The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-18

with more affection in their glance
than lads of twelve are wont to feel,
and it was her hand that he took when
they again started on their way.
But one day not long after, the hope
which only CHEEKY Jack dared to
breathe, arose above the cripple's
dark horizon.
A skilled physician whom his uncle
had consulted in regard to some
chronic ailment of his own, saw the
lad, and became interested in his case.
-"What are you thinking Of, man.,
asked the doctor, sharply, s'to let this
poor boy drag deformed body
through life when proper treatment
few years ago would have made his
cure certain; even now he can be
helped-possibly cured.'
''Stuff nonsense y cried old Gren-,
mel. ''Do you suppose am going to
waste my money that you doctors
may experiment on the lad! Not by
long shot. l understand the tricks OF
your trade!''
s'Sir y Numbered the old physician
in voice that awoke uncle Grennel
to the fact that this was not the meek,
village practitioner whom he could
brOW-beat at pleasure, and which
caused him to beg pardon with obse-
quious haste.
Nothing further was said upon the
subject at that time, but eventually
the keen old man concluded that it was
polite to act upon the doctors advice.
Thus it was arranged that the boy
should be sent to a noted infrmary
for cripples.
It was happy day for Willie when
he became assured of this fact. The
small, pale face was radiant with hope
when next he waited beneath the old
oak at the cross roads for his little
friends.
Il knew something would turn up,
cried Jack, tossing his hat in the air,
with boyish hurrah. ''And you'll
be coming back great tall Teller. as
straight as a sapling. Amt it jolly,
thought
Bessie stood by Willie smoothing the
black mat of hair away from his
forehead in her motherly fashion.
She had clapped her hands and fairly
danced with Joy on first hearing of her
little friends good fortune; but just
now she was strangely silent. Anon
she asked anXiously:
you'll not forget us, Willie =
All. the little woman stirring in the
child's heart
I'll never forget you !" he returned
while he ignored poor Jack altogether.
II believe you like Willie best, the
latter said ruefully, watching the little
girls troubled countenance. Il am
going away, too-going to the city to
learn a trade.
"Well, | ought to like him best, :
she returned, with a bit Of pout. ''He
hasn't anything to make him happy,
an no one in the big world to love
him; and you're a stout Teller, with
your mamma an everybody to love
you
A CLEAN of triumph shone in Will
: lies black eyes. He spoke with proud
assurance:
sYou shall always love me best y
Twelve years passed, aud with
, them the childhood of these three
; little friends. When they all again
, met they were in the full spring-time
of maturity. Bessie's lovely woman
hood was the complete fulfillment of
her sweet girlhood's promises. Jack
Marsden was at all, handsome fellow;
: brave and str ong enough to wrest
, success from the hand of fortune in
, the battle of life; and William Knight
was a slender young man, with only a
!. slight stoop, which by no means
amounted to deformity. His uncle
f had died during Willie's first year at
Q the hospital, and unable to carry his
+ hearts treasure with him on that
dreadful and unknown journey, his
r nephew as next of kin, became its
e lucky inheritor.
$ Henceforward, fortune smiled upor
g the boy. Gold is a wonderful lotior
Q for all the ills of life. His cure wa:
Q facilitated. When he was able tt
L leave the hospital, he was sent to {
1 genial cline across the seas. where hi
k steadily gained strength. Here too
o his education was completed undel
: superior advantages. When III
i returned to his native village, aftel
S years spent abroad, none of the goot
|. people recognized in this elegan
e Young gentleman, the sspoor Willie,
@ who had once haunted their street
k with his bent form and sad face.
r On his arrival the three friends me
O by appointment at the cross roads
n 1t was Bessie-s fancy that they shoul'
E. meet again, where they had parties
te so long ago, on the spot sacred to $
ir many childish memories.
d Fortunate fellowr' cried Jack
d after the first greetings had bee
n exchanged. You will never agai
II need to lean upon any arm for bel
le and protection. as in our boyhoo
4. days
4 NO" returned the other youth
n with proud CLEAN IN his dark eye
m None dare offer help and pity now .
re Bessie started in panied surprise
IN His tones even more than his word:
4. struck her with heartless ingratitudt
,e Searchingly her bright eyes scanne
d his cold. naughty face. Had tn
ministry of sorrow been III vain! Tia
l,1o-cov,r of charity an