The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-30
gelert 8listellanp,
TIMBER-sHoE
BY j. N. DICKIE.

|
mind the probable success or non-succe5
of my errapd at that place, I had becom
unconscious of surrounding objects until
suddenly recalled by a youthful voice, which
said /:
please, mister, can l ride p
| glanced downward, and saw well
dressed, roguish-faced lad of perhaps four,
teen years, whose dark eyes looked appeal
ingly in mine, plainly asking the same iavol
already uttered by his tongue.
My horse had come to a sudden halt
and turning his head as far round as the
check.rein would allow, seemed ready tc
take note of any lack Of courtesy on my
part. Under these circumstances [ give a
ready affirmative; the lad sprang in, and
my pony, giving a gratifed whisk of his
tail, trotted off in manner quite surpri-
sing. ...
1t is generally expected that young peo-
pie wait TO be addressed by their eide +, es-
pecially when recipients of favors at their
hands; but this young gentleman seemed
totally unconscious of this fact, for he had
not been seated minute before he asked
the following questions
Pm going to Stcubenville; are you|
Yes, sir
This is a nice, casy-riding buggy to 60
there in, isn't it?'
1T seems So
Il saw you when 1 was coming down
"cross LOTS and youd better believe hur-
ried up 50 as to strike the pike in time to
meet you
Indeed y
There is scsyet about my going to town.
There amt but just very few OF us know
anything about it-not even my father aud
mother
sAh p
There is something to come of it, too
is, hey?'
Just at this moment we passed lad 60
ing in the opposite direction. His face
the pure, broad German-shone with good
health and good humor, although his hat,
coat and pants were mass OF patches aud,
as if to complete his rough attire, his feet
were clad in clumsy wooden brogans, often
worn by people o! his nationality, upcouth
in appearance to stranger.
The demeanor Of my young acquaintance
underwent sudden change at sight of this
German boy. Standing up as he passed, he
took off his cap, and making bow, exelaim-
ed, in very gentle, respectful voice:
Good morning, dear old Timber-shoes.'
'Goot mornin', Better, goot mornin' ) and
a smile as genuine as the words lit up the
Germans honest features, as We drove rap
idly past.
That's the best boy in the world = said
my companion, as he seated himself and
looked frankly in my face.
Then what in the name Of commen-sense
could have induced you to insult him by
using such an outlandish name as Timber
shoes {? | asked, somewhat Indignantly,
'We do that because he wants us to, sir.
He saved my life and another man's-boy's, |
l mean-a little while ago. l could tell you
a story about him-such good story, too
We'll, let me hear it, said l, taking care
to prevent any particular interest asserting
itself either in look or tone.
well, sir, my names Peter Coodoli. I
attended the academy at l.. It's vaca-
ton now. My parents live about four miles
from here. Timber-shoes-l over yon-
der ; (and he pointed to a log building a
short distance from the road) He hasn't
lived here but year. HIS father is dead
ana his mother is nearly gone with cancer.
There are five children besides himself,
pretty young and not able to work much.
He supports the whole family by hard work,
and does it well, too, they say.
i went to district school last winter, and
so did ever SO many of the boys that are 60
ing to the academy now. Timber-shocs, he
came, too. That was the first time 1 ever
saw him. He had on good suit OF blue
Jeans, but he wore wooden shoes.
when he first came, Paul Plummett
(he's my roommate now,) asked him if he
could inform him in general way how they
prepared shoe leather from logs.
I'VE ought not to have laughed at this,
because it was making fun of Timber-shoes
and hurt his feelings. We knew we'll enough,
though he never told US, that he didn't feel |.