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

me. Cut out now, and don't get busted
tins week, because | shall need all nv
money to buy breaStpin to wait on
my sister i'll. Come, John, let's regis
ter"
Joe'S glance followed Mr.. Wise and
his friend till they were ont of sight :
then he turned and paused no more till
ho leachcd an out-of-the- grocery
store, III the window of which were dis
played samples of fish and soap and
calico and Kerosene lamps and dreadful
brass iewelry. among which was IL
1rShtful brcaStpin i'll the shape of IL
crescent set with red and green glass.
and further ornamented by chain of
the most atrociouS description conceiv-
able. Before this thing of beauty.
which to him had been JOY for weeks.
Joe paused and fingered, and smote his
little black breast and sighed the sigh
of poverty. Then he went in. What
mout be de price q dat gents pin in de
corner oh de windel? p he inquired.
Il don't ste any gent i'll the corner of
the window" said the proprietor of the
store.
Joe took the mild pleasantly and in
quiIing. ''What mout he de price a. de
pin ," was told that it might he any
thiug-trom nothing up-but it could
go tor seventy cents.
He stood again outside the window.
looking sadly and retlectively ut the
attractive biiou. then seated himself on
the curbStoue, his crutchcS resting in
the gutter and thoughttully Smoothed
between his finger and thumb the
twenty five cent note Mr.. Wise had
given him:
EFF takes dis. an de one Mas Tom
Iwine to gimme mex week. dat'l he fiji
ty cents. but it won't be seventy five.
81 got to make Il quarter on de two
Fl Miss M"llie knowed, spec sh,
would wait anodcr week. to git married
an den | wouldn't run no rcsk q desc;
but amt gwiTc to tell her. COS | know
she couldn't help tellin' Mas Tom an
| want to spri-c him. Mas Toms mad,
me feel good Il many time: | want /,
make him feel good wumst. He don't
nuVuI came dis way an aint seed dat
pin. OF he would ha' had it fore now.
Then Little Joe beStirrcd himself amo
obtaining the assistance of friend
took his dry goods box up To Capit"
Square. There he turned it up-id,
down. spread Il newspaper over the top
and proceeded to display his wares.
\ pyramid of three apples stood il
one corner; Il small stack of pcpcrmiu
candy Was its ris-d-ris; Il tiny glass Z"
/ peanuts graccd the third. and was con
| tronted 10y IL lemon that had seen life
and WAS more Scre than yellow. Bu
/ the crowning glory WAS the centr,
piece an unhappy looking pie of visag'
/ pale aud thin physique, Yet how heautl
iul to Joe, He stepped back on hi
clutches. turning his head from side t'
side ;s he surveyed the effect. took ~
IL locust branch he had brought Will
him t" brush away the flies. and. lean
ing against the iron railing, with caln
dignity awaited coming events.
His glance presently fell on the tig
urc OF IL negro boy. VIII" stood gain!
with longing eyes on the dclicacieS q
his table. and it was with Stramg
feeling of kin>hip that Little Joe con
timucd to regard the new conner, for In
too. had been branded 10y misfortune
He appeared about does age, an'
should have been taller, but his leg
had been amputated nearly up To tn
knee. and a> he stood on the pititIl
stumps, supported 10y short cane II
one hand. his head was hardly ~ higI
aS the iron railing. He had none q
,Joc'> brightness. but looked ragged an,
dirty and hungry. and evidently had n
Mas Tom to help the good LoId an,
the birds ut the air to take care OF him
Hi> skin WAS oi IL dull a-hcu hue. an'
the short wool which clumg close To hi
scalp waS SunbuInt till ii was red AM
crisp. and formed Il curious contrast I
his black face. One arm WAS bare. nnl
the ragged remains OF Il sleeve han%in
over the shoulder. and it seemed II
great misfortune that his legs had bee
shortened. tnl he had hardly panlaloon
enough to cover what hc had lett.
lie looked at the pie. and Joe locke
at him.
Presently the latter inquired serious
lN. "Whal'> y"' legs p
'Cut OF. WIS the answer.
How come dty cut of >
Feet was frns-ht. Like ter hi
me"
What yo name" asked Joe.
"kiah"
"What were yo' ole mas name ,!
"Didn't have II" ole mas.
| : w il> ' GU IL llsiltHlll lItt
dunno what yn' mean. said kiah.
..'Fore we woS all sot free. "eNplainc
, Little joe ''Wns You born wild Il Z"
mas an il ole mis-. on wos you h"I
, free les natrhully free ,"
.Frcc." said Kiah. thus placing hin
t self. us every Southcrner knowS, undo
the ban of Joe's contempt. "lmpl
my Lor', Dat pie Sholy ii" smc
; good"
/; "You look hongry," said Joe gravel,
f Il is said Kiah. '.hongry is il dog
Joe stepped to the table. took up
) rusty old pocket knife, and cutting ol
, II piece of the pie handed it to kia
1 Klah bit OFF il point of the triangle wit
his eyes fixed on Joe us if i'll douI
= whether he would he allowed to pr
= ceed. but finding that the liberty ";
i not resented, he eagerly devolrred Il
= remainder, drew his coat sleeve aero
- his mouth. and said "Thanky". Al
| thus was their friendship commenced.
e 1t was very touching and beautit'I
u the attachment which was formed h
! tween these two unfortunate creature
t Neither could perform the Labor or jo
i in the sports incident to his age. al
they seemed drawn together 10y the Il
r, traction of il common misery. Eve
j. daV some little service, pltlful III It's /
d Significance except to themselves, son
little humble office from one to the ot
." cr, some little act of selt-dcnial pc
Il haps the saving of Il few cold potato
e that had been given to kiah, or Il
- sacrifice of buttercd roll that Joe h;
d got at Mr.. se'S-every day some lit
=, elm, S.ryeI IN cempur This trIenlsh
= which gave to each companion wi
= did not mortify him. and they hecaI
/: inseperable, Joe taking klah to the lit