The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-12-07
A STORY FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
LITTLE MIKEY.

so old his iace was so pinched and thin.
and his carefully patched garments hung
10 1sely upon his small limbs. He kept
aIoof from all the scholars, and they seem
ed also TO shun him. He took his place
quietly in the morning, aud did not once
leave it, except :or recitation, till school
was over. All through the long incoming
he sat watching the sports of his school
! fellows, and Charlie Harper had often uoic-
/ ed that he never replied, only by little
! culver of his small mouth, when the boys
! would tannt him with being druukard's
child and little Paddy. Charles mother
/ told him one morning, as he was starting
for school, TO keep his eyes open that day,
! and see if he could not do some good, kind
act, that would leave an influence upon
some of his mates as well as himself; and
Charles kept ii in mind as be walked on,
with his saichei on his arm, and along with
the thought flashed lhe remembrance OF
/ the child. Mikey O'Connel He looked off
at the long lane, where there were lew
I! foot prints, except the llIlle ones that Mix
( ey's ieel had msde, 10 The small, low house,
that had stood teuanlless for a long time
I Ii was so old and ruinous, and he knew the
/ people who lived there must be very poor.
and he felt grieved in his childish hea:t
that he had neglected The forlorn little
scholar so long. He was already in his
place when Charles entered the school
! room, sitting by himself, as he always did,
( and Charles went up TO him Iitlle timidly,
hardly knowing what TO say 10 open an &C
/ quaiulance.
/. "Woni Jou come out at noon upon the
ice? l'bave a pair OF new skates, and a
sled all painted green you may use them
I both. il you like"
pleased, happy look, came into those
/ great, sad eyes, and The thin lace lighted
! up all over.
''Thank you !" he whispered softly, but
very heartily. 81 would love TO ride on
your sled never learned 10 skaIe. Bot
may be if come out The boys will plague
me" The old look getting back into his
face.
''No, they shall not !" exclaimed Charles
/ manfully-' wont lei them. Aud say Mi
/ key, don't you want me 10 come over aud
sci wrh you 2"
"Oh, if you only would y with an eager,
wishful look in his face. "The other boys
( Just take ;her books, and sci away over,
and ii makes me feel as if | couldn't come
/ any more Bot mother wants me TO learn
so bad, and cheers me up SO tried to for
/ eel it,"
| Just then the teacher came, and Charles
/ went 10 his seat. 1t was at the other end of
| the long row. He picked up his books,
and went up 10 lhe teachers desk hule
| Reluctantly, and as the tail man bent TO hear
what his pupil had to say, Charles whis
pered-
''PIease sir, may sit in the end Of the
seat near Mikey O'Connel will be
very quiet. The other boys do not ike TO
/ sit near him, and it makes him feel bad
/ The teacher glanced towards Mikey. He
was looking al him with wishful eyes, that
told how much in leresled he was in The an
swer to Charles request Re was kind
hearted man so he patled Charles head,
called him thoughtful boy, and granted
his desire. Charles felt the eyes OF the
whole school were upon him, and be. saw
the scornful smile upon the lips OF many
OF his mates but Mikey's happy face re
paid him for all be had lost in their friends
ship. When school was over for the morn
ing, he drew The salchel from underneath
his bench, and taking from il The nice cold
biscuit ard ham, the piece of cake and pie
that his mother had placed there for him.
he moved illle nearer Mikey, aad said
"Lels eat our dinner in hurry, and then
go out and slide. Where is your salchel ~
A crimson flush shot up into Mikey's
forehead, but he did not speak Charles
looked at him vonderiusly moment, aad
/ then with childish eagerness, reminded
him of his dinner. Mickey turned his head
away, ard drew from his pocket a small
crust of corn bread, which he tried to cor
ceal from Charles.
SIS that all The dinner you've got7' al
most escaped Charles lips but he saw
how hard he was trying TO hide The meagre
lunch from him so be leaCed back in his
seat, and said nothing only his little brain
was plahning-planning how he could give
Mikey pari OF his dinner, without making
him eeI humbied.
''Oh, mother gives ME so much dinner J"
he said, a; length, taking long breath-"I
cannot begin 10 eat it Here, Mikey, see if
this isn't good,' and he placed liberal sup
pIy npon the chid's end of the bench.
'Don't you want it l'' asked Mikey, look
ing pleased.
"No, inGeed you eat il if you can"
"Oh, isa't it good 2" be said, devouring
it eagerly. "Are you willing | should carry
this lille piece to mother ?''