Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-17

es, jamie, don't mind il much "
she answered, with deep, weary sigh
"but be back as soon as possible, please u
And her wistful, hollow eyes watched
him from the room with that earnest
startling look which we only find beneath
the very shadow of Death.
Down at the piers all was confusion
and uProar-busy passengers hurrying
from newly arrived boats-turbid waters
dashing and rolling against messy posts
-swaying crowds and loud, dissonant
voices, created a small bedlam around
the docks, and little Jamie wandered
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
= buy.
"Carrisge. sir?" "Take you to the
Astor House2" "Up Broadway in q
twinkling, ma ami"
"Ere's your 'Erald, Tribune, and
Times. Latest steamer from Europei--
Have paper, sir?"
Poor JamieI amid all this tumult, what
chance had he of being noticed2 He
had picked out the very same bunch of
grapes that he intended for Katy, in Tay-
lor's window, as he came by-a plump,
apoPlectic bunch dangling from crimson
thread, where the sunshine lay full on
the purple bloom, and amelhyslic shad-
ows lurked among its fullness of fruitage.
just at present the tempting morsel SEEM
ed very far off to Jamie's imaginations.
Determined not 10 give wly without a
vigorous effort, however, Jamie stepped
boldly forward to The first person he saw,
and held up his wares with a modest,
"Buy an orange, sir?"
Now, as i'll fortune would have it. this
possible customer was fat, ill-tempered,
pussy old man, whose choler had just
been infiamed to fever heat by the inad-
verient descent of a heavy-nailed boot
heel on favorite corn. At all times he
considered orange boys a nuisance, but
just now his slender quota of patience
was entirely exhausted. He aimed a
mutiering oath and a'furiors blow at the
fair-haired boy. and rushed past to catch
relreating omnibus.
Jamie spfang aside just in time 10 es-
cape The brutal blow, but il descended
full upon his stock in trade, scattering ap-
Piles and oranges far and wide. He was
standing close 10 the pier, and most of
his fruit flew into the water, where it
went bobbing up and down with the tide,
in most tantalizing manner. A few
apples rolled under the feet of the crowd,
but il was impossible to secure them
again.
Jamie's first sensation was that of in
dlgnant wrath; the blood rushed in angry
torrents TO his cheek and brow, and he
shook his small fist impotently in the d.
rection which the fat man had taken.
But in an instant a feeling of forlorn
wretchedness came over him-no tempt
ing bite of cake-no purple grapes for
poor Kitiy-perhaps not even a supper,
for he knew that his mothers wages must
go towards the rent of the room. They
depended entirely on his exerlion 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 violent
ly, when gentle hand was laid on his
shoulder. He started up, and before him
stood a pleasant gentleman, who had
watched the whole transaction.
"Ihere, my boy" he said, laying a
silver dollar in the boys hand, "that will
set you up again: No thanks-the n,on-
ey was intended for some piece of ex-
travagance, and | choose 10 use it thus.
But remember this, my boy; when you
are pushed down in the race, don't stop
10 rub your bruises, but pick yourself up
and start againr'
Jamie thought the smile with which
this was said the pleasantest and kindest
expression that ever frightened human
face; hut ere he could stammer out his
thanks, the gentleman was gone.
The boy STATED for home with light
and joyous heart, stopping to purchase
the cherished morsels of fruit and cake
on his way. The gentleman walked
ieisurely up Broadway. Seeing in a !
bookstore the title of newly published |
work that he had much desired to read, |
has footsteps involuntaIily turned in that
direction; but in an instant he went on,
buttoning up his pockets, and murmuring
10 himself with smile; sCan't afford il: |
one luxury day ought to be enough"
There was vast difference between man |
and child, in their capacities for enjoy.
ment. but both were happy that night.
The supper was joyful ceremony in
the garet aeom that evening. The
grapes pleased Kate's delicate appetite to
a charm, and the story of the dollar was
listened TO with interest