Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-11-30
Gt,n,Py Jack.

ana that IL be ten cents, for MIR.
Mathcrs won't make no less than ten
cents worth and all we've got is four
cents.
"Dnly !our?' said Mamie, coming
.'lns, 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 frork the two potatoes which the
gr"rrry-man on the corner had given
her, and with strong symptoms of Il
good cry IN her Voice she said: "Wcll!
I'm cold any way, and I wish things
di,ln t cost SO much.'
1t was not winter yet, but it was cold.
The fortunate street.sweepers who had
"omfrrtrrs put them around their necks,
aud the men who drove the wagons but
toned up their coats, while little fcl.
lows like Will SimmodS, who had no
shoes, began to tiud the pavement very
cold. This conversation between the
tw" sisters was not u very private one.
Little Will, who was standing near,
might have heard it, had he not l'rcn
wrapped up in some private miserie:> Of
his own, and Gumpy jack, who looked
over little Nannie's shoulder during the
whole of it. The real name Of Gumpy
Jack was John Thompson, but his com
Panions called him "Gumpy,' because
nc had s'ch queer ways. He never
:'!A,vc'l with them, never pitched pen
MIS- mob 'dy knew what he did with
ms money: and he WAS IL quiet, stupid
'orking fellow altogether. 1t was
quite the fashion among the crossing-
sw'rprrs 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 'lnys'
"WclI, what o that" said the
other.
II think you might wait Il week,
anyhow, before you begin a-laughin' :"
said Jack, who was quite particular in
his ideas. AS the girls turned away
from him, and Susan went again to
sweep the crossing, which was as clean
as Ley poor broom could make it,
Grumpy Jack stood still on the sidewalk,
and did a sum in his mind
= Five pennies and one tcn-cent
stanp,' snil he to himself, els fifteen,
and four of EN- to keep for 'emselves.
And then forlr Of their own and one Of
min" is five, and ten IS tiftccn-samc as
before. The fllst is best
$50 saying, Jack went up into cor
nrr behind 4 barrel, and took from his
trnwsrrs pocket some copper and nickel
cents, and from pocket in III old vest
he wore he pulled a dirty ten cent err
rrnry 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
tlcman and got nothing for 1t, and,
holding ont 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.
"No, 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.
''Goin to roast ems"
Yes, in the ashes, if there's u
fire.
Want to sell 'em - asked Jack.
tISnl1 on, 7 > e,,1 fbo 1;tk1o civil or,
going to eat 'em Who'd buy 'em?'
"l'Il buy 'em said Jack.
"For how much {? " said she.
"Ill give you fifteen cents" said
Jack.
Mamie effected. She did not know
much about the prices of things, but it
seemed to her that fifteen cents for two
potatoes would do very we'll.
"You can have EN- for that" said
she.
''All right said Jack, as he hand
ed over the money and took the veget-
ablrs
Away ran Mamie with the money to
her sister, and Jack retired grumbllng.
they're just that simple they won't
take nothing for Il present "
But, gr11mble as he might, I thinl;
Jack wa, happier than any of the boys
who laughed at him as he walked away,
and VIII" called to him to know if he
was a-guin to make himself new
head out Of them there pertaters?
He might have been gumpy,'
perhaps, and he might have been slow
and stupid, but if it had not been fol
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 cal
live on bread and tea.
But what was the secret of jack:
kindness to these little girls {
Let me tell you.
He had splendid memory, and II.
remembered very well that neithe
Susan nor Mamie had ever laughed a
him, or called him names. 1t wa
not much that he did, mt then the,
were I'LL poor together. Lcurth IIlt
IIOn1C.
A Bear with n IBctluuilt.
1t is bcdquilt. isn't it, if he Away
spreads it over himself when he goc
tn bed think so. You never hcar1
Of such IL bear? L dare sayyou haven
because that isn't his whole name. Iii
name is Ant bear, and / guess yo,1',
think it a good ono if you could SCI
him once when he finds a nice ant -hil
to work on. You'd think he was mad
to eat ants--as, indeed, he was.
His fore feet arc made with shar]
claws, just right to tear open the har,