The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-01-15


her with another "hooray % which
ended with a choke. When the,
go, him quiet and heard his story
Mrs. Quinn rather dampened his jo,
by telling him that the money wa
not his, and that he ought to adver
tise it.
"But l want it for Nanny" criet
Jack, sand how can l ever find wht
owns it, when there was ever 8,
many barrels emptied in that heap
and no one knows where they cam,
from ?"
cit is very likely you won't fine
the owner, and you can do as yol
please, but it's honest to try, In
thinking, for some poor girl ma,
have lost her earnings this way, anc
we wouldn't like that ourselves,
said Mrs. Quinn, turning over the
shabby pocket book, and carefully
searching for clew to its owner.
Nanny looked very sober, aud
Jack grabbed up the money as if il
were too precious to lose.
But he wasn't comfortable about
it; and after hard fight with him
self he consented to allow Mrs
Quinn ask their policeman what they
should do with it. He was a kindly
man, and when he heard the story,
said he'd do what was right, and il
he couldn't find the owner, Jack
could keep. the money.
How hard it was to wait. how
Jack thought and dreamed of his
money day and night how Nanny
ran to the door to listen when a
heavy step came up the stairs I! and
how wistfully the poor darkened eyes
turned to the light they longed to
see again.
Honest John Floyd did his duty,
but he didn't find the owner SO the
old purse came back at last and now
Jack could keep it with clear con
science. Nanny was asleep when 1t
happened, and as they sat counting
the dlngy bills, Mrs. Qainn said to
the boy: "Jack you had better keep
this for yourself. l doubt it is good
enough to help the child, and you
need clothes and shoes, and a heap
OF things, let alone the books you
banker after so much. 1t amt like
ly you will ever find another wallet,
and it's all luck about Nanny's eyes !;
and maybe you are throwing away
chance you will never have again"
Jack leaned his head on his hand,
and stared at the money all spread
out there, and looking SO magnifi-
cent to him that it seemed as if it
would buy the whole world. He did
need clothes his hearty appetite
longed for better food, and oh ! how
splendid it would be to 90 and buy
the books he wanted SO long-the
books that were more enticing to his
wide-awake young mind than clothes
and food to his little body. 1t was
not an easy thing to do, but he was
so used to making little sacrifices
that a great one was less hard; and
when he had brooded over the mon.
ey few moments in thoughtful ST.
lence, his eyes went from those pre-
cious bits of paper to the dear little
face in the trundle-bad, and he said
with decided nod, "I'll give Nan
ny the chance, and work for my
things, or go without 'em."
Mrs. Quinn was a matter of fact
body, but her hard old face softened
when he said that, and she kissed
him good night almost as gently as
if she had been his own mother.
Next day Jack presented himself
at DIR. Wllkinson's door. with the
money in one hand and Nanny in the
other, saying coldly to the gruff SER
want, 81 want to see the doctor. l
can pay, 30 you had better let me
H."
Pm afraid cross old Thomas
would have shut the door in the
boys face again, if it had not been
for the little blind girl, who looked
up SO imploringly that he couldn't
TeSlsI Tue mute appeal.
"The doctors going out, but may
be he'll see You in a minute and
with this he led them into a room
where tall man was putting on his
gloves.
Jack was modest boy but he was
so afraid Nanny would lose her
chance he forgot himself and told
his little story as fast as he could
told 1t well, too, | fancy, for the doc.
tor listened attentively, bis eyes 60
ing from the boys eager flushed
face to the pale, patient one beside
him, as if the two figures, shabby
though they were, illustrated the
story better than the finest artist
could have done. When Jack end
ed, the doctor sat Nanny on his knee,
gently lifted up the halfsh eye
lids, and after examining the film
moment, stroking her pretty hair, and
said so kindly that she nestled her
little hand confidently in his, 81 think
| can help you my dear. Tell me
where you live, and I'll attend to it
at once, for it is high time something
was DONE"
Jack told him, adding with a man.
ly air, as he showed the money, 81
can pay you, sir, if fifty dollars is
enough"
"Qaite enough" said the doctor
with droll smile.
eff it isn't, I'll work out the rest,
if you'll trust nae. Please save Nan.
ny's eyes, and I'll do anything TO pay
you," cried Jack, getting red and
choky in his earnestness.
The doctor stopped smiling, and
held out his hand in a grave, re-
spectful way, and said, an trust
you my boy. Wen cure Nanny
first, and you and l will settle the
bill afterwards"
Jack liked that it was a gentle
manly way of doing things, aud be
showed his satisfaction by smiling all
over his face, and giving the big
hand hearty shake with both his
rough ones.
The doctor was a busy man, but
he kept them some time, for there
were no children in the fine house,
and it seemed pleasant to have lit
tie girl On his knee, and bright boy
stand beside his chair and when at
last they went away, they looked as
though ne had given them some