Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-10-19

made for BIN all stuffed with 6av. and GOV.
feied &idl neat cbintz, and dawn aIp close
10 tie Sindow, so that The sweet aataa air
blew in on bis white forehead, and he could
reach out aud touch The cteeping grape
vines vines filed With buds, that clambefsd abO1s
4 Jyssy's mother 4 aa very fyspd pddof, ia and she
work, d hard all day with her aeedIe for
there was no one to provide for her and
her crippled boy, and set She found time
to do world Of kind things for him. She
it was, who trained Ihe roses-vho kept
g the room 50 dainty clean-who carried
s LIm IN her arms out into the Geld. II. the
; warm days, that be mightfeel The soft grass;
and bear The birds sing, and watch the
feeding Of The ilocks. She 1t was who sang
Old songs 20 him, and lold him stories when
he was i'll and the pain made him sad and
nervous She was good mother to JOSEF
and he loved her dearly, and tried as. much
as he could to Keep back from her his
trouble and pains, and always spoke to her
gently and sweedy. -
But Josey had one great pleasure Of his
own; be had remarkable talent for cut
ing curious and beautiful things out Of
wood; these he stained with dye that bis
mother made for him, and she carried them
down to the village. and sold them VIXEN she
/ went home with her work. To be sure,
l5osey could not make many of these, Tor bis
liole nervous fingers were often useless With
Tpain, and some days be was obliged to lie
VERY still on his back doing nothing. But
| the Joy he had whenever his mother did
tring home money Of bis own earning, was
more than I can tell you. His hot cheeks
would glow the whole evening, and bis
mother had 10 take him on her lap and
sOothe him to sleep, or he would have lain
all night dreaming of his riches. r~
I lie was feeling very bright Io- day, and the
little pine table drawn up to the side of bis
couch, was covered with bits Of wood, and
liny cups of coloring that belonged to bis
work. He laid down the knife with which
be was cutting, and put out bis thin hand
to meet Harry's with an expression Of de-
! light The two boys had not seen each
other for long time, and Harry had
hos! of wonderful things of boy interest to
to relate, and altogether was SO Afectionats
and cordial. that bis presence served to do
Josey as much good as toe Nay sunshine
I-and indeed, his plump, glad face, all in
glow With. exercise. and The warmth Of
the day, was a CHEEKY sight for any body:
"Whut are you making there % said
Harry, pointing to the materials on the Ia
/ ble
"oh, something famous" said Josey,
smiling. 'It's going to be the greatest
thing ever did. rs kind Of work box,
you see. I've got q splendid picture for
the top, and here's queer invention of my
oRn for the spools. shall be rich, ez-
pect, when sell it: Eb, motherI' and be
smiled playfully..
AT the word rich, Harry's hand instinct
lively dropped into the pocket that held the
two half dollars; but he looked at Josey's
wan face, and worn, patched clothes, and
something in his heart restrained him from
parading tss newly acquired wealth.
Don't stop working, JoGey." be said, II
should ike to see how you 60 at Tit is
much a puzzle to me how these beautiful
things are made. lam sure could never
do il in life time"
sob, 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 ho
stood looking at Josey as he worked in al
lence. Il was curious, indeed, to see how
skillfully he cut and carved, and how
smoothly the rough wood came into form
under his touch. The work evidently inter-
esGed him greatly; but now and then bis
hand irem6Ied, and his shortened breath
showed how fatiguing even little exertion
was; but be talked pleasantly to Harry, ex-
planning the why snd wherefore of every
thing he did, seeming to enjoy his admirs-
ton very much. .rs
"What a sharp knife that is is Of yours;
Josey," said Harry, "it cuts ike a razor"
ayes" said Josey, "that knife was my
fsther's, the little blade was broken when
first 90! Il; but this bids fair to last a good
many years; and luckily, for don't know
what / should do without it" and be plung-
ed it into one side of the box, where be was
holloRing out groove; there was quick
low snap, and Harry started, and leaned
into the window Ab, il was too true; in
Josey's quick excited motion. the knife had
broken! The blade snapped near the top
still stuck to the wood, and the smooth,
worn handle was left in bis hand. Poor
Josey turned very white, and lay back on
his couch, and into the hollow eves came
big tears; but be crushed them back under.
the thin eyehds, and put up his hand as if
be would smooth the contraction of his fore
head but look of pain had fixed itselfin in
his face, and he could not put it away.
"Josey, dear boy" said bis mother, and
she came up and put her hands around him.
and drew out the broken blade from the
wood. Her Gears she did not try to keep
back; but, plying as she did, she could on
ly weep and soothe him. She could not
say the words she would rather have said
than any other-that she would soon have
replaced his loss
"Don't cry, dear mother" said JOtey
family, ''kniyes can't last forever, you know;
and if this must break, see how nicely il
has come of, so near the handle. can
use the blade for great many things, and
one of your knives will help too. can get
along nicely. think"
But Josey found it hard to comfort his
moor mother. She knew how many lonely