Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-23

I
Now he sowed his radsh-seed and raked
it in. When he told his mother about it,
and how much money he was going to
: make selling his radishes, she told HIM if
was too late in the season, and thought no
more about it. But Benny did not seem
discouraged. There came on warm, gen
tie showers, and to Benny's delight the
two leaves of the radishes soon peeped
out of the ground. So abundant were
they he had to keep thinning them out.
Benny's father and mother We're very poor.
and it was rum that made them so. Mr..
Towers would drink, and so the money
went his familyso much needed. Hewas
a kind, pleasant man when not under the
influence of liquor. He wept over him
self when sober, but it was only to fail
with the first temptation. Mrs. Towers
took in sewing and did what she could to
feed and clothe the children and keep
Benny in school.
Dear little fellow, how busy he was the
last OF October getting into the cellar his
stock of radishes He had little wheel
cigar-box. 1t was so much nicer to wheel
them in than carry in basket. The rad
ishes were just as nice as could be-crisp
and sweet-they had grown so rapidly.
Benny had to wheel ever so many loads of
dirt to cover his treasure to keep them
from willing. Through all this labor
Benny had one plan, one idea-to get his
mother a warm shawl. He knew some
thing how hard she worked and tried to
get along. He saw how thin, worn and
faded her shawl was, and he often thought
how like the old shawl she had grown
thin, worn and faded. The very next day
after the radishes were safely housed
Benny was taken sick with the measles.
Sometimes he felt little impatient, for
Christmas was coming, and he had set his
heart upon having the shawl ready by that
time. Well he knew that out of mann
mas small means there would be some
thing to make Christmas glad and happy.
t would probably be something her own
loving hands had fashioned, but the best
she could do.
1t was the last week in November be-
fore Benny was able to go out. The snow
was sitting softly, silently down from the
gray, overhanging clouds, covering the
walks, catching in the tree-tops and
chinking lovingly in around Bennys
radishes, pretty contrast to the scarlet
and green tops. Yes, there he was fairly
started; snow and radishes seemed odd to
passers-by, and when Benny called out:
Here's your nice fresh radishes!"
"Out of season." said one.
"Whew! snow and radishes,' said an
other.
They're nice, though, see that" and
Benny snapped one in two, showing the
crystal inside.
"That's So" said the man, taking a
bite; come along with me; it's Thanks
giving tomorrow, and I want some for
my table,
Benny hurried along to keep up They
stopped at large hotel, and the punches
were counted. There were ten.
How much are they?"
Five cents bunch" Benny said, in
as much of business manner as he could
assume. He felt half brighten ed when
the man disappeared with the radishes.
He soon returned with the basket and a
new tlfty-cent scrip. Then he sat down,
and drawing Benny to seat beside him
said:
q know there must be story con-
nected with these radishcs; I want to
know all about it,"
Benny gave a quick, glad look up in
the face OF his new friend and told his
story; told it in such a way, too, that the
corner in the garden and all his toll lay
like picture before the gentleman.
When Benny finished and had tucked his
money safe and deep in his iacket-pocket,
he was gladdened by the words:
"Now, Benny, | want all your rad
ishes; you may bring as many as you
did to-day every other day until they are
gone"
ooh, thank you, sir; and will l have
the shawl by Christmas, you Think"
"Ies, unless you have a larger stock
than l think you have"
Benny thanked the gentleman and ran
down the steps. Tie did not see a form
that was leaning against one of the pill
lars and had heard all his story-it was
his father. When he saw Benny's fingers
close over his first-earned money, there
was wicked CLEAN in his eyes as he
thought, That will do, I'll have it." But
in spite Of his terrible thirst, when he
heard about the shawl he clinched his
hands until the nails sank in the flesh, and
exclaimed:
No! l won't be such brute, and I'll
help buy the shawl, so help me God"
He turned in an opposite direction from
what Benny went and walked rapidly
away. His cry was to the right source
now; his wife had often said that grace
alone could save him, he was so weak,
too weak to depend upon himself. He
had taken his usual drink that morning,
and now the time was approaching for the
next; he had spent his last dime, and that
was the reason he felt tempted to take
Benny's money. He went into the cab
inet-shOp where he might have steady
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