The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-04-18

Two little boys were standing at a gate.
They were both the same age; but one of
them was finely aud tastetully dressed,
while the clothes of the other were coarse
and ragged. 1t was in the autumn. The
buskers were busy in the cornfeld, and
from the strip of woods beyond hoated out
the sound Of the woodcutter's axe.
Have you no better clothes, Benncy?"
asked the well dressed boy.
mo, haven't, JOHNNY"
"Why don't you get better ones?"
Because can't. l have no money.
can't get work by which to earn money.
to school this winter ?,
81 guess not, johnny. ! must stay out,
and do such little jobs as can find to do.
would like to 60 to school very much. l
wish knew as much as you do, johnny"
"pooh. don't know anything. am
sorry for you. am glad that am better
Off, but that does not make me feel proud.
1t is sin to be proud. God made you as
good as am, if your clothes are ragged"
Benny took his little friend by the hand.
A tear glistened in his eye.
"You have always been kind to me,
Johnny Allen said he. "You have never
hooted at ME, nor tainted me, like the
other boys. So / have sometimes taken up
your quarrels, and / will stand by you
when we are men,"
"Look here, Benny! How would you
like to work on farm all winter? Good
clothes, enough to eat. little pocket
money, nice family to live with, and
plenty Of worh =
81 would like that"
= Then can help you. II just occurred
to me. My Uncle Abbott wants little
boy on his farm. l will give you a letter
to him.
Two days afterward, Benny stood in front
Of Uncle Abbott, awaiting a reply. Uncle
Abbott was a pleasant looking old man, not
yet stopped, but with hair quiet gray. He
| put on his spectacles, opened John Allen =
| letter, and read rs follows:
MEADOW BnooK, Oct. . Eighteen As.
"Unklc abbott This is Benny He is a
good Boy. lie is Poor & has no Home
Please Keep Him & give him work.
your netfew
john allen.
Now, Johnny was small boy, and not
so we'll learned az Benny supposed him to
be. But Notwithstanding the spelling,
misuse Of capitals, and want of punctuation,
| the letter of introduction was sufficient.
/ Uncle Abbot gave Benny home for num-
/ Der Of years.
1 l, was an October night, in Philadelphia
! The air was as cold us November. Ii was
! late, and there was not much noise on the
streets. In a coy room So; man. He
\ looked careworn and haggard He shaded
I his brow with his hands His wife. o beau
titul woman. stood beside him. smoothing
his hair and speaking words of encourage.
1 ment TO him.
:. Ii is no use, Belle he groaned I'll
| | cannot command ten thousand dollars by
tomorrow noon. l must 60 to the wall
| The banks are tight; there is no money to
! be negotiated for on the street. l am q
] ruined man"
"Perhaps this may be of use to you, -
said his wife, handing him slip of paper.
He went to the lamp, and read as fol-
lows:
FIRST National Bank, Philadelphia Pay
TO John Allen, or order, ten thousand dol
lars. BENJAMIN BERWICK.
Belle, what does this mean? l, is a
cheek for ten thousand dollars Who is
Benjamin Berwick
The gentleman stopped here to-day.
You were not in. He felt sorry, and left
the check and this note"
| ny va TTteNu vodHHy <fHfH-"ulie III
the city to day, l heard that the failure oil
your bank would seriously affect you Do
you remember the letter Of introductio
you gave me to your Uncle Abbott? 1t was
exactly twenty years ago A few years
| ago bought land in Venango county It
proved to have oil on it, and am quite a
rich man. If the accompanying check will
aid you any, please use it You can make
it right some time. Your friend,
BENNY.
John Allen cried. John Allen kissed his
wife, and his wife kissed him. John Allen
did not 60 to the wall, which means to
break up. And all on account Of that mis-
spelt letter of twenty years before. Little
Corporal.