Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-08-11

tne money way, That had ever happened t
Harry, and it needed the witness Of all hi
senses to keep up the conviction that it wa
really no dream. Harry's father although
thrifty farmer, who gave his little boy goo
clothes and all home comforts, had seldom
any money to bestow for his own especa
spending-Harry's utmost ambition and sue
cess having heretofore extended to brigh
dime. An old friend of his father from
distant city, spending q few days with them
had dropped into Harrys hand that morning
in parting, the gift of two bright half-dollars
to buy anything he might happen to want.
"Happen to want p Oh how much ant
how long Harry had wanted a knifel How
long he had wished and hoped-and wonder
ed when the time would come that he SHOULD
own such treasure Twelve years old and
no knife, had been a damper more than ono,
when he had tried to follow with the big boy.
at school, and you may be sure there was moi
q moment for indecision as to how or wher
the money should be spent For knife that
very afternoon it should go-that was settled
at once.
What boy does not remember the pride
and pleasure that came with his first knife
| the dignity and manliness its ownership con-
ierred? What boy will not appreciate the
glad thoughts that filled Harrys heart as he
highway to the village? He could not quite
decide whether it should have white handle
or dark one, but at all events it must have
two bades-and wouldn't he show Joe
Smith, next day, that some boys could make
whistles as well as others and couldn't he
mend little Susy Martins lead pencil for her,
instead OF seeing her go up to the master ev-
cry time it wanted sharpening? Oh, to-mor-
row was to be grand, happy day
On Harry's way, rod or two back from
the dusty road. stood small, dark, unpainted
house, at the low, open window of which he
caught sight of q face that he knew very WE'LL
and he paused, and then walked up with
pleasant smile to speak to his friend Josey
Wood. Josey was weak, suffering, crippled
boy, and he half reclined now on couch his
good mother had made for him, all stuffed
with hay, and covered with neat chintz, and
drawn up close to the window, so that the
sweet, warm sir blew in on his forehead, and
he could reach out his hand and touch the
creeping rose-vines filled with buds that clam
bered about the sill.
Josey's mother was very poor, and she
worked hard all day with her needle, for there
was no one to provide for herself and her lit
tie crippled boy, and yet she found time to do
q world of kind things for him. She it was
who trained the roses-who kept the room
so daintily clean-who carried him in her
arms out into the fields, in the warm days,
that he might feel the soft grass, and hear
the birds sing, and watch the feeding of the
focks. She it was who sung old songs to
him, and told him stories when he felt ill., and
the pain made him nervous and sad. She
her dearly, and tried as much as he could to
kna hac frop har hic md nd
always spoke to her gently and sweetly.
But Josey had one great pleasure of his
own he had remarkable talent for cutting
curious aud beautiful little things out Of
wood; these he stained with dye that his
mother made for him, and she carried them
down to the village and sold them, when she
went home with her work. To be sure, Josey
could not make many Of these, for his little
nervous fingers were often useless with pain.
and some days he was obliged to lie very still
on his back, doing nothing. But the joy he
had whenever his mother did bring home
money of his own earning, was more than /
can tell you. His hot Cheeks would glow for
the whole evening, and his mother had to take
him in her lap and soothe him gently to sleep,
or he would have lain awake all night, dream
ing of his riches.
He was feeling very bright to-day, and the
little pine table, drawn up to the side Of his
couch, was covered with bits of wood and tiny
cups of coloring that belonged to his work.
He laid down his knife with which he was cut
ting, and put out his thin hand to meet Harry's
with an expression of delight. The two boys
had not seen each other for some time, and
Harry had host of wonderful things Of boy
interest to relate. and altogether was so aiiec-
tionate and cordial, that his presence served
to do Josey as much good as the May sun
shine-and, indeed, his plump, glad face, all
in glow with exercise and the warmth Of
the day, was CHEEKY sight for anybody.
"What are you making there ?" said Har-
ry, pointing TO the materials on the table.
"Oh, something famous" said Josey, smi-
ling. "It's going to be the greatest thing
ever did. It's kind of work-box, you see.-l
I've got splendid picture for the top, and
here's queer invention of my own for the
spools. ! shall be rich, expect, when l sell
it. Eh, mother p and he smiled playfully.
At the word rich, Harry's hand instructive
ly dropped into the pocket that held the two
half-dollars but he looked at Josey's wan
face, and worn, patched clothes, and parading
his newly acquired wealth.
"Dont stop working, Josey," he said. 81
shotld like to see how you go at tits such
puzzle to me how those beautiful things are
made. / am sure / could never do it in
lifetime"
"Oh, perhaps you could if you'd nothing
else to do" said Josey, pleasantly but the
words made Harry sober, as he thought of
his own strong limbs and vigorous frame, and
thousand ways of amusement, and he stood
looking at Josey, as he worked in silence
1t was curious, indeed, to see how skilfully he
cut and carved. and how gracefully and
smoothly the rough wood came into form, un-
Ger his touch. The work evidently interested
him greatly; but now and then his hands
trembled, and his shortened breath showed
how fatiguing even little exertion was but
he talked pleasantly to Harry, explaining the
why and the wherefore Of everything he did,
seeming to enjoy his admiration and sympa-
thy very much.
"What a sharp knife that is of yours, Jo-
sey," said Harry; lit cuts like razor"
"Yes," said Josey, "that knife was my
fathers. The little blade was broken when /
first had it but this one bids fair to last ma
ny years and luckily, for don't know what
should do without it," and he plunged it
into one side Of the box, where he was hol-
lowing out groove there was quick, low
snap, and Harry started and leaned into the
window. All it was too true; in Josey's
quick, excited motion. the knife had broken
The blade, snapped near the top, still stuck
fast in the wood, and the smooth, worn ham
die was left in his hand. Poor Josey turned
very white, and lay back on his couch, aud
into the hollow eyes came the big tears but
he crushed them hack under the thin eyelids