American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-02-06
THE RAGGED SHOES.

| There was pathetic sound in the
lads voice as he asked the question that
smote painfully upon the heart of the
mother, but she only replied by asking
Twill you be happier to remain at home
my SOM"
Little Sammy thought of his class, OF
his beloved teacher, of the beautiful
songs; he thought of the new minister
| who was to preach his first sermon to his
new congregation that day, and he felt
that he could not be absent, but ruefully
glancing at the dilapidated shoes, nicely
brushed, it is true, but yet with the
white stockings peeping out at the toes,
he felt that they really were unfit to
| wear. There was a conflict going on in
his mind, and as the mother watched the
| sad features of her son she wondered
| what would be the issue.
| Samuel Ford was about twelve years of
| age, and the son of one of the noble men
| who, when President Lincoln called for
three hundred thousand more" kissed
his young wife and their little boy
good-by" and went to the wars. Soon
after his departure baby Mamie came
like a stray sunbeam to tighten their
home.
For a few months the letters from the
soldier husband and father came often.
| and at length letter in an unknown
hand told the young wife that she was
widowed, and the little Mamie, who had
never known fathers caresses, and
Sammy, our little hero, that they were
fatherless.
Then followed the struggle between
labor and want, in which want often
gained the supremacy, yet with the few
dollars monthly supplied by Government
and her own meager earnings she had
managed to keep her little ones at home,
although many had repeatedly urged her
to place them with some good family
where they might be more comfortably
provided for and educated.
Sammy had resolutc.y refused to &C
cept new shoes until Mamie had first
been provided with pair, and those of
my little readers who have never known
what it is to go cold and thinly clad can
hardly realize how self-sacrificing it was
for the noble little fellow to insist upon
Mamie being first supplied.
AS | said before, a conflict was going
on in the breast of the child; the mother
read it in mis- changing features, and her
heart yearned for her boy.
" am glad sister Mamie has nice warm
shoes, and, as you have some, my turn
will come next"
g Halloo, Sam Patch! what's the price
of leather?" shouted John Dorm. Z" L
say, Bob, his shoes are happy; see 'em
grin" and the two tall, well-dressed boys
laughed uproariOusly at this poor display
of wit, while the little fellow, although
stung to the quick by the heartless
taunts, walked quickly on in the direc-
ton of the church, the boys following
and ridiculing his ragged shoes and
patched coat.
seemed so shabby before, and the white
toes never peeped out SO frightfully
plain as now. He was really unhappy.
He almost wished he had stayed at
home.
a light shower of snow had fallen the
night before, which the wind had blown
close under the edge of the white paling,
and suddenly John cried out, See here,
see what I've found! and he picked up, |
half covered with the snow, a pocket
book
"We're in luck to-day, sure" said Bob;
:" wonder who lost it." Sammy had also
stopped to see what the boys had found, |
and he said, Perhaps the owners name |
is inside Look and see"
John acted upon the suggestion, and |
I" VIM. Bisbee" was several times written |
upon the papers and was also marked |
upon the cover, thus removing all doubt
as to the owner of the book and its valu
able contents.
can run home now and get some new
boots in the morning." and John handed
a note toward Sammy. The child shrank
back
"Surely you will return it to Mr.. Bis
bee" he said.
surely we shall not he is rich enough
now-owns the biggest store in town. A
likely story! Wen divide even up and
say nothing about it." returned John
Dorm.
",Twould be the same as stealing, and
would not touch cent of it no sooner
han / would go into his store and steal
his goods" said Sammy, with very
face.
VERY WELL" replied John; "the less
you take the better share tor us, but let
ne catch you telling about it and III"
He did not say schat he would do, but he
shook his fist defiantly, while a fierce
light burned in the eyes of that bad boy
Sammy walked away quickly and was
soon in his class.
His lesson, so well learned, was but in
recited, for he kept thinking
IF those bows and that pocket book, and
he tried to think what he ought to do,
whether he should go directly to MIR.
Bisbee and tell him or to the fathers of
he boys, but finally decided to wait and
ask mother.
lie was sure she WOulu KNOW just Wndt
would be best to do.
There had been, although they knew
t not, silent spectator to this scene.
from observation by the close
yrowing evergreens stood Mr.. Weston,
he new minister, and he had seen and
leard all distinctly. After dismissing
he congregation he came up to little
sammy, and taking him by the hand, his
jagged shoes Notwithstanding, began to
ak to him in n very friendly manner.
lie asked him his name, where he
ived, and in fact before they separated
he learned much of the child's simple ,,
history, and when in IA very kindly tone, a..
,e babe "good-by" he said: Ask
our mother if you can come to see me
o-morrow evening. | have something
hat | wish to say to you" and again
,idding him good by" he left him
landing alone, wondering what the new
minister could possibly want to say to I
i'm.
The next evening Sammy was prompt | 6
V at the house of his new friend, who re- |
cived him kindly, and after a few mo- !
nents spent in pleasant conversation he ,
sked: Would you not like to earn J
ONE money to help your MOTHER"
ooh, l would like to SO much; but
What can | do?" and the child's face was l
adiant with animation and delight, for I
e felt that the new minister was about
o help him solve that difficult problem !
hat he had puzzled over so long and SO
He had often got little odd job to do, {