The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-11-26

think of nothing else. The boys trod on
his toes as they passed out, almost
throwing him down: those who had only
Uttered in school now giggled audibly,
and were Joined by score of others,
who, though not really ill-natured, could
never resist an opportunity to tease.
"Oho! look at the boots, will your"
cried one.
"Then's his fathers canoes He goes
fishing in them" exclaimed another.
This allusion to his fathers business
(he was a fish merchant") was too much
for Jimmie. He struck out right and
left with his small fists, dealing such
hearty blows that his tormentors gave
him wide berth.
How much is leather yards" in
! quired youth from the farther corner
of the play ground.
"That's tanned fish-skin, that is"
shouted a small boy. laughing.
| Jimmie started to run toward them,
but the treacherous boots threw him
down He was not hurt, but he was
| angry, and his heart was very sore. He
sobbcd aloud, and vas filled with morti-
| fication at the thought of beng such y
baby.
III help you up, Jimmie"
He raised his eyes, and there stood
Will Baker close beside him.
Lets come and sit on the steps"
A.,
vitation. He followed his little compan-
ion, and they were soon seated at the
top of a long flight of steps which COM
manded a fine view of the play ground.
81 wouldn't care for EN-" said Will
Jimmie didn't answer
"The boots amt so very much too big
for you," continued viii, consolingly.
Jimmie slipped his foot from one of
them, and held it up to Wills sympathiz-
ing eyes.
"Tis pretty big" remarked Will.
Jimmie couldn't speak.
II don't believe 'twould be very much
too big for me. Let's change-just for
this morning"
Jimmie shook his head, his childish
heart halfdivining Wills motive.
"Do let me-" pleaded Will. They're
nice boots. Inever had on pair of real
mems boots in my life. They won't be
much too big, and mine will just fit you,
| know"
Illogical VIII. Jimmie, however, was
in no mood to criticise. Before many
minutes his little friend had persuaded
him that he would really be comforting a
favor on him by allowing him to wear
the terrible boots.
And when they were fairly on, how he
stalked hither and thither, with queer,
uncertain steps, tumbling down and
tumbling up again, all in a breath, step
ping on his own toes, and shrieking with
laughter at his unsuccessful attempts to
run.
"O-h! What fun! Hold me, some
body" and over he went into the arms of
a large boy who happened to be cross ng
the yard at the minute
HIM. lis 1langhing ioSaidy at his ism msffy PfanKs
looking with longing eyes at the NAM
moth boots, which only a short time ago
had been regarded with such contempt.
"Lend 'em to me, won't you, Jimmie?'
said one of them.
90 no, I'm your man. Let me lake
'em, Jimmie" begged another.
But Jimmie, finding himself suddenly
elevated to the position of dispenser
of favors, assumed an air of calm COM
placency and was deaf to all entreaties.
And so VIII staggered into school,
feeling very proud and happy. His gen.
erous action had met with an immediate
reward. 1t was SO pleasant to look at
Jimmie's tranquil face Will never
could bear to see fellow cry); besides,
he had had such fun with the boots.
The two boys walked home together
Will wore his own neat little CATERS, and
Jimmie scuffled along with his canoes
as some of the boys persisted in calling
them. but he didn't mind them now.
Suddenly he turned to his companion
with grieved expression upon his little
| round face.
"My father never has boiled scuip'ns
for dinner"
"Who said he had?" inquired Will.
"You did. You told Mary Hannaford
So"
Will laughed. $50 did. I almost
forgot about that. The boys were all
saving funny things yesterday. Guess
what they said about my fathers"
Jimmie couldn't guess.
"He keeps paper and all sorts OF things
in his store. They said he stole pens
(steel pens, you know, and that he sent
me out to pick up rags to make his pa
per Of"
"What did you do?" asked Indignant
Jimmie.
"Oh, nothing" laughed Will "They
were only in fun. didn't care. DIG
Won care for what said about the boilet
sculpins?" !,
81 don't care now," was Jimmie'
evasive answer. :.
The little boy could hardly have tos'
why he felt so happy as he went homo
that day. 1t certainly was not the sign
of bis neatly-mended boots, which, how
i ever, were the first objects his brigh
, eyes spied upon entering the house
Neither was it the large apple which ms
mother had bought for him as peace
, offering. What could it have been!
Jack" said he to his brother, " lik
Will Baker. He was only in fun yestel
day. It's mean to get mad If boy
only in fun. We had jolly times wit
) the boots"
Dear little Will! How he would nav
| laughed had anyone told him that the ies
sons he had taught that morning were Ia
better than any found between the cover
| of school-books. Experimenting litti
e teacher! Giving his instructions s
t sweetly, so merrily, SO unconsclousi
that neither he nor his pupil had sus
i, picion of the good work he was doing.
! Blessings on the little ones, OF wbor
. we all might learn. Surely, "of such
0 the kingdom of heaven."-C1rssf'a" hes
e ister.
. THE Chicago Temperance Monthly
the title of new forty-eight page illus
trated magazine, to be devoted to th
> cause Of temperance, and the first nun
her of which will be issued in Janual
L fx.vx< RI -