Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-29
Gumpy Jack.

to roast my potatoes for supper. I
sEBut we can't 60 yet, said her SIS
ter. GIVE haven't made near enough H
money. It will take five cents for the
bread, and there's no tea for mother,
and that'u be ten cents, for Mr.. |
Mathers won't make no less than ten |
cents worth and all we've got is four
cents.
''On1y four?" said Mamie, coming
close up to her sister Susan, and watch |
ing the counting of the money. When
he saw there were four and no more,
the little girl Rugged more closely in
her frock the two potatoes which the
grocerv-man on the corner had given
her. and with strong symptoms of a
good cry in her voice she said: "Well!
I'm cold any way, and | wish things
didn't cost so muchi"
It was not winter yet, but it was cold.
The fortunate street-sweepers who had
eomforters put them around their necks,
and the men who drove the wagons but
toned up their coats, while little fell
lows like Win Simmods, who had no
shoes, began to find the pavement very
cold. This conversation between the
two sisters was not a very private one.
Little Will, who was standing near,
might have heard it, had he not been
wrapped up in some private miseries of
his own, and Grumpy Jack, who looked
over little Nannie's shoulder during the
counting of the pennies heard the
whole of it. The real name of Gumpy
Jack was John Thompson, but his com
panions called him ''Gumpy," because
he had such queer ways. He never
played with them, never pitched pen
nies-nobody knew what he did with
his money; and he was quiet, stupid
looking fellow altogether. 1t was
quite the fashion among the crossing
sweepers to laugh at Jack; but he never
seemed to mind it, except once, when a
boy who had recently come upon the
street commenced to make fun of him.
What are you laughing at?' said
Jack. "You've only been sweeping
for two days."
"Well, what O. that ?" said the
other
81 think you might wait a week,
anyhow, before you begin a-laughin' -
said Jack, who was quite particular in
from him, and Susan went again to
sweep the crossing, which was as clean
as her poor broom could make it,
Gumpy Jack stood still on the sidewalk,
and did sum in his mind.
g Five pennies and one ten-cent
stamp" said he to himself, els fifteen,
and four of EN- to keep for 'emselves.
And then four of their own and one of
mine is five, and ten is fifteen-same as
before. The fust is best"
So saying, Jack went up into q cor
ner behind a barrel, and took from his
trowsers pocket some copper and nickel
cents, and from pocket in an old vest
he wore he pulled dirty ten cent cur
rency note. Taking five of the pennies
and the note in his hand he approached
Susan, who had just swept her way
across the street in front of fat gen
tleman and got nothing for 1t, and,
holding out the money, he said:
Here, Suse And go along home!
Susan was very much astonished at
this offer, and pleased too, I have no
doubt, but she declined the money
sENo, no, Jack :" she said, much
obliged, but I can not take your
money"
And away she went to the other side
of the street, where stood fine lady
about to cross, who looked very much
afraid of soiling her skirts. Jack, with
his money in his fist and his broom
over his shoulder, went back to the gro
Gerry corner, and there he saw little
Mamie standing on the curb-stone.-
He went up to her
Got potatoes, Nan? said he.
eyes" said the little girl, ''but only
two
Coin to roast 'em?"
Yes, in the ashes, if there's
fire."
Want to sell 'em? J" asked Jack.
"Sel 'em , said the little girl, '1'm
going to eat 'em! Who'd buy 'em "
''Ill buy 'em said Jack.
"For how much a? +" said she.
"Tll give you fifteen CENTS" said
Jack.
Mamie reflected. She did not know
much about the prices of things, but it
seemed to her that fifteen cents for two
potatoes would do very well.
"YOu can have 'em for that" said
she.
"All right said Jack, as he hand
ed over the money and took the veget-
ables.
Away ran Mamie with the msney to
her sister, and Jack retired grumbling.
they're just that simple they won't
take nothing for a present :"
But, grumble as he might, I think
Jack was happier than any OF the boys
who laughed at him as he walked away,
and who called to him to know if he
was a-gein' to make himself a new
head out of them there pertaters?"
He might have been a gumpy,"
perhaps, and he might have been slow
and stupid, but if it had not been for
him things would have gone hard with
Susan and Mamie, and their sick
mother, that night Their supper was
poor enough as it was, but people can
live on bread and tea.
But what was the secret of Jacks
kindness to these little girls
Let me tell you.
He had splendid memory. and he
remembered very well that neither
Susan nor Mamie had ever laughed at
him, or called him names, If was
not much that he did, out then thev
were all poor together Hearth ana
Home.