Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-04-11

ny groaned out With the pain in her
shoulder she sail. "l'm afraid | shall
always have il until get warm shawl
10 wear in cold weather"
"Do put on yur black onc," said his
mother. "Oh, DO; hope to get to
church again when spring comes, and |
must keep that shawl decent TO wear
there, beside, it isn't thick enough to
10 kee oGthc rheumatism; q little blan.
kct shawl would be the hing"
81 know it, n1d must Try TO get you
one very soon" ..i
Hasn't Grandmother any warm shawl!
asked Edwin.
mo"
"How much would it cost. mo,her?"
"About collar and a half" ...
"Just the price Of my skates" thought
Edwin, show nice it would be for me TO
give her a shawl How | SHOULD en-.
Joy seeing her wear it, and in thinking
| had helped to keep away her rheumo-
tism! But then, ! sh ,uld have TO 90
without skates, oil the other boys have
them, and it would be so pleasant 10 go
with them TO the canal Tomorrow ighu
shall | give up this pleasure or nol?--
pll iLink about it,"
He did think about it, end no. only
that night, but all the mex, day while
doing errands. When he carried home
the last parcel for his employer, he
went back TO get his pay: and when that
gentleman laid down the skates saying,
"There they are my boy, all your own,
may you have many merry time OIL
them his heart sweled with Joy for a
moment 10 think that he owned the long
coveted skates. But then he remem.
beIed his Grandmother, and though the
tears sprung TO his eyes, he said in
lolerably steady voice, "Woull you as
leave sir, that | took one oil those ban.
ket shawls instead of the skates?"
"a blanket shawl! what in the world
would you do with it"
"Give il TO my grandmother sir"
"What sudden change is this! |
thought you were hell crazy for pait
Of skates!'
$50 | was, but | heard Grandmother
say she would never ge, we'll Of the
rheumatism until she had a warm shawl.
"And you are going 10 treat her TO
one. ha?"
81 shoull like to-"
every we'll, select the incest shawl
in the store. There, what do you think
of that drab one?"
"Just the thing for Grandmother, bu,
have earned so much as lhal?'
"Ycs, and more too, bov so lho'tful
Of your grandmoiher's comfort" he re.
piled, as he carefully wrapped up the
shawl.
"Thank you sir" said Edwin leaving
the store, with the parcel in his hand.
lie did not dare to give another look at
the skates, for, somehow, they had never
seemed so attractive as then. When
he passed near the canal he whistled
loud tina, he should not hear the shouts
of the merry skaters, but in spite of him
self his eyes filled with tears as he re-
Imembercd he had no skates. But when
he entered the house, and slipping up
10 his Grandnlothe: spread the shawl
around her shoulders, he had TO Laugh
at her look of surprise.
"Oh what nice warm shu"l! she
kept saying over and over again, "what
fine thing to keep of the rheumatism!
if | had such shawl as that | should
ho ,n.Je nm for life"
"Be made up then Grandmother"
he said merrly, "lhe shawl is yours and
nobody else's."
"Mine?" asked the old lady in amaze.
ment.
"Yes, yours, | earned it BY going on
errands for Mr.. Smith, and want you
to wear it for my sake, Grandmother" "
"Dear heart, may the Lord bless
you, and raise up as ki1d children to
cherish you in your old age!" and she
laid her trembling hand upon his head
while her lips moved as if in prayer fol
him.
Never had Grandmother looked sc
we'll as On that evening, wrapped in
Elwin's shawl. She seemed so com.
Portable and Happy that he was more
than paid for his sacrifice. "And you
gave up your skates, Edwin for this?
said his mother, following him to hi.
liule bedroom. Grandmother reede1
the shawl so much more, mother"
"My darling son!' was all she coult
say, but she resolved in her heart tina
her child should have pair Of skates
too; il she had to sew all night to ge
them. She did not yet know that Goo
had put it in the hearts of some o,hs,
friends to give them to him, and tina
her extra toll would not be required.
On sunday Edwin felt very happy
seeing his Grandmother in her wa IN
sha wi and he thought to himself, All
had the skates could not enjoy then
10 day; but Grandmother can use he
shawl all the time-l am glad got it.
"That is a fine little lad Of widow
Merrick's said Mr.. Smith 10 some gen
tlemen who were in his store on Satur
day night, "n manly little fellow" h,
repeated, and then he told them ,h'
story ofthe skates and shawl. t.s .a
"The good boy! he shall have q pal
skates-he deserves them il ever las
did!"-and money was quickly procure,
10 pay for the very best skates in ,th
store. l-i -tA t-p - ea e. t
Or Monday morning, when Ejwi'
was in the yard saving wood, a DO.