Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-12-08
From Arthur's Home Magazine.
JOHNNY COLE.
w MRS. $. HEPBURN HAYES

,;d Mr. Cole with SIGH. as she drew closer to the
fire one cold day in Autumn. Ihls remark was au
dressed to her husband sleepy, lazy looking man
who was stretched on bench, with MS eyes nad nun
closed The wife with two little girls of eight ana
ten were knitting as fast their fingers could ny
the baby wasFsound asleepin the cradle whhe join
nv n how of thirteen, and a brother oil louI' VIC,
seated on the wide hearth making snare LOT rho
bits The room they occupied cold and cheer-
less: the warmth of the scanty fire oeing sc"icey
felt vet the floor, and every article OF lurli'ue
mean as they were, were scrupuiousS He'' "''N
The .nneamnce of this family indicated that they
,vare vcrv moor They all thin and pale really
for the want Of proper food, and their ciothes nau
been matched until it was difficult to decide what
the original fabric had been; yet this very circun-
stonce smoke volumes in favor of the mother she
was n woman of great energy of character, unlor-
tunatey united to man whose haoits were suoti,
that for the greater part ofthe time he was oeao
WEIGHT upop her hands; although not haoitualiy III
temperate he was INDECENT and good-tor-nothlng TO
a degree living in the sun half his time, when the
weather was warm, and never doing stroke oil work
until driven to it by the pangs OF hunger.
As for the wife, by taking in sewing kntunS anu
SHINING for the farmers families in the neigh6or-
hood, she managed to pay rent OF twenty collars
for the cabin in which they lived; while she anu
Johnny with what assistance they couIo oCeasioii
ally Get from Jerry, her husband, THEA the nan
acre of ground attached and the vegetables thus
obtained were their main dependence during the
long winter Just at hand Having thus introduced
the Coles to our reader, we VIII CONTINUE Inv WI
versation: Io
81 guess we will have to put out Johnny, and you
will try ard help us a little more, Jerry, dear;
"Whv, what's got into the woman now" NUT
tered Jerry stretching his arms and yawmng 10 the
utmost capacity of his mouth. The children laugh
cd at their fathers uncouth gestures, and even
Mrs Coles serious face reapsed into smlle, as she
answered.: ~,
"Dop't swallow us all and will tell you. Inc
winter is beginning carly, and promises 10 DE co'
a., I,,'t DO,1taS /
and the truth is we cannot get along So "e"oh
have vctuals enough to last us halt the time; anG'
manage as l will, / can't much more than pay The
rent l get so little for the KIND OF WORK 10
Now if Johnny gets place, 1t Will make one less
to provide for; and he will be learning to 40 some
thing for himself.
Yes. but mother" said the boy, moving close to
her side, and laying his head on her knee, les,
but who'll help you when am gone! NhoH uig
the lot, and hoe, and cut the wood, and carry the
water? You can't 90 away down to the spring IN
the deep snow And who'll make the fire in the
cold mornings" :,
The mother looked sorry enough, as her darling
boy-for he was the object around which the iond,
est affections had entwined themselves-she looked
sorry enough as he enumerated the turns he was IN
the habit of doing for her; but, woman-like, she
could suffer and be still; so she answered cheer
fully:
MAY be father will, dear and when you grow
bigger, and learn how to do everything, youn be
such help to US all"
Don't depend on me- said Jerry, now arousing
himself and sauntering to the fire. Il hardly ever
feel we'll complaining was Jerrys especial FORTE
an excuse for all his azness yet his appeute never
failed and when, sometimes the case, one OF
the neighborS sent them a small piece OF meat, OF
any little article of food to his wife, under the plea
of ill health he managed to appropriate nearly the
whole of it. He selfshness embodied, and Sc
rous injury to his family as few cared to keep him
up in his laziness.
baeD hours.
tired and after laying aside her bonnet and shawl,
informed them that she had obtained a place tor
Johnny. 1t was four miles apart and the farmers
man would stop for him on his way from town, the
next afternoon What beautiful object was farm
err Watkins homestead, lying it did slope of
a hill; its grey stone walls, peeping out from be-
tween the giant trees that overshadowed 1t, while
rything around and about gave evidence OF abun-
dance and comfort. The thrifty orchard; the huge
barn with its overfiowing granaries the Sleek we'll
fatted cattle; the low-rooted spring house,
with its superabundance of shining pals and pans,
formed an item which could hardly be dispensed
With, in the tout ensemble of this pleasant home.
Farmer Watkins honest, Woodworking
nan, somewhat past middle age, with heart not
naturally devoid of kindness, but where his hire
ings were concerned, so strongly encrusted with
aver ofhdbits, that they acted efectual check
lpon his better feelings His family consisted of
wife, said to be noticeable manager, and five or six
children, the eldest, son, at college. In this house
lod, work, work, the order of the day; the
armer with his great brown fists, set the example,
nd the others, willing, unwilling were obliged !
o follow his lead. lie had agreed to take John !
Joe, as he said more to get rid of his mothers i'm
than for any benefit he expected to de-
i've from him; and when he demonstrated /
With by his wife for his folly in giving her the trou-
lie of another brat, he answered shortly: Never
ear, I'll get the worth of his victuals and clothes !
ut of him." Johnny have his boarding,
lothes, and dollar month, for two years. This |
oilar month was great item in Mrs. Coles cal !
uiations; twelve dollars year, she argued, would /
lmost pay her rent, and when the tears stood in !
ohnnys great brown eyes, Qor he was a pretty, !
entle-hearted boy,) as he was bidding them all |
Goodbye, and kissing the baby over and over again,
he told him about the money he would earn, and |
erved his little heart with the glowing representa-
ions, until he able to choke back the tears, and
ave home almost cheerfuly.
Home, yet it was home for they had much to re- !
eem the miseries of want within those bare cabin !
alls for gentle hearts and kindly smiles were there
here
"The mother sang at the twilight fall
To the babe half surb ering on her knee"
here his brother and sister played; there his asso
atlons, his hopes, his wishes were all conferred
' hen he arrived at farmer Watkins, and was sent
ito the large carpeted kitchen, every thing was so
mike his home, that his forttude almost gave Way
nd it was as much he could do as he told his
lother afterwards, "t to keep from bursting righs
ut Mrs. Watkins looked very cross nor did She
office him, except to order him to stand ont
the way of the red armed girl who was pre!
airing supper, and placing it table in the am.
lie apartment Johnny looked with amaZemeat at
he great dishes of meat, and plates of hot biscut
ut the odor of the steamng coffee, and the heat
ere almost too much for him, as he had eaten no.
e L