Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-11-17

Joe Barton raised himself from his
knees, no longer the craven and coward
afraid to meet the ills of life, but ready
10 grin and bear them He was an al
tered man. And who had been the
mysterious agent in the hand of Provi-
dence that had wrought his reformation?
His poor little deformed child, who
through the night of storm and danger
had been near him with lion heart and
dauntless courage, who had taught him
that mercy is extended even unto him
who would take his own life.
A few words more. Years passed on
the expected call had been made by the
bank, and Joes goods and chattels were
all sold, but he neither groaned nor
grumbled; he set himself manfully to
work again, and though his hair grew
gray, aud be was not quite so hearty
and strong as Of yore, yet all were will
ing to lend him a hand, and he soon
began to find his circumstances improv-
ing. But for one circumstance he
would have been happy. Johnny had
never been thoroughly well since that
dreadful night of storm and disaster /;
his back had grown rounder, and he
complained of a pain in his leg fire.
quently. Joe grew very anxious; eve
ry spare moment was dedicated to his
child One day he took him to London
to see great doctor, and when he came
back he looked ten years older, for there
was gloomy prophecy guawing at his
heart. From that day Johnny took to
his bed. He was good, patient little
fellow, but he would have no nurse but
his dear old daddy; and his thin, pale
face used to light up the moment Joe
entered the room; and when his father
sat down by him he would put his hand
into his horny palms and smile as if su-
premely happy. One morning Joe came
in to breakfast, and, as usual, bounded
up stairs to see his boy. Johnny was
lying on his back, his eyes turned ex-
pectantly toward the door. The window
was wide open, and a delicious soft
breeze from the sea came playing. tbro'
It, The sick child was going to his
rest, there could be little doubt about
that; his eyes were unnaturally bright,
his cheek strangely flushed In few
moments the ebb of the tide must set
in. Joe sat down beside him, and then
as he was wont, Johnny put his hand
in his, and then slowly and quietly spoke
thus: @ 1r 100
"Dear daddy, I'm going home The
doctor was right when he told you I
weren't good for long | feel as if l
hadn't got no blood in my body, and my
legs feel so strange. Hold me up in
your arms, daddy, want to whisper to
you " 1ar -ssaol .H
Joe felt inclined to resist for mo-
'ment, for he would have gone for the
doctor, but the child's manner chained
him to his seat. Putting his arm round
him, he brought his head close to his
shoulder. Johnny nestled himself close
pressed his lips against the big bushy
whiskers, and continued:
Daddy, don't lose heart again
Promise me that, won't you? Remem-
Der, daddy, darling, the secret L
I've kept it, you keep it too, won't
you 2"
Pressing his hands to his fathers
face, he looked eagerly into his eyes,
passed his fingers over his cheek, and
murmuring, "The secret, remember"
in moment was dead.
They laid him in the corner of the
church-yard, under the yew-tree, by his
mother, and on Sunday mornings, after
service, Joe has now to stand alone and
gaze on the spot where rest the two be-
ings he loved so we'll. But his secret
is buried there too. What secret?
That having received letter to ac
quaint him of impending ruin, and
found its information correct, he had
sought to escape meeting bis disaster by
himself destroying life that merciful
Creator had given him. How he was
saved from this crime has been told, and
the secret that was is secret no longer.
"PLEAsE, SIR" said snub nose girl,
fourteen years old, to country dealer
in dry goods, ''to send mamma the pat
rons of your calicoes, and put 'em cheap
for she is going to get new gown soon
and wants to see what'll wash" 17
"Who is your mamma p
"My mamma is Aunt Oily Dee, sir.'
"Your sister was here yesterday, and
took patterns of all / have"
''Yes, sir, l know that; but then
she sewed them all up for patchwork,
and would not give me any, but told
me to go shopping myself" rg
AT the dinner table of hotel, in an
interior city, not long since, green
un' unable to restrain the cravings of
his appetite, pitched into a large dish of
rice before him. A waiter mildly in-
formed him that it was intended for
dessert, and that he had better eat some-
thing else first
dessert be id, l don care if it's
a wilderness, it's good and I'm going
to eat it,
Who is wise? He that is teachable.
Who is mighty? He that conquers
Who is rich? ? He that is con
tented Who is honored He that
honoreth others. @ 50H 500 ~