Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-06-16
THECROSs ROADS.
By MARY RUssELLI

II was only a country ROAD with long,
unsheltered stretches and occasional
hanks Of shadows and shade cast by the
wars;de trees. Three-quarters of mile
from its termination at Middleton, it
WAS intersected BY. similar, road, and on
one of the tour corners formed by this in
tersection stoOda great tree with two
SIGN boards nailed to ftsN rough body.
Here the travaer could 1earn what points
might be reahed east, west, north or
south. This spot was called the Cross
Roads, and had nothing peculiar in itself
from other ross roads. But here, fol-
MANY wears. three children coming home
from the village school always stopped a
moment forest under the old oak before
separatingfor their diverging ways.
Two Of ;hese children, y iittle girl and
bow some three years her Aenior, were
fair examples of physical perfection in
vonthfii grace and activity; points
which jecame more striking in contrast
with tie, third child's STOPPING frame and
baltini movements lAA. oili'aiii 1a' cog
Poo Willie, as the good people called
W v Oil 5GrenHel. wssosS dresry iockS
ing pode stood just in sight of the cross
road.
R,port said that the close-fisted old
mar had cheated his only and widowed
sistr out Of her property, thus throwing
herhomaless upon the world, TO, earn q
livelihood with her own, unskilled
harris. Exposure and -ever1exertion,
soo under1minedt the 4 delieateN- reared
wnan's constitution. She died, and
little Willie was left alone. After her
dath. some feeling ofremorse or, pride
caused him to take the child into his
lDuse and under his protection. y 80,
Here again reports said that proper
are and medical aid at that time womb
have completely cured his tendency to
spinal weakness, and. made the lad as
strong and likely as the best However
that may be, as the years went by his
weakness increased, anu. being proud and
sensitive. the poor boy shraBk away more
from the strong, romping children that
though,lessly made sport of his niisfor-s
tune In all the world he knew only
two friends and companions, little Bessie
Brown. who was at once the noisest and
the g'ntlest. the most rOugish and the
sweeeSt of girls, and honest Jack Mars
den. whose heart was as tender AS his
fists we're strong. These two children.
out c the fullIess of their big, loving
hears, pittied poor Willie and became
his companions and champions. In the
long walks TO and from school, their
light bounding steps We're Z regulated to
his SOW. uneven Ones. They carried his
boots and burdens. and later Jack lent
mi. strong. young arms for the frail boy
&c lean upon when he became exhausted
il the heat or cold. ih 80 : ~ .. -
s.You are so strong!" Willie said, with
4 pouting sigh. one time. whens Jack had
almost carried him through the. deep
snow drifts. There was, bitterness anil
envy depicted on the little. peeked face
az he added. sYon can conquer ANYTHING
and be hero while, shall grow up q,
cripple, a helpless cl0d - ~
s'Not so bad as that. old feller." Jack
cheerily. "Somethin' will turn
up-you may get WELL"
Willie pushed the supporting Aar1n
to cheer. as though such gropndless hopes
him. "a. ,TS..,lIsa i s,5Isl
Anyway put IN Bessie. aentlys
ssyou'il never be despised by your fiiends,i
they'll love you, ever so much more than
if you. were great stout fellersg like
Jack.n vn ...,,,,,q ,,.,,.,.,
.wfllie smiled gloomily at her words,
but his eyes rested upon her face with
more affection in their glance than lads
of twelve are won't to feel, and it was her
hand that he took when they again
started on their way; ,sas oo0 oao,. v,g
But one day. not long after, the hope,
which only CHEEKY Jack dared to breathe,
arose above the cripple's dark horizon. n
A skilled physician whom his uncle
had consulted In regard to some chronic
ailment of his own. saw the lad, and be-
came interested I'm his case. iH0eh ainl...dl
sWbat are you thinking Of man. asked
the doctor sharply, ssto let this poor boy
drag deformed body through lite, when
proper treatment few years ago would
have made his cure certain; even now ne
.Stuff! nonsense - cried old Grehnef
''Do you suppose lam going to dwaste
my money that you doctors may expert,
ment on the lad !? Not by long SHOT. 4
understand the tricks OF your trade !so.o'
"Sir J" Numbered the old pnysiclai IL
a voice that awoke Uncle Grennel 70, Inc
fact that this was not the meek village
whom he could bro beat at
pleasure, and which caused him To- peg
pardon with obsequiOus haste, ,oa
Nothing further, was said upon the
subject at that time, but eventually the
keen, old man concluded that IT was poll
itic to act upon the doctors advice. ays
Thus it was arranged that 'ehe boy
should be sent for a. year t0ia noted lns
nrmary for crippIes.o . i..a 9 10 ,,pin,J
II was . happy day for iWllle when p, ne
become assured Of this fact Inc small,
pale lace was radiant with hope when
next lie waited beneath the oiq oak at
tne cross reads for his little friends :,
Knew somethfn7 would turn up.
crieu ack, tossing lis hat into the AT
wiz. poyish hurrah. o. And yeufl pe
coming Uaek great tall felier, as straIgn
snpiing. Ain7titjolly, thet gh !'' Z. :.
nessss $1,000 by Willie, smoothing the
reS nia 49,. ~ mar away from his fore
~ au lu her ,nother1y fashion. oiShe had
ps ~ ,;. nahos with Joy on first hear
~ ;u.. ~. na n...e f1ea6s good fortuhe,
Anon she asked aBxiouslv - g 'HSi''si
"You'll not forget us, VIM. spos., yag
child-heart! isft H'"'fsl-I' M y. ' ''S
sIll never forget you,n be re, ret n,aada
with an emphasis on the last word ,hat
ignored poor Jack altogether !, :
II believe you like Willie best. the LOFT
ter said ruefully, watching that little oirl's
troubled countenance. II am goino
away, too-going testhe city to learn a
trade.n - ~
@Weu. ought te,iike him. Ibest,ys she
returned, with bit of a pout. HE hasn't
anything to make him happy, an'syoh're
a stout fellow with your mamma, an
everybody to love you!"