A Life's Hatred.

country . On his way home one day , after a delightful iambic , hc was passing over a lonely part of famed Bag-shot Heath , when his steps were arrested by hearing a low , painful sobbing that proceeded from behind a clump of furze . His curiosity being excited lie

approached and examined tlie spot . To Iris surprise be discovered a biy of tender years curled up on tho ground with hi . s small hands clasped over his eyes through which tbe bright tears came welling . " What is the matter , my lad ? " he enquired in kindly tones ..

Thc . little fellow sat up , and stared at his interrogator with a dreamy , half-frightened gaze , but did not answer . take shall not harm

" Conic , come , my boy , courage . I you , continued the gentleman , stooping down , and patting thc child o'ently with his hand . Thus reassured , tho youngster rose to his feet , but stootl trembling , with downcast eyes . " Where do you live ? " was the next question . " Nowhere , sir , " was thc startling reply .

" Nowhere ! " repeated Mr . Mordaunt , smiling ; " that is a strange answer . You surely have not dropped from the clouds ? Where did you sleep Inst night P " " In a wood , " tersely replieel the boy . *" " Why , you must bo a modern Orson , " remarked thc gentleman . Thc lad raised his large eyes enquiringly , as if puzzled by thc meaning of thc outlandish name .

" Ai'c you a wild boy of the woods , then ? " good-humouredl y continued Mr . Mordaunt . " Do you live on berries , acorns , and the like J- If so , a vegetarian diet appears to agree remarkably well with you . " A deep crimson flush overspread thc sunburnt face of thc , urchin , hut hc did not attempt to speak . Interested by thc mien of thc boy ,

and determined , if possible , to solve bis mystery , Mr . Mordaunt thought that the best plan to adopt to unloosen the tongue of thc waif would bo to excite his cupidity . Taking a coin from his pocket hc held it temptingly between his linger ami thumb anel said : "Woulel you like lo earn this shilling \ "

"Yes , sir , was thc quick repl y , and thc sharp eyes glittered m anticipation . "Well then , answer my questions without further hesitation , and above all , truthfully . As I said before , I will not harm you , but will assist you , if 1 find that you are deserving . You said just now that last night you slept in a wood . How far was the place from hero ? " " I don't know , sir , " slowly replied the lad .

" Come , come , I am getting tired of these evasions , " impatiently remarked Mr . Mordaunt . " If yon do not at once answer mc pvopcvly . instead of giving yon this money I shall convey you to the nearest watch-house where you will be kept as a strolling vagabond and taken before the justices in the morning . i '

" Oh ! please , don ' t , sir , " cried the lad , as he threw himself at thc feet of tho gentleman , and violently sobbed as if his heart would break . This proceeding touched the feelings of Mr , Mortlaunt , and his own eyes glistened with emotion as he said : " I do not wish to deal harshly with yon , my poor boy , Heaven forbid ! Hut I cannot stay here much longer . You say yon slept last night in a wood , but refuse to tell mc where it was . "

" It . was a long way from , here , sir , saiel tho lad , again standing up . " In what direction r " was thc next query . " Over yonder , " anel the boy pointed towards the setting sun . " IJo you know the name of the place ? " " No , " said the youngster , " but it was near a large town . I

cannot think of the name . " "At what hour did you leave it ' r" asked Mr . Mortlaunt . " At sunrise , sir , 1 have been running anel walking ever since , " ho added , " and I am very tired and hungry . " A light suddenly broke upon thc gentleman , and he said , " I think I have fathomed your story . You tire a runaway , and all this time

A Life's Hatred.

you have been cleverly fencing with my questions , as you were afraid I should take steps to send you back to your bouse and borne in some distant village . " " I never had a house , and never lived in a village , " sturdily answered the lad . " The deuce you have not ! " exclaimed his bearer . " Am I on the , wroncr scent once more ? "

" I have always slept in a tent or van , ' continued the other , " sometimes' in tho woods , sometimes on the commons , sometimes by thc roadside , but never near thc house-dwellers . " Thc last remark excited the risibility of Mr . Mordaunt and he laughed heartily . " You must be a gipsy , then ? Why did I not think of it before . "

' Yes , sir , I am a gipsy , but pleaso do not send me back to the tents again , I would rather die , " pleaded thc boy , casting a shuddering look behind him .

" Have you a father and mother living f ' " My father is dead , sir , but my mother is alive . " " Why did yon run away ? " ' I was beat with a thick stick until thc blood came because I woulel not rob a ben roost . Thc farmer ' s wife near our camp was kind to mc yesterday , she kissed my cheeks , gave me some milk and

cake , cried over mc , said I was like her dead boy in heaven , and bade me for God's sake to be honest . M y mother ' s brother had seen mo speaking to the good lady and asked me if I had begged for money . I told him no . He swore at mc for a lazy cur , said I was too idle to live , and gave me a box on thc car . When we reached the tents hc whispered for some timc to my mother , and she came over to where I was sitting .

"' Would you like to have some supper to-nig ht , Dick ? " she asked .

" ' Yes , mother , ' I answered . '" Well then , you will have to earn it . You know the farm yonder ?' ' " ' Yes , mother , I do , the farmer ' s wife there gave mc some food to-day . ' " ' Anything else ? ' said she .

"' No , mother , she spoke so kind to mo that I did not like to ask her for money . ' "' Ah ! ' exclaimed my mother , " ' a pretty tale you little milksop . Before the moon rises you must go to tho homestead aud wring thc necks of two plump chicks , and bring them here . Away with you . ' * " ' I cannot rob the kind lady , mother . I would rather starve . '

'" What does thc young whel p say ' r" growled a voice near me , and my uncle approached thc spot . " ' He refuses to do my bidding , ' said my mother . "' He docs , does hc ? ' grinned my uncle . ' I will break every bone in his lazy carcase '

" The brute caught mc by thc collar and struck me many times with his cudgel . I begged for mercy , but my cries were useless . At last he gave over , and dragging me across the grass , he flung mc half dead into my mother ' s tent . There 1 lay till , tired out with sobbing and pain , 1 fell asleep . When I woke I was aching all over from thc blows 1 had received . I crawled out of the tent just as thc sun was

rising , without disturbing my mother who was fast asleep in one corner . No tmo was about . I then made up my mind to leave tho tents . I had nothing to care for . My mother had always treated me harshly , aud I have heard her say , many times , she wished I would die . I took a piece of bread with mc and crept away without being

seen . I ran a long distance , as I was afraid of being followed and taken back , I have hael nothing to eat , " concluded tho speaker , " hut the bread , and when you found mc , sir , I was crying because I was hungry and tired , anel die ! not know where to go and beg a shelter . "

" Poor boy , poor boy , " murmured thc benevolent Mr . Mordaunt , " your story is a very p itiful one . " " Believe mo , sir , it is true , " siv . d thc gipsy , looking wistfully at the gentleman , who was regarding him steadfastly , as if lie would read

Ad04201

CITYOFLONDONTRUSSSOCIETY 35 , FIItfSBTJRY SQUARE , E . C . INSTITUTED 1807 . Patron—H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G . TKEASL-BEII—JOHN N 0 RBURY , Egg . BANKBUS—LLOYDS ' . BANK , LIMITED , 72 , Lombard Street . Thc Oiur . cT oi- ' Tins Cn . U ' . iTY is to relieve such poor persons throughout thc Kingdom as are alllictcd with rupture by providing them gratuitously with Surgical advice , with Trusses for every kind of Rupture , with bandages and other instruments for all cases of prolapsus , and b y performing every necessary operation in connect ion with . Hernia . About 10 , 000 Sufferers arc annuall y supplied wilh the Instruments required for their relief . SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOCIETY OVER HALF A MILLION PATIENTS HAVE BEEN BENEFITED . / liWt ' h ' oiuii , I >' t ( iHi . s tire greatl y needed to meet the increasing demands on , the Charity . Premises , recently enlarged , now provide a long-needed sepaiate entrance and wailing-rooin for female patients , and there is a female attendant for them . AN ANNTAI , SCI ' SCUH-TKJX OV ONI : GLINKA entitles to Four Letters of Recommendation . A Lii't : Si'iisciiii'Tiox OK l- ' ivi ; GIISTAS entitles to Two Letters annually ; and Tt :. \ G ' UIXKAS , Four Letter . '' . Donations , Subscriptions and Bequests arc earnestly solicited , and will be gratefully received by the Bankers , Li . OVns' BASK , limited , 72 , Lombard Street ; or by the Secretary , at the Ollices of thc Society . JOHN WHITTINGTON , Secretary . 171 / 179 FORM OF BEQUEST . — ' f give to Tut : Cm * ov LONDON TRUSS SGCIKTV , Finsbury Square , London , the sum of free of Legacy Duty , to be paid out of such part of my Estate as I may bequeath to charitable uses , as soon , as may bo possible after my decease . '