A BOY'S GOOD DEED

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 24, 15 June 1905, Page 24

A BOY'S GOOD DEED

Money was not very plentiful in the Waleott family — that is to say, though there was enough for actual needs, the luxuries of life had either to be earned or to be done without. Siv-year-old Tommy knew this quite as well as did the elder members of the household, and therefore as he felt that he really could not do without the miniature motor car that, when wound up, ran all along the counter of the big toy shop in steeet, he plainly saw that he must just set to work and earn the money that was the price of the coveted toy.

But a dollar is a large sum for a six-year-old to earn, even when father and mother do their best to help. The cents came slowly to swell his little hoard, for it was only by running errands in his playtime, and by helping his mother and sisters in the house, that ho could earn anything, and it was with cents and dimes that his mioney box was filled. So the fall passed by, and one day when the shops had on their Christmas faces, for it was the eve of the Nativity, Mrs. Walcott told Tommy that the time had come to break the little china dog that for so long had guarded his treasure. For a moment the thought of this damped all his pleasure as Tommy's heart was very tender, and he had little faith in the 'use of glue ; but when he saw t/he dollar bill that his father was ready to give him in exchange for the oontents of his poor doggie, he gave way, and at last— at long last— his aesire was on the point of being accomplished, and he had the price of the toy for his own. It was a proud moment for Tommy when he stood all ready to start on his shopping expedition, wrapped up in his thick coat and woollen muffler ; and the cold, muddy streets seemed part of a very happy world to the little lad as he trudged manfully along at his mor ther's side. « The tram-car that they entered at the corner of their own street carried them right away into the city, and for some time Tommy's attention was taken up watching the passers-by. Then, wihen the light outside began to fade, he turned his eyes on his fellow-travel-lers, leaning up against his mother's warm cloak as he dkl .so. Theic were the usual mixture of people sitting on either side of the conveyance, but it was a boy of about his own age that he found the most interesting. Unconsciously hisi hand tightened in his mother's and he sat straight up and stared at the child opposite. The threadbare suit that the other boy wore was torn and patched and torn again ; a cotton rag of a shirt, collarless, buttonlsss, left the thin neck bare to the bitter wind that blew through the doorway ; the blue-red hands were stuffed into the ragged pockets in vain hopes of getting a little warmth into their numbness ; and through the gaping holes in the tattered remnants of boots the toes were plainly visible. The mother seemed no less wretched, and one wondered to see them in the tram at all. But Tommy only looked at the poor boy, and" as Mrs. Walcott stole a glance at the baby face that she lnew so well she felt what was passing in her son's mind as clearly as he riia himself. The color deepened in the soft rounded cheeks, the eye grew big and piti-fi-1 ; eery detail of the street Arab's misery seemed to be slowly impressing itself on Tommy's mind. He Ioo!>ed rlown at his own strong leather boots ; then at the tattered footgear opposite. Hesitatingly he opened the fingers that clasped the dollar bill which he had earned, which he had given his playtime for weeks and weeks to earn. The sight of it brought back the remembrance of what it was to buy, and every attraction of the toy* came back to him. Once miore his hand closed, a little stubborn line showed round his mouth and he raised his head half defiantly, but in so doing he met the sad, hungry look in the child's eyes opposite, and again his expression changed. His eyelids quivered and his lins began to tremble ; then, with a sudden rush, as if afraid of his resolution giving way, he scram Wed from his seat and darted to the poor boy's side. ' Buy hoots,' he said : and, thrusting his cherished hill into the grimy hand, he was back in his seat again before any one but his mother realised what he had done. But he did not lean against her now ; he had a°ted by himself and he must bear the consequences alone. And something seemed to engross his attention o'it in the street, for he turned his head right away and pressed his face against the glass ; yet if the truth were known, he saw nothing of all that passed, for the sight in his eyes was blurred and misted with tears. He had fought and conquered, but the victory had its sting. Mrs. Walcott had watched the struggle and its sequel with a beating heart and a choking in her throat, hut she said nothing, only she put her arm round her little hero and held him tight. She was noij the only witness of the act : the other passengers had seen it too. A big, prosperous looking man stood up and spoke aloud. ' Ladies and gentlemen,' he said, and his voice was rather husky. ' Shall we let that baby shame us ? * And diving 'down into his capacious pockets he pulled O'it a handful of loose change, and putting it into his hat he passed it round to his fellow-travellers, who all followed his example, and added more or less to its contents. The little cold boy, not following what was going on, received the money in a half-dazed silence, and even

the mother to whom this meant a little rest, a little comfort, one happy Christmas at least for henself and her child, pould not put her thank into words. Then as the church with the wonderful crib was not far distant, and the attentions of their fellow-travellers began to grow embarrassing both to Mrs. Walcott and Tommy, they left the car and once more were alone together in the street. Even then they did not speak, only when at last they knelt side by side, still hand ijn hand before the representation of Bethlehem's manger, Tommy whispered tremulously : ' I ga\e it for Him, mammy.' And his mother thought he had given the Christ child something that must please Him — ' Aye Maria '