The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-12-23
CASH.

HE n0ur lOr ciOSluS Hdu dlllNtb, anu
the cash boys of Conran, Cautin & Co.,
the large dry. goods dealers in Broadway,
were hurrying out Of the store, each bent
on reaching his home in the shortest time
possible, when clear, young voice called
out: 81 say, fellows, hold on a minute,
won't you? l want to tell you some
thing"
The boys instantly turned back and
surrounded the speaker, a gray eyed, shy
looking lad of some ten years, certainly
not more, perhaps less.
Hurry up, George said one of the
elder ones; II promised mother I'd be
home early tonight, and besides that
there's to be fresh ginger bread for sup
per, and my big brothers awful fond OF
it, so | don t want him to get there first. :"
"Well, you know" said George, speak
ing quickly, but distinctly, Willie Lee
hasn't been here for a week past, and
we've all been wondering what had be
come of him. l stopped wondering last
night and went down to his house to see.
And he's been awful sick, but he's getting
better now, though he amt able to work
vet; and, boys, he amt got any father or
mother"
"Why, Georgy, you haven't any your
self" said Tom Griggs, mcrry-taced,
black-eyed boy.
"Yes, but I've got good uncle who
takes care of me. I'm one Of the lucky
ones, | am, and Willie amt. He lives
with an old grandmother who earns only
three dollars a week when she works her
very hardest, and he has apretty little sister
five years old, and she hasn't any shoes. "
| That's kinder hard" said Tom Grlggs.
"Go on, young Hamlet"
"Well, as you all know, day after to-
morrow is Christmas, and | don't believe
they'll have anything good unless s'c give
give it to them. So propose we buy
them Christmas dinner
"a Christmas dinncrn' repeated half a
dozen of the boys; "why, how can re dc
that?'
Its precious little money we get, any
how said Tom Griggs. "They call us
Cash but whats IN name, as W
Shakespeare says"
"Who's he?" asked Frank Spencer
and, without waiting for an answer, he
went on: Drive ahead, George. What's
your plan?"
"Well, there's twenty of US, ain
there? And we can each spare five cent:
that's one dollar-and I'm sure tho
clerks will give as much as we do, thatl
make two dollars, and two dollars VII
buy nice Christmas dinner for three peo
ple.'
$50 it will" said Tom Griggs; moth
ing wrong with your upper story, George
Keep on, and you'll be an A, T. Stewar
one of these days"
"Here's my flyer, It's a tax on me, t.
be sure; but I'll do without my cigar TO
a couple of days, and thatll make
square"
The boys burst out, laughing merrily
and before they parted the whole thin!
was arranged.
Christmas morning beamed bright ant
clear. Willie and his pretty little siste
were both sitting in large, old fashioned
rocking chair, looking over picture
paper someone had given them, and grand
mother was working away as usual-fo
very poor people have no real holidays
when sound of smothered laughter wa
heard on the stairs, and then came a Ia
at the door and someone called out, sharI
ly: "Cash!'
Enter procession, single file.
Tom Griggs-carrying a fat chickc
with blue ribbon around its neck.
Frank Spencer-basket of potatoes.
Sam Styles-bunch of celery.
Three other boys with an orange in eac
hand.
Target bearer with large mince-pie.
"Why, the Lord love and bless youall,
says the old lady, "what's this?'
"Your Christmas dinner, ma am" al
swers Tom Griggs, taking off his hi
with flourish; land for it you mu:
} thank"-pointing to George Welsh, VIII
, came shyly in the very last, with tin
bunch of flowers for the little sister
"that freckled- faced, grayeyed, litt
sCashn"-Nargaret Eyttnge, IN Churc|