Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-11-03
JAMES STRUGGLE.

Where's Jamie?" asked Msdge, timidly,
coming into the room, cheery with its pret-
ty crimson coal fire, and bright yellow jets
of gas light.
Her cousin looked up cnldly at the ques-
ton, Uncle Gould frowned ominously over
his paper, and Aunt Gould just said, very
drylY:
IN his room,
Msdge looked uneasily from one to the
other, but no single pair of eyes turned up
on her with sympathy or explanation, and
after q few moments of Irresolation, she
laid down her school books, and went from
the room. In the hail she Met the house
maid.
oh Betty, please tell me, has anything
happened, and Why didn't Jamie come to
school to day?"
Betty shook her head
We'll, Hiss, don I ike TO grievc you
but your brother has done horrible thing
and if he va. poor boy now, l suppose he
wsuid be looking through iron bars in the
county jsil!"
Betty, what do you mesn?'' said Madge
turning pals.
Well, Miss, said Betty, sinking her
voice to a whisper, you 4 have 70 know it
sometime, suppose, asd the sact Is, he $
just been stealing money out of master s
dFswer-s hundred dollars. may De more Or
les>!"
1t isn't 30! cried Madge,in aloud, sharp
tone
Whist Jamie steal It's wicked lie T.
and she burs; into tears.
VERY we'll said the offended Betty,
You Il soon find out whether | lie or not,
for | believe lie 5 none TOO good to be a thief,
nor you either. with al! your mincing, saint
ly ways"
But Madge was out Of hearing - two
steps Al time up the broad stairs. till she
reached s little room at the farther end of
the third story eorrider. She burst in with
out any ceremony, but all was still IN the
cold winter twilight, except the dismal dash
lng Of s!eet against the window panes. ia
ME, she called
At first there was no reply, and then
little movement behind the dingy brown
carains betrayed him, and Madge was at
his side, with her arms flung around his
neck
i knew you had heard all about it the
minute You called me, faltered Jamie, try
Ing to smile Il heard the tears in your
voice, you know; out you don't believe it,
Do you?"
Never" cried Madge, vehemently, now
tell me all about it. How could any one
dare to say SOP"
i hardly know where to begin" said
jamie, with great effort at self control.
have TO tell you something I've been
keeping secret ever since last summer.
Aoa see when Cousin Bell had her birthday
lsrty last June, and all the girls swept
around IN such pretty shining silks, or else
dresses half clouds and half cobwebs, and
you only had that pink caIico-it hurt me, |
lon know why. You looked just as sweet
as sny-yes, The prettiest of all thought;
Cut when Fisher Knight said Just look
al my sister! Isn't she pretty, and doesn't
her dress look as if she had bought three or
Iolr yards OF sunset, and had the moon up
all night sewing stars on it2' Then the boys
laughed, and | said-'And isn't my sister
Pretty, toO?' for you did look as sweet as
rose, l thought; but that proud Fisher
might laughed just like knife-I mean it
seemed 10 cut right into NE, and he said
~ yes, and how kind Betty was to lend her
that dress. Some of the boys said, too
DAD but that only hurt me more, and
cfept away pretty soon. and lay behind the
'aick SNOWFALL bushes, and looked up in
the grest, still sky, and wondered why God
colldn't have taken you and me too, when
iather and mother died, and not lett us to
come to this proud, rich uncle, who does
no' love US, and treats u, just ike little beg
gsrs."
Oh, don't say 50, Jamie" said Madge ::
m sure he's been very kind to us some
times"
Idon tremembcr many times Just now, ="
sighed jamie.
Web. he cont,aued "a little while af
Ter that | heard Lutte say that when her