The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-07-07

Down to the piers all was confusion
and uproar--busy passengers hurrying
from newly arrived boats-turbid wa.
ters dashing and rolling against messy
posts--swaving crowds, and loud, dis.
sonant voices, creates small bedlam
around the docks, and little Jamie wan
dered around with his board Of fruit,
feeling very lonely and bewildered.-
He had piled up the golden oranges with
their sunniest side upward; he had
polished the red-cheeked apples until
they shone like mirrors, yet nobody
stopped to buy.
Poor jamie amid all the tumult,
what chance has he Of being noticed
h hxa picked out the very same bunch
Of grapes that he intended for Katy, in
Taylor's window, as he came by-a
plump, apopleptic bunch dangling from
crimson thread, where the sunshine
lay full on the purple bloom, and anne
thystic shadows lurked among its full
ness of fruitage. Just at present the
tempting morsel seemed very far off to
Jamie's imaginations.
Determined not to give way without a
vigorous effort, however, Jamie stepped
boldly forward to the first person he
saw, and held up his wares with mod
est Buy an orange, sir ?"
Now, as ill-fortune would have it.,
this possible customer was fat. ilf-tem-
pered, pursy old man, whose color had
Just been intlamed to fever heat by the
inadvertent descent of heavy nailed
boot heel on his favorite corn. At all
times he considered orange boys a nui.
sance, but just now his slender quota of
patience was entirely exhausted. He
aimed muttered oath and a furious blow
at the fair haired boy, and rushed past,
to catch>s retreating omnibus.
Jamies splang aside just in time to
escape the brutal blow, but it itdescended
upon his full stock in trade, scattering
apples and oranges far and wide He
was standing close to the pier, aud most
of the fruit flew into the water, where
it went bobbing up and down with the
tide, in a most tantalizing manner. A
few apples rolled under the feet of the
crowd, but it was impossible to- secure
them again.
Jamie's first sensation was that of in
dignant wrath the blood rushed in an
cry torrents to his cheek and brow, and
he shook his small fist impotently in the
direction which the fat man had taken.
But in an instant feeling of forlorn
wrctchedness come over him-no temp
ting bit OF cake--no purple grapes for
poor Katy-perhaps not even supper,
for he knew that his mothers wages
must 60 towards the rent of the room.
They depended entirely on his exertion
for their evening meal. and the sun was
declining in the west already.
The reflection was too much for his
boyish heart, and he was sobbing yio-
lently, when gentle hand was laid on
his shoulder. He started up, and be-
fore him stood pleasant gentleman,
who watched the whole transaction.
"There, my boy" he said, laying a
silver dollar in the boys hand, "that
will set you up again. No thanks the
money was intended for some piece of
extravagauce, and | choose to use it thus.
But remember this, my boy; when you
are pushed down in the race, don't stop
to rub your bruises, but pick yourself
up aud start again."
Jamie thought the smile with which
this was s1id the pleasantest and kind
est expression that ever frightened a
human face but ere he could stam-
mer out his thanks, the gentleman was
gone.
The boy started for his home with a
light and joyous heart, stopping 70 pur-
chase the cherished morsels of fruit and
cake on dis way.
The supper was joyful ceremony in
the garret room that evening. The
grapes pleased Ka,y's delicate appetite
to a charm. and the story of the dollar
was listened to with interest.
Il wish l could see the kind gentle
man." said the child earnestly Il would
give him my beautiful rose, if he liked
flowers.
She looked strangely beautiful that
night, her head rested on her brothers
shoulder, while Jamie feed her with the
juicy berries, one by one, as a bird
might feed It's young.
"Why, how bright the color in your
cheek is. cried Jamie. Il believe you
have been stealing the red shadows from
your favorte rose. Mother. l am sure
Katy will get WELL
The next morning, while the golden
spear Of sunrise was in rest among the
purple hills. Katy died.
The moss of twenty years had gath.
cred upon Katy's head stonc-the vio-
let's Of twenty years had blossomed over
her grave, and it was glorious autumn
day, whose light streamed along the
busy thnrnnghfare. aud shone on the
magnificent marble erection devoted to
the extensive operations of the celebra-
ted Bank of K.
A splendid carriage cushioned with
velvet. and glitter,ng brightly in the sun
shine, was drawn up oppositite the door,
waiting to take the great banker to his
palatial home.
The spirited horses. foaming and
prancing. could hardly be curbed, and
the driver looked wonderingly towards
the door, and marveled why his usually
punctual master did not come.
Mr. Arne. stood in little office open
ing from the main bank. where the long
rows of clerks were bending over their
desks. He had been looking over lit
tie pocket book, which he always carried
about him. for some note or bill and as
he turned its pages. bit OF folded pa
per dropped out.
The banker opened it. and although
twepty years had deadened the frst
of k,c L. II 80