CRIPPLE ,FRED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 51

CRIPPLE ,FRED.

By Mubbax Aston,

Chapter L.

Poor Fred Jones was a cripple.- One of his little legs hung useless, being fully a foot shorter than tho other. But then his cratch wan a great add, and his good leg, as Fred was wont to say, " were a game 'an." Hit lot, morever, was not altogether without glints of sunshine, : since be met with much kindness from all sorts and conditions of people on account of his affliction. Fred lived with his parents in a dense part of London. It was in an attic that the family existed — four ohildren, father, and mother. They were very poor, but then there were thousands of people even worse off than they ; and, singular to relate, the spirit of poverty had not extinguished altogether the .virtue of. .contentment* and. within the four■walls- of their humble abode this family enjoyed, what has been denied to many far richer, the inestimable boon, twin-sister to Contentment—^viz-, happiness. Fred had ranch to do with this genial condition of affair?, for. he was always cheerful. Dry bread and water, on whioh they were often compelled to dine, were good enough for him, and even when their meal consisted of water only, which was not infreqaently the case, no word of complaint ever escaped the lips of our little hero ; and, being the eldest, bis example was not thrown away on his sisters and brothers, who thus became little stoics in their turn.

■ Fred's delight on a fine afternoon was to make bis way to Oxford street, which, as everyone should know, is one of the main thoroughfares in tbe great metropolis, and having feasted his eyes on the magnificent display of goods in ' the various shops*, he would stand gazing at the carriages as they passed rapidly by, drawn by beautiful horses and occupied by fashionably-attired people. Sometimes Fred would be able to closely examine one of these equipages as it stood outside some establishment awaiting the return of the owners from their shopping ; and although we know .that it is very rode to etare, and that vulgar little boys who indulge in the luxury — in London, at all events —are promptly " moved on " by the polioe, no one ever thought of saying anght to the poor little cripple.

-One day Fred's heart was gladdened by tbe sight of a magnificent landau, drawn by a. pair of upstanding grey horses, waiting outside a large draper's shop. The coachman was resplendent in a gorgeous livery, and there was the footman standing at attention by the' shop door — a sight indeed calculated to gladden the heart of any little boy. The man stood over six feet high ; his waistcoat was scarlet, his knee breeches were a sort of velveteen, and his white stockings contained a pair of legs the calves of which were truly aldermanic. Fred fairly gasped in admiration, and presently turned his eyes once more to the carriage, and here again he gave another start of delighted surprise, for seated in the carriage was a lovely woman, and in her lap she fondled a still more interesting object to Fred's mind— viz., an exquisite toy terrier dog. Open-mouthed the lad gazed in delight at the little animal, and presently he became conscions of a 6weet voice addressing him : " Little boy, do you like dogs ? " it said. Reluctantly taking his eyes from the object of his admiration, Fred replied : " Yes'm," at the same time making a clutch at his rsgged head in tbe way of a salute. " Come nearer, my lad," went on the lady. •'You can stroke him if you like. He will not bite." And Fred limped nearer to the carriage and stretched out a not over-clean hand to caress 1 the little pet. Suddenly something' on the floor of the Carriage caught his sharp eye, and he promptly drew the attention of his new friend to it.

♦• Oh, thank you," she said. "It is my diamond brooch, which I valae very highly." •' Is them real di-monds ? " inquired Fred. " They are indeed, and I might have lost them had it not been for yoa, my lad. Thank you so much."

" Oi, that ain't nothink. You'd a found 'em right enoughs or if jou didn't that there bloke" — indicating the gorgeous flunkey with a nod — "would a-been sure to have aeed *em."

" I'm not so sure about that," smilingly returned the lady. " I must, however, make you scraa return for what you have done for me. Now, what would you like best in the World r

Fred huDg his head and made no reply, although his eyes were steadily fixed on the dcg.

" Come, say what you would like." •• I don't like to," he said at last. «• I'm waiting," she gently reminded. " I'd like the dawg 1 " exclaimed Fred. M And the dog you shall have I " came the Unexpected reply.

{To be continued.)