Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-12
30 n N N Y.

SOnHSc Ill Tue laiiiis NUNS thC IcsS
so, for being wholly unconscious of
the fact. 1t was "Johnny run here"
or "Johnny go there" from morning
till night. And he did run; down to
the mill for father; over to the store
for mother; round the corner to the
tailor's shop for Susan; besides upon
many all errand for lazy Jack. john
ny hardly ever went to school, be-
cause he was always gong some-
where else. Jack hardly ever went
to school. because he "didn't get up
in time" 'his head achcd," or che
didn't like his teacher"
Johnny's mother meant to do right,
but her life had been one long dis
and she couldn't bear
it patiently. "She was poor and
SICK" and chad seen such troubles" j"
1t stared her in the face remorseless-
ly; it came and took up its abode
with her; it was not for a moment to
be shaken off. She thought of it so
much that it made her selfish, but she
didn't know it. His father was a
good-natured man, but week. lie
had been tried and tempted and had
fallen-fallcn SO low that, one day,
his little son, seeing him on the
street, turned and ran home with a
white and frightened face, forgetting
the errand with which he was Ell.
trusted. Susan was his comforter
then, though her own heart was
heavy enough; Susan who worked
hard from sunrise till bedtime-who
swept and busted, washed and iron.
ed, baked and brewed, besides max.
ing vests for the tailor's shop neal
by; Susan, who felt that she could
take care of herself and Johnny too,
if she could only get out into the
:;fest world, and look about her. l,
was giant eff" that kopt the door
fastened upon her. Bolts and bars
she would have scorncd, but how
could she leave feeble, nervous
mother. So she toilcd, with little
hope of reward and saw her hard
earnings swallowed up in the vortex
of family necessities. She didn't
complain. What was the use? She
took Up her burden daily; and if it
seemed too grievous to be borne, the
family were seldom the wiser for it.
"Johnny," said she one morning.
pointing to large. bundle upon the
table, stake those vests to Mr..
Walkers place, and wait for the
money"
IIe shouldered the bundle with a
business-like air. GLOW much will
it be?"
"Oh, five dollars, or nio'fe.''
81 wish twas a hundred. If twas
a hundred, Susan, I'd have a paif OF
shoes"
."How do you know you would?"
laughed Susan, at the same time
looking anxiously down ut the little
feet. "What's the matter with those
shoes? How they look"
81 guess they didn't wear well
this piece trips me up" And he
showed huge gap between the sole
and upper leather, through which
the bare toes were peeping.
"This won't do," said Susan, in
her quick decisive way. 81 think VIC
can afford q pair of shoes, if we
haven't got a hundred dollars. Run
along now, and I'll see about them
this evening""
"And Johnny" called faint voic.
from the bedroom, "stop in al
Doten's anu get my camphor-bottle
filed, will you?"
"Yes'm," answered Johnny
chcery voice. "Where's youl
money"
"Oh! you'll have enough. TAX,
some OF Susan's, and LII pay hel
back"
Susan's lip curled involuntarily.
"Nother," cried Jack from hi
perch up stairs, "can't he go dowl
to iaudall's and see if my boots ar,
mende9?" -.
"Can't you go yoursslf?'' aske
Susan.
mo, l can't"
"Yes, I'll co." replied Johnny
"Shall l pay.it all out of yours, Su
san ~ he inquired, looking into hi
sisters darkening face.
~ suppose SO, it's always th
way"
Poor Susan! 1t was hard, for he
own boots were wearing out, an
| her best dress was threadbars au,