Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-11-19

to GIN me clean shirt and par o
draws to put on Kiah. You needn't GIN
me 40 socks, cos he amt got no feet. Oh,
Lordy! oh, Lordyr sobbed little Joe
ct me an kiah had jes had feet like some
folks, Kiah wouldn't ha been drowned!
Take this up to the house, said Mr..
Wise, handing him a note, and Miss Mol
lie will give you whatever you want
'rhanky, sir said Joe. Il know you
amt got no coffin handy. but you can git
one. | don't reckon it will take much,
cos kiah warnt big
Then Mr. Wise wrote note for the
undertaken, and directed Joe what to do
with it.
The next day was cold and misty, and
the pauper's hearse that conveyed kiah to
the graveyard was driven so fast that poor
little Joe, the only mourner, could hardly
keep up as .he hoped along behind it on
his crutches.
The blast grew keener and the mist
heavier. and before Kiah was buried out
of sight the rain was falling in torrents
that drenched the poor little cripple sob
bing beside the grave, and the driver of
the hearse, good-hearted Irishman, said
to him, IN wild ye, or get up here by me
an we're mind to. II take We back
But Joe shook his head, and prepared
to hop back as he had hoped out. Thank,
sir said he. but I'd ruther walk. feels
Ike would be gittin' ride out o kiah's
funeral
The wind blew open hls buttonless
shirt and the rain beat heavily on his loyal
little breast, but he struggled against the
storm, and paused only once on his way
home. That was beside the goods box
that he and kiah had had for a stall. Now
1t was drenched with rain and the sides be-
spattered with mud. and the newspaper
that had served for a cloth had blown over
one corner, and was soaked and torn, but
cluns TO its old companion, though the
wind tried to tear 1t of. Little Joe stood
ever.
For several days little Joe drooped and
shyered and refused to eat, and at length
he grew Ill and sent for Mr.. Wise. but Mr.
Wise was out of town. and did not return
for week and, though when he got home.
the first thing he did was to visit little Joe.
lie came too late, for Joe would never
again rise from the straw pallet on which
he lay in nor use the crutches that now
stood idle IN the corner
His eyes frightened aud he smiled faint
ly, as Tom entered like breath of fresh
air-so strong aud fresh and vigorous that
1t made one feel better to be near him.
'Why,Joe: how is this?'
The little cripple paused to gather up
his strength; then he said, Busted agin.
Mas Tom, and you can't. ..neverlsot me up
no mo-
Oh, stuff. DR.. North can If can't.
Why didn't you send for him when you
found was away
i dnnno, sir; | nuvur thought bout IL. :
Turning to the woman with whom Joe
lived:
And why the al djdn'R you do it?'
said Tom angriy.
Il didn't know Joe was 80 Sick said
she.
'Tain't no use sen'in for no doctor now.
jes been tellin' Joe he better not put off
maxim peace wild de Lord.
Il don't reckon de Lord is mad wild me
Nancy. What is l done to Him: didn't
use to cuss, an Didn't play marbles on
Sunday cos couldn't play en- no time,
like de boys dat had feet
'Et you don't take keer yell he too late,
like kiah is now-tain't for me TO ledge.
said Nancy but you better be a-tryln' TO
open de gate o Paradise
Piping the words out slowly and pain
fully, Little Joe replied: Il don't b'leever
l keer bout goin' less kiah can get in
too; but spec he's dar, cos don't see
what de good Lord could ha' had aein
hun. He oughn't to thought hard o moth
IN kIah done, COS he warnt nuvur nothin'
but free nigger, and didn't have no ole
.han " palttIH Dy. Maybe lie ii let us
bofe in. | know Kiah's waitin' for me
somewhar, but dunno what to say to
Him. You AK Him. Mas Tom.
He spoke more feebly, and his eyes
were gettin dull, but the old instinct OF
servltude remained, and he added, Amt
you got nothin' to spread on de flo', Nam
cy, so Mas Tom WON'T git his kneese
dirty:
Immediately and reverently Tom knelt
on the clay floor, and, as nearly as he re-
membered it, repeated the Lords Prayer.
'Thanky, Mas Tom,' said Little Joe
feebly.
what was dat-olc mis'-used to-
sing?-' o Lam o'-God-I come-I-'
The words ceased, and the eyes remained
half closed. the pupils fixed.
Little Joe was dead.-[Lippincott's Mag
aZine.
DIsCIPLINE.-l do not believe that boys