The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-10-10
JOsEY's BOOTS.
A STORY FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

I P"o' "hA AAOChluS GH61r De0IS LOgcIDGF-~
bran new, not very large, but unmistaka-
bly, boots. Josey's feet were inside of
them, and Josey himself vas sitting upon
the great square post but all the rest of
him was OF little consequence beside those
boots. They were his first pair, and this
the first day he ever had worn them. A
piece OF unexpected good fortune it had
been, too. His old shoes were worn out
at the toes, as Josey's shoes had fashion
OF being at intervals, and Mamma was too
busy 10 attend to the matter $50 Papa had
been dispatched to the store, and these
Were what he brought home.
ooh why did you--"began Mamma i'll
dlsmay, when she saw the package open
ed. But Josey's delight rose so fast and
high that her question was quite smoth-
cred and never fully finished.
"For you see, now I've got 'em I shall
have to wear 'em always" he explained,
contidentially, to, his little sister, Mabel.
Cause folks don't GO backward, they
go ahead ; and a big boy that's had boots
don't ever have to wear shoes like girl,
any more"
So those boots had stamped upstairs,
and down again; they had tried to pull
themselves off with the boot-jack, but
Edldnt succeed, because the bo0t-iack was
mo kind of size" They came in from the
garden with pants tucked inside of them,
land they even tried to make the acquaint-
ance OF the backing brush; but there Jo-
seq got the worst OF 1t, judging flom the
small SHINING spots upon his boots and the
woeful blackness of his nose and hands, as
lie looked In at the parlor door
All the forenoon it had been 8 question
OF considerable Importance with Josey
what he and Mabel should play. Ordl
nary amusements didn't seem quite large
enough for him new, and he devised va
rious projects, to which the admiring lit
tie Mabel agreed, following up and down
the long. yard, quite sure that something
brilliant was to be done. They borrowed
knives from the kitchen and dug wonder
full cisterns, from which the water leaked
out as fast as they could pour il in. Then
they made some kites, Of no particular
shape or style, and after expendIng a
great amount of LABOR, paper and string,
they found that they couldn't DE coaxed
into flying.
Now the carly dinner was over, and the
children didn't know what to do next.
Mabel stood by the gate. her head resting
against lt,her gypsy hat pushed back, and
her brown eyes soberly studying the road,
where the bright spring sunshine seemed
turning some of the grains of sand to gold.
Josey sat upon the gate-post swinging his
heels, and Whistling away at several tunes
all at once. He was rather sorry for Ma
bel, because she hadn't any new boots to
look at when she had nothing else to do
Presently boy came hurrying up the
; road, carrying several school-books. Josey
knew him but he had been rather shy OF
him hereto FORE as one of the "big boys"
To-day he did not think there was much
difference between them, and he called
out quite patronizingly:
Hello, Jim -
"Hello, Chicken" responded jim, good
naturally.
That name didn't strike Josey as very
fattering; but he persevered.
"Whare're you going?'
"Io pick biackberries in the Desert Of
Sahara" answered jim, carelessly, giving
his Atlas hitch under his arm and push
ing out
Josey meditated upon that information
for minute.
Say" he CALLED ~ don't know where
Sarah's is"
you'll find out soon enough" laughed
Jim, looking back over his shoulder for
an instant, and then hurrying forward
again.
Josey watched him silently undl no dis
appeared from sight.
~ wish did know. I'd like to pick
some, too" he said regretfally.
$50 would J." said Mabel. "Wouldn't
| "a I,eI,o Id L.
ing up with her brown eyes suddenly
dancing. wouldn't she be s'prised if she
should come home and find we'd picked
- her nice lot Of berries for tea?"
Josey's eyes caught the light at once.
Such an enterprise as that seemed some
thing worthy of his new dignity.
Il don't know where to find Sarah's,"
he said; 'but / know where there's woods,
and guess that would do just as well ;
cause berries grow in the woods, anyhow.
We might go there and pick some"
"All alone by our two selves ~ asked
Mabel somewhat startled by the boldness
Of the proposition.
"Course. Why I could take care Of you
Tina pretty big boy now, you know"
Mabel looked down at his feet They
were two pretty strong arguments.
eyes, she said, hesltatingly.
"You ask Grandma, Mabel. Run and
ask her if we can't 60" suggested Josey
and Mabel turned toward the house.
Poor Grandma! She was housekeep.
ing that day; and, somewhat tired with
the unusual care and oversight Of the
morning, had seated herself in her easy
chair TO rest, and had taken up her knit
ting. She was N just the most particular
part OF her work, counting the stitches
carefully, when little voice broke IN:
Grandma, may Josey and me pick
blackberrjes 2"
"Oell dearie. One two. three. four y