Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-24
Joe Black;


The first time | ever saw Joe Black be
was out on the sidewalk, in front Of the
house where he lived. 1t was sharp win
ter morning. lie had a coat on, but no hat.
A boy who goes out Of winter morning
without any hat on will be almost sure to
catch cold, get sore throat, and perhaps
have the Group, and be very sick indeed
There we're a number Of boys out on the
sidewalk too, and Joe was looking to see
them play, rather than playing with them.
Some Of them we're sliding along on the ice
in the gutter, others we're snow.baling and
all seemed to be having a dne time.
Pretty soon man came along. Joe was
busy watching the boys, and did not see or
hear the mao until he was close upon him.
The man had heavy bundle upon his
shoulder, and called out rather angrily to
Joe, " Get out of the way
Joe was not little frightened at the
harsh tone in which the man spoke to him, and
got out Of the way as quickly as he could.
Some boys would have answered this rude
man rudely back, and perhaps told him to
get out Of the way himself; bat Joe took
the roughncss very meekly.
The next morning Joe was out again
only this time he had not got as far as the
sidewalk, but standing on the doorsteps,
looking up and down the street, and woud-
ering what he should do. While he was so
standing and wondering, the same man came
along who had spoken to him so uukindly
the day before lie bad what looked like
the same bundle on his shoulder. The man
did not see Joe, but Toe saw him and re-
coguized him. But he kept perfectly still,
and watched him 60 by.
Presently the man, as he walked along
put his hand in his side.pocket and pulled
out his handkerchief In 30 doing, he pulled
out one of his mittens too. 1t fell unseen
by the owner upon the sidewalk. When
he put his handkerchief back in his pocket
he did not miss the mitten. There it lay
Just where it fell, the man walking faster
and faster away
Some boys in Joes place would have
been glad that such cross man had LOST
bis mitten, and would hope that he might
never find it.
Not so Joe Black. lie saw what had
happened-the handkerchief taken out the
mitten fallen and left lying on the walk
the man unconscious even that he had
dropped it. 1t took him but moment tC
decide that he ought to go and restore the
mitten to its owner. don't know that he
so much as thought Of the cross way the
man had spoken to him the day before. L
he did, he did not cherish any resentment
So off he started down the steps and along
the walk until be came to the mitten. Pick
ing it up, he ran over to the man as fast as hi
legs could carry him. Instead Of calm!
out to him, he waited until he got close be
hind him, and then gently touched his hand
The man turned around to see wht
touched him.
There stood Joe, holding up the mitten
"Well done' said the man, Recognizing
the mitten and feeling in his pocket at th
same moment. Well done Where die
you find that2" And he took the mittel
and put it back in his pocket.
Joe only wagged his tall for be wa
nothing but great Newfoundland dog
Joe Black, and he could not speak word
But have sometimes thought that he wa
more Of gentleman than the man VIII
dropped his mitten. At any rate, he knew
how TO return good for evil. DO your
independent.