The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-05-25
BIDDEFORD, MAINl, FRIDAY, MAY Is, 1855

started and leaned into the window. All !
wa, too true in Joscy's quick, e1cied mo
ton, the knife had broken! The blaos
snapped near the top, still stuck ia'' IN Toe
wood, and the smooth worn handle vas lelt
in his hand. Poor Josey turned very White
and lay back on his couch, and in,othc boil
low eyes came the big tears !; but b crusn.
cd them back under the thin oye'as. and
nut up his hand as If he would supoth the
contraction of his forehead; but alooE Of
pain had f,ed itself in his face, and no
could not put it away. g.,
"Joscy, dear Boy" said his motnr ana
she came up and put her arms aroud him,
and drew out the broken blade fpm The
wood. Her tears she did not try b keep
back but, plying him as she did, she could
only weep and soothe him. She eold not
say the words she would rather have said
than any other-that sh0 would soon este Bye
replaced his loss. Il
"Don't cry, dear mother" said Joscy'
family knives can't last forever, you know
and IL this must break, sec how nicely II
has come of, so near the handle. l can use
the blade for great many things, and one
of your knives will help, too. l can gel
along nicely, I think"
But Josey found it hard 10 comfort his
poor mother. She knew how many lonely
hours that knife had cheered-how many
dull ones it had brishtened-how much de-
light his work had always been to him-ho~
impossible It was for her her to get him an
other for long time and she remembered
too, that on these slight earnings Of 'osey''
she was dependent for the means OF P'ocur-
ing for him those little luIuries that were
almost necessarics, when he was feeble and
suffering.
Poor Josey could not speak, but his blue
eyes were full Of tears, and great pain iil'
led his heart, rs he caught the look, more
touching than all the mothers words, with
which Josey gathered up the severed han
die and blade, and put them into the drawer
Of his little table. Oh, how few the boy
sources of happiness must be, when the
breaking of simple knife could put such a
look of unhappiness into his face! Excite
ment, as it usually did, had made Josey q
little faint, and while he lay back with his
eyes clascd, for few moments, his mother
tanning him with her broad palm'leaf fan,
Harry slipped away.
II was late in the afternoon when he came
again toward the house, on his return from
his long walk to the village. Tho soil
lirh, of The setting sun fell upon Josey's low
window, and the pale boy lay looking out
on tho rosy and golden clouds in the western
sky. There was still sad look on his face,
but he smiled when Harry came up, and lis
tened pleasantly to the boy gossip ho had
brought from the village. --.
II was no, until some minutes alter Harry
had bado him good bye, and he had ceased
to watch his stou, stout figure hurrying up
the road, that Josey discovered in the far
corner Of the window, closely folded pack.
age of white paper, directed to himself; and,
as he slowly and wonderingly unrolled it,
there dropped from it heavily upon his
couch, a big, beautiful knife, stouter and
handsomer than the one he had lost, and
with ,,ro fine blades. Josey trembled so,
and his eyes grew SO dim, that he could not
read the words on the inside Of the wrap.
per, and, al in wonder, his mother came and
read these lines, written in an uniformed,
boyish hand:
Dear Josey: Please to accept this knife
from me, because I would rather you should
have it, TO make up for the one you broke,
than TO have the handsomest kite in The
world. bought It with my o,rn money, on
purpose for you. Your sorry and affection
ute friend. HARRY"
Poor Joscy! The tears that had been
kept back. fell fast enough, now, and, like a
little child, he hid his face against his moth.
cr's breast, too glad and grateful for words
There was no pleasant sounding silver in
Harry's pocket, when he went to his room
that night-no strong, beautiful knife, better
than the silver, to take its place, but his
mothers kiss was tenderer than ever, when
she babe him good night, and angels Of
peace, and love hovered about him, with
blessings promised those who lay up treas.
ure in Heaven"