St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-11-20

to hop back aS he had hOpped out.
"ThanIiee. sir" said he. ..but I'd rather
walk. ! feels like | would he gettu' Il
ride O Kiah's funeral"
The wind blew open his buttonless
shirt, and the rain beat heavily on his
loyal little breast, but lie struggled
against the storm. and paused only once
on his way home. That was beside the
goods box that he and Kiah had for u
stall. Now it WAS drclched with rain
and the sides hespattered with mud.
and the newspaper that had served for
cloth had blown over one corner and
was soaked and torn, but clung to its
old companion, though the wind tried
t" tear it away and the rain to beat it
down. Little Joe stood Il minute be
side it and cried harder than ever.
For several days Little Joe dropped
and ShiVered and refused to eat. and at
length he sent for Mr.. Wise. but Mr.
Wise WAS out of town and did not re-
turn for Il week and though. when he
got home. the inst thing he did was to
visit Little Joe. he came too late. for
Joe would never again rise from the
straw pallet on which he lay, nor use
the crutches that now stood idle in the
corner.
His eyes Enlightened. and he smiled
family us Tom entered like Il breath of
fresh air-So strong aud fresh and Wig
orouS that i, made one feel better only
to he near him.
"Why. Joe how is this -
The little cripple paused to gather mp
his strength then he said ''Bu>tcd
agin. Mas Tom. and you cant nuv>Ilr
>ot me up no mo-"
.'Oh. stuff, DIR. North can. if can't.
Why didn't you send tor him When YOU
found was away"
Il dunno. sir : | nuvvur thought
bout it,"
Turning to the woman with whom
Joe lived. And why the II didn't
yoH do il ," said Tom angrily.
/ Il didn't know Joe was sick" said
| she. "Taimt no Use scn'in' for no doe
tor nov. icS' been tcllim' Joe he bet =
/ ter not put off maxim peace wild dc
/ Lord
Il don't reckon de Lord is mad wild
me. Nancy. What is done to him
/ | didn't Use /" cu>S. an didn't play
marbles on SUNDAY. COS | couldn't play
'cm no time like lie boys dat had feet.
"Ef Nnu don't take krrl. You'll hr
too late. like kiah. | amt a->iy in
where Kiah i> NOW. taint for me tu
icdgr. said Nancy "hut YOU better hc
a TRYING t" open the gate - Paradise.
Piping the words ont slowly and
painfully. Little Joe replied. Il don't
h1ccvc kctr bout goim' less kiah can
cit in too but spec he's lar. COS
don't see what de good Lord could ha
had agin him. He uughrnt To Thought
hand % uothim' kiah done. eos he Waru't
nuN\ur mothiu but 4 free niggcr. an
didn't hay no ole Mas /" pattern 10y
Maybe He'll let lis h"tr III. know
kiahs Waitin for me >nmcW har. bat
dunno What I" SAY to Him. lou a>
Him. Mas Tom"
He spoke more teehly, and his cye'
Wclr getting dull, bat the old instinct
of sclvitudc remained. and he added
"Ain't y"u got nothin' to spread "m til,
h"'. Nancy. :" Mas Tom wont cit hi,
knees dirty ,
Immediately and revcrcntly Ton
>nct on the clay floor. and. rs nearly
a. he remembered it. repeated TIA,
Lords Prayer.
"ThanLy. Mas Tom" said Little ,Jo,
fcrhly. ''What was dat ole mis- use,
t" sing oh Lam - God | com,
Tn" words ceased and tl'
ewes remained half closed. the pupil
fixed.
Little Joe WAS dead. Ljppi"coH to
NDrcmbrr.