The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-27
CROSSES.
CHAPTER L.

'' I say, Billy, wot's a cross %
Theywere two little boot blacks stand
ing before a window, gazing in at the
large display of illuminated texts. One
was sadly deformed, and both looked
ragged and destitute =; but their faces
were very bright, for they were evident
ly enjoying treat.
's A cross, Johnny; why, a cross is
almost anything that goes across some
thin else, like this" said Billy, form
ing one with his fingers. * One stick,
or whatsomever it may be made of,
pints up'ards and the other p'ints ahead
that's wot cross is, Johnny
''Yes, [ know'd that afore, Billy ;
but wot does crosses mean, and wots
they for %
dunno, Johnny. They puts 'em on
top o churches to make 'em look sort
o neat like, 1 s'pose.
t' Mebbe they tells which way the
wind blows" said johnny.
No, they al'ays p'ints the same
way" said Billy, confidently. " Crosses
must mean somethin' good, or nice,
though, / reckon, cause they're aI'ays
fixed off sort o. fine, with flowers and
such and then peoples 10edrs crosses,
too. Haint you seed 'em, Johnny, with
'em on %
"Oh, yes," replied Johnny, bright
ening, They're takin' up the cross,
Billy, just wot this says fur 'em to do ;
but somehow" more slowly, there
must be more'n that to it; why do they
wear 'enl, and wot's they for?"
'tThey amt for to eat, at any rate, !"
said Billy, turning away, and I'm pow
erful hungry. Come, wen go git some
grub, Johnny pick up your traps and
hurry up, or they'll charge you for rent,
if the perliee don't git hold O. you and
arrest you for stairin' in there so crazy
like"
They both laughed and walked away,
through a number of streets, until they
came to little bakery, where they in
vested few pennies in rolls, and had a
sc bit fit for king" as Johnny remark
ed, and then they started off to their
lodging place, which was a miserable,
old, dirty attic, where all sorts of folks
crowded in for the night, too poor to
afford anything better.
Billy and Johnny huddled up togeth-
er in their corner, and were soon un-
conscious of their unpleasant surround
ings. Beautiful dreams sometimes
foated to them on the impure air, and
instead of making them discontented
and miserable, rested their little spirits,
and added much happiness to their very
few joys. Did the dreams come by
chance to them, or was their slumber
frightened by the loving smile of a
Heavenly Father, shining down upon
them through the darkness. Who can
tell +?
Johnny's happiest dream, and the one
that comforted him the most, was one
in which he dreamed he was straight
and elegant in form. That the little
hump, the heavy ache upon his back,
was all gone. '' I was Just like other
boys, - he would say to Billy, trying to
straighten himself up, ff and oh, was
so happy. Not a person noticed me on
the street, think O that, Billy, 'ceptin'
as those as wanted their boots blacked !;
and oh, such polish as I gave 'em
Such a polish p And his little pale,
sad face would light up It seemed
as If I couldn't rub hard enough, I was
SO happy. Now and then, some o. them
great and good-natured men 'ud say to
me as [ was shinin' 'em up, why,
boy. what's the matter with yer ? Have
We been shinin' yer face this mornin' p
/ told one on em I'd snapped heap
O. misery for pile O. JOY; and another
one, that I reckoned my aches was
passin' off in smiles, near as I could
guess but nobody knowed I was the
little hunch-back, and when woke up
this mornin' I knowed it was all a
dream of course but it rested me so
much, Billy, 1 feel most as if didn't
care" And then little sigh escaped
hina. Billy, rough boy though he was,
knew the sign was the vapor escaping
from the ache Johnny bore in his heart
as well as on his back, and that John
ny, patient Johnny, did care ever sc
much.
sNever mind, never mind, Johnny, :
Billy would say, drawing his hand
across his eyes at the same time,
love you more with that ar than ef YOU
war straighter nor I am. shouidn
know You, Johnhy you'd be somebody
else to me but come, wen lose oul
mornin's trade. Hurry up, boy Dusl.
ness is business ;" and off they. would
start, stopping first at the Little bakery
CHAPTER II.
year has passed away, and In LITTLE
attic room, Johnny, hunchback Johnny
lies dying. Not in the same crowded
dirty place we visited a year ago, fol
all is neat and clean, though extreme
poverty is everywhere apparent.
poor widow had given Billy and John
ny shelter and food in return for the
services which they rendered her. They
ran on many errands for her, chopped
her wood, built her fires, and shared
nth her the money that they earned Al
5laeking boots
And now Johnny lies there on his bed
ek unto death. For weeks he has
en wasting away, and his little form
rs smaller than ever, all but th.
aps which has never lessened except