The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-05-08
JIMMY DRAKE, THE LITTLE
APPLE PEDDLEEl.
GY ELEANOR BURR.


Very chilly it was on that March
morning when Jimmy set his basket
OF apples down on "a patch OF dead
grass by miserable railway station
Seating his weary little body beside
il, he commenced a tedious hour OF
waiting. 1t was for the morning
train bound westward, and Jimmy
looked at the sun and along tire track
until il scattered itself in the bare tam
gled woods. Pretty soon an older
boy than Jimmy came in sight. This
boy came whistling up the sidewalk
with a great straw hat pulled over his
forehead, and a fuzzy circle Of brown
hair peeping out all over the crown.
There were great many patches OH
his clothes, and patches upon patches.
His face was brown as little Indian 5
aed 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 thai
covered it were so thin, that the new
conner stopped and stared amazed.
g What's yer name, Bub? What
you doin' here, and who be you? Pin
wild Ned, L be-" Jimmy dropped his
hands, and lifted a frightened face to
the speaker, who then seated himself
by the little peddler's side.
I'm only Jimmy Drake, and 1 sell
these for hvin'," stretching out a
very ragged sleeve over his basket as
he spoke.
Poor livin', amt it?" queried the
other, eyeing Jimmy from his head to
his toes. Yes, tell you it's" said
Jimmy. "Pd gave it up long ago,
but pennies Will help a feller some. l
can buy Jacky a quart of milk for his
supper tonight, and loaf of bread
tor the rest of 'em, if l sell clean out. y
"Be you the man OF the brood !?
Where's your lather?'
with tears. He died before Jacky
could walk. Folks laid him up there
OH the hill, and l wish l could be put
there too." These words were spo ken
SO sadly that the boy under the big
hai stared again, with eyes larger and
darker than ever.
: L Ou fk III u Ollt Dlb eDdlu. Dt Nhu !!
You talk as il you jest meant what
you say"
so | dol" and Jimmy's face turned
quickly toward Ned. But Ned shook
his head soberly, saying, live wished
jest that a hundred ways, hundred
times, but get dreadful mad about it. >
A"I used to get mad feelings too, .
answered Jimmy" but don't never
now, and III tell you why. You see
that white meetin-house on the hill
over there" and he pointed out a
church half hidden in grove OF ma
plies, "well, when father died, the
preacher came two or three times to
see mother, and by and by she began
TO go there cn Sundays. She and my
biggest sister. and they took the baby
along because | wouldn't stay at
home and mind him. and the three on
'eIn crept in onter the hind seats. for
they feared somebody would laugh al
their mean clothes. I'd take my line
for the creek, but when they'd got in
and the folks began TO sing, I'd turn
back and listen under the windows.
| But if Jacky cried aud | heard Sis
coming out with him, I'd strike of
again. One time L got caught. A
lady came round the corner aud
! looked so angel-llke all in white, that
! forgot to run, and she talked to me
ever SO much, and when the bell rang
and the big grown-up folks came out
o the meetin' she loaded ME in aud
set me down on a bench with other
boys, and then-but | can't tell you no
more jest you come too, next Sunday
and she'll teach both on US. Say yes,
stranger, do say yes" urged Jimmy,
as the whistle of the approaching
train was heard.
"Can't tell for sure; mebbe."
But you must come. I'll get you
if yod'll tell ME where, and we'll slip
in SO ely that no one will look at you
Any way, you ain't. no raggeder than
| be-" and the little fellow stood up
10 display poor jacket and tattered
trowsers to the thoughtful eyes o
Ned.
/ What makes your face so white 2
asked the latter abruptly.