Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-01
JIMMY DRAKE, THE LITTLE APPLE
PEDDLER.
By ELEANOR BURR.


PEDDLER.
By ELEANOR BURR.
: Very chilly 1t was ON that March
morning when Jimmy set his basket
Of apples down ON . patch of dead
grass by = miserable railway station !!
Seating his weary little body beside
It, he commenced . tedious hour of
waiting. It was for the morning
train bound westward, and Jimmy
looked at the sun and along the track
until it scattered itself in the bare
tangled woods. Pretty soon an older
boy than Jimmy came in sight. This
boy came whistling up the sidewalk
with great straw hat pulled over his
forehead, and fuzzy circle of brown
hair peeping out all over the crown.
There were great many patches on
his clothes, and patches upon patches.
His face was brown as little Indians,
and the ten little fingers thrust so hard
into his trowser's pockets were brown
er than the face. There was nothing
very bright or nice about him except
two large, dark eyes that shone out
from under the broad brim of the hat.
Very soon he reached the track, and as
he came along spied Jimmy sitting so
still by his basket. Jimmy's face was
so white and the little hands that COW
cred it were so thin that the new COM
er stopped and stared amazed.
"Whats yer name, Bub? What
you doin' here, and who be you? Pm
wild Ned, l. be-" Jimmy dropped his
hands, and lifted frightened face to
the speaker, who then seated himself
by the little peddler's side.
"I'm only Jimmy Drake, and sell
these for, q livin,," stretching out a
very ragged sleeve as he spoke.
"Poor livin', amt it?" queried the
other, cycling Jimmy from his head to
his toes. Eyes, / tell you 'tis," said
Jimmy. s1'd gave it up long ago,
but pennies will help feller some. L
can buy Jacky quart of milk for his
supper tonight, and q loaf of bread
for the rest Of 'em, If / sell clean out"
"Be you the man of the brood p
Where's your father? ?"
"Ohi no." and Jimmy's eyes filled
with tears. "He died before Jacky
could walk. Folks laid him up there
on the hill, and I wish could be put
there too" These words were spoken
SO sadly that the boy under the big
hat stared again, with eyes larger and
darker than ever
aYou amt one bit sham, be you p
You talk asaif you just meant what
you say"
aOh, 1 dow and Jimmy's face
turned quickly toward Ned. But Ned
shook his head soberly, saying: "I've
wished jest that a hundred ways, q
hundred times, but ! get dreadful mad
about it."
II used to get mad feelings, too,"
answered Jimmy, "but / don't never
now, and I'll tell you why. You see
that white meetin' house on the hill
over there" and he pointed out q
church half hidden in Q grove of ma
Piles, "welL when father died, the
preacher came two or three times to
see mother, and by and by she began
to 20 there ON Sundays. She and nv
biggest sister. and they took the baby
alone ,cause i wouldn't stay home to
mind him. and the three on 'em crept
in onter the hind seats, for thew feared
somebOdy'd laugh At their mean
clothes. I'd take my line for the creek,
but when they'd rot il and the folks
began to sing, I'd turn back and listen
under the winders. But if Jacky
cried, and / heard Sis coming out with
him, I'd strike off again. One time |
got caught. A lady came round the
Corner ana looked 40 angel-like all n
white. that / forgot to run. and she
talked to mo ever so much. and when
the bell rang and the bir arowed-uu
| folks came out O. the meetin' she lead
| ed me IN and ait mo down on 4 bench
with more boys. and then-but / can'i
tell you no more lest YOU come. too
next Sunday. and she'll teach both on
ms. Saw YES. stranger. do saw YES,
urged JIMMY. as the whistle Of The
approaching train was heard.
aCant tell for sure mebbe.n
"But You mast coma. III get you