortu- nate creatur'e's face intently, for a few moments he put a couple' of shillings into her heard red hand,' and kindles told her that she might She now looked eagerly' up at him and laughed out like a child that had received a coveted toys, thug showing that she knew sometbang of the value et mtottmej if she was daft on all otbeer subjects. She thanked hina, made another rvoifrtesy, • and then, at a gentle signal fronnt tho nurse, left the room.. Yakie of Agricultur The New Educational Features ---A Substitute for the Fair. )44 4; ; >! ,y; elealetrealerealereereeleahMeeelelelailfeMeereeelOW it is a self evident, proposition thatmay learn just what crops and what agricultural fairs which receive grants 1 varieties are best adapted to their farms, of public money should give the public thus bringing hate to particular condi- tion of soil and climate the general con- clusions arrived at by the experimental farms. In all kinds of farm crops the yield per acre may be materially in- creased and the quality substantially improved by the use of seed whieh has been graded up by careful growing and systematic, intelligent selection, con- tinued without interruption from year to year. This fact cannot be too soon brought home to the farmers of Can- ada, and one of the best ways of doing so would be to have on view at the fairs representative exhibits of the great work being done by members of the Canadian Seed Growers' association. something ofvalue therefor. It is not the province of governments in these days to assist. in providing amusement for the r! people. A good many agricul- tumat societies are now =king an earn- est effort to improve their fairs by the introduction of educational features, and their example is being fbllowecl by the large exhibitions which do not ordin- arily receive legislative grants, There are still some -fairs, controlled largely by the business Wren of tbe towns, which scan •to be held for the purpose of at- tracting visitors who will prove good customeee, but the number is fortun- ately becoming few. It is now generally recognized that shows 'exist primarily for the purpose of improving agricul- tural conditions. Teaching Market Requirements. --The up-to-date fair secures the services of expert judges, who explain the reasons for their decisions in the ring and give addresses on the best types of horses, cattle, sheep and swine. In this way the judging may be made an educational feature instead of merely an allotment of premiums by Wren who are often in- competent or biassed in their judgment. The awarding of prizes at a fair is a comparatively unimportant matter as e • Duren gthe mfternaom Mr.. Coa- xal called at the apartment to wiiibh air. Mayer had directed him, .bi't, ttY dile dlearakofntment. he 'waieei Interesting the Women and Children.— Demonstrations of agricultural processes are interesting to everyone, but the operation of a model kitchen and din- ing room, with exhibitions of cooking • sample dishes and addresses on domestie science, will appeal especially to the farmers' wives and slaughters. That the children may be lead to take an in- telligent interest in the fair, prizes might well be offered for exhibits by school children of cut flowers, grains, clovers and grasses, roots and vegeta- bles, fruits, pressed and mounted wild flowers, weeds and weed seeds, beneficial compared with other considerations, and injurious insects and native woods. What is really desirable is that fairs These exhibits could be supplemented by should be the means of disseminating in- formation aid -of fixing correct ideals in the minds of those who are produeing food -staffs and on whom the prosper- ity of Canada depends. Desirable and un- desirable types of fowls may be shown, with lectures on the fatteniee of chick: ens for the British and domestic mark- ets and exhibitions ofkilling, pluek- ing and packing for export. A model poultry house, with incubators, brooders, fattening crates and other appliances, in- terested thousands of visitors at the To - sante fair this year. Practical demon- strations of the proper packing of fruit for export should. be given in fruit dis- tricte by expert packers: and the most approved styles of fruit packages exhib- ited. To Improve Farm Crops.—another fea- ture worthy of adoption by all agricul- tural societies. but which only a few have yet taken up, is the growing of il- lustration plots on the fair g'rou)ude, At a small expense a very interesting and instructive exhibit of the best varieties of grasses, clovers, millets, sorglnun;, corn, fodder and pasture plants, turnips, niangels and sugar beets can be provid- ed. By studying these plots farmers essays for which prizes- might be offer- ed. Wherever tried this plan has prov- ed effective In indecixtg ehxldren to be- gin the faseinating study of nature. Every precaution should be taken to have a good clean fair, where all the boys and girls may go to spend a pleas- ant and instructive day without coining in contact rvith any injurious influence. Keeping Good Sires.—Many agricultu- ral societies, particularly in Quebec and the 11laritime provinces, do- not hold fairs, but in lieu thereof buy and maintain • pure bred sires for the use of their mane bers. This is a practice which might well be imitated more largely in Ontario, where the number of fairs seems exces- sive. By adhering to one breed of cat- tle, horses, sheep or swine, as the case may be, the stock belonging to the mem- bers of a society may be graded up won- derfully at a small cost, but the habit of changing continually from one breed to another most prove fatal to all plans for building up a good, uniform herd or flock of grades, which is just what the average farmer needs. Yours very truly, W. A. CI,EMONS, Publication Clerk, told that the family' had not yet ar- rived. On hie return to itis own lodg- ing': lie found ectter from that gentleman, teethe; Ilim that they, would be one day late in ",vetting to London : but that they ;Mould look for a call from lieu very soon. The letter closed as follows: "eine ,keea- ver and Miss itichardsom join me in kind regards and the hope that tion are fuey recovered from the ac- cident, which so neatly proved a fa- tal disaster. We slion:id have lost our dear girl, but for you." A very tender, tremulous smile qui- vered about the ,young man's ex- pressive mouth as he read this. "Ale they; can have no suspicion of how `dear' she has become to me,' he murmured, The second day after receiving Mr. Seaver's note he made a careful toi- let and started forth to make iris • First, however, lie bent his steps toward a well-known florist's in Oxford street. As he drew near to it, he observ- ed a lady just emerging from a book- store, Sbo was elegantly' and tastefully claw, and there was something fa- miliar about }ler air and figure, al- though he could not see her face, that sent the swift color into his cheek and au electric thrill' into ev- ery pulse. Almost at the instant a tall, coarse looking man approached her, and ad- dressed her with a menacing air. She turned and glanced at him with a look of• astonishment, and now llr. Carrot saw tbat the lady was Florence R.icbardson, as be had alreads, suspected. As he approached nearer he heard the man Observe In a harsh tone of irritation : "You can't play that game on me, sou obstinate hnssy ; you just come along with me if you don't want to make a scene." "I do not know what you mean, sir," said Florence, backing away, from him with an air of hauteur that became her well, her blue eyes flash- ing indignant fire upon her asssail- ant. "I never saw you before, and eton }x111 let me pass, if you please." "Well, but I don't please, bliss Im- pertinence ; rind ,yeti never saw. me before, sn you think!" sneered the man, coarsely. "It's pretty welt done, my girl, but it's a game that' wo'n't work, so you just come alone. as you are told, or—there'll be a devil od' a row—d';yee hear P' He laid his powerful hand upon her shoulder as be concluded, and would have forced her away; with him, sig- naling at the same moment a rpate- trig cab, if Mr. Carrot, had tot stud - dente. appeared upon the scene and eon/rented beixu. With one upward blow of les hand lie released .Florence from his grasp. "Whitt is th cineeaning elf ties out- rage?" be eternise demeeded, as be the wine .ln'stant allot a reastaurin± look into the frightened eyes of the oath and cringed with pain, tor the blow had been no light one, "It's name 0' your infernal business, eon meddling young proppinjayl You Jost quit your interference and at- tend to your own affairs. The •girl giolorngs to me and with me she's going, in spite of her stabborness and fifty officious dudes like your- self" And stalking to Florence's side, he again seized ger rudely: by the arm. One agile spring forward, one quick, and powerful stroke straight froom the shoulder, and Tlorence's great, raw- boned; ungainly persecutor: lay sprawling upon the pavement at our hero's feet. (To be continued.) SUCCESSFUL MOTHERS You will always find that the mo- thers who are successful in bring up families of hearty, healthy children are those who are careful to mote the slight- est evidence of illness and to cheek it at once. The wise mother gives her abildren Baby's Own Tablets at the first symp- ton of any childish ailment, and almost at once the little one is all right. Mrs. Thos. Stevenson, 13 Bishop street, Hal- ifax N.' S, says: eit given rue pleasure to be able to speak of the great value • of Baby's Orr -rt Tablets. I always give them to my chitchat when they are ail- ing in any way, and they speedily make them well. I 'could adr•ise every mother to keep the `.Tablets in the house." The Tablets allay Teething irritation, euro colic and stomach troubles, prevent con- stipation, destroy worms, allay fevers - and break up colds. They can be given safely to a new born child. Sold by all medicine dealers or sent by mail at 25 emits a box by writing the Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Brockville, Ont. BULLETIN OF WEED SEEDS. The seed division of tht Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, bas just issued an illustrated bulletin on the. Weed Seeds Commonly Found in Timothy; Alsike and Red Clover Seeds. It is well known that barge quantities of seeds of many nox- ious weeds are each year unwittingly sown with grass and clover seed. ' The re= semblance of many weed seeds to the commercial seeds with which they are found makes their •detection difficult to an untrained eye, even if they be present to the• extent of several hundred per pound. It is therefore of greet import- ance to be able to identify at least Etre seeds of those weeds which are seriously injurious in eg icluttire, The text and ' illustrations of this bulletin (No. 113, New Series) are published with a view to, assist farmers to identify,the more dan- gerous seeds common to grass and clover seed. The illustrations of seeds are front drawings by J. 11. Paull, lecturer in bot- any, University of Toronto, and the de- scriptions are by G. H. Clarks chief tlf , the seed, division, Ottawa, to wheal appri' plicatio'na for copies of "the' 'bundle should be addressed. As the edition is faeir .girl, r w i . limited, it Will be sent only to OM* !rbe eaten xraave vent to an al gui z( 'who apnls for it, , .,.....