The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-06-06

and he hasn't got any hands of his own
and he feels very bad; but he's strong.
can turn, and Wen make lots Of
moneys
"Buen Ola, amigo n,io!' said the
poor man, looking up into Jack face
It was Spanish for GOOD day, my
friendr'
"He is an Ame,Icano," explained
the boy, che doesn't know Spanish y
But Pedro could speak English pref
ty well; and soon the few prelimina-
ries were settled; Jack in the mean.
time somewhat appcasing his hunger
by sharing the scanty dinner little
Chispa brought from an old table.
drawer. Then calling to mind his hos.
pital experience, Jack directed Chisps
how to apply wet bandage to Pcdro's
injured ankle, for the limb was not
broken after all. Presently he was in
the streets seeking for the parish priest,
who, an old woman in the adjoining
| tenement had told him, knew something
of surgery.
After Jack had left the dingy alley
and was walking along in quest of the
priest, the consciousness that he had
something to do made him feel like g
new creature. He knew that God had
not yet quite forsaken him, and he re-
solved that he would no longer neglec,
his prayers he had been taught in the
far-away New England home, but
would thank Him that very night be-
fore he slept for saving him from the
horrible sin he had so lately been con.
templating, and for opening to him 8
way to gain an honest living. The
kind-hcarted old priest accompanied
him back to PedrO's quarters, and,
after examining the inflamed ankle, adj.
justing the bandage and leaving some
soft linen bandages and washes to be
applied as he had directed, took his
leave.
On the morrow. leaving Pedro as com.
Portable as it was possible to make him,
Chispa and Jack went forth on their first
day sventure. After little practice Jack
found that playing the organ came
within the capability of his poor wrists,
and rs he ground away, and Chispa
sang and danced and shook his tam.
BOURNE, it would have been hard to
tell which of the two was the happier.
They had very good success, and when
they came back at night tired and
hungry, the three RECALLED themselves
with what was to them a royal sup
per. The dirty room to which Chisps
and Jack came at night with their dai.
ly earnings, was Paradise to the lat.
ter. The dwelling of which it was a
part was almost a ruin; degraded and
| vicious people who were either too be-
sotted or lazy to work in the town,
or in the mines, occupied other parts
of it, and other dwellings adjacent OF
like character; but it was q home to
him.
Yet these people, Pedro's neighbors
and acquaintance, treated him with
great tenderness. They observed Jack
| at first with much curiosity, and with
some distrust; but before many days
he had won their confidence by his
kindness to Pedro, and the dizziness he
showed in housekeeping in such mar
row and unhandy quarters; for with his
memory of the ways of New England
farmhouse, Jack did his best to trans
form the rickcty old room into the SEM
blance of Il home, and was not unsuc-
cessful.
Had the early lives Of these ncighbors
of Pedro's been different. had they not
been brought up in poverty and un-
thrifty habits, their condition would
have been more favorable. AS i. was,
they appreciated Jacks efforts, and
each rs he could brought something to
contribute toward his domestic econ
omy. Thus table, chairs, and ut last
q comfortable lounge for the invalid
found their way into the dwelling. The
priest continued his calls; and although,
Pedro's ankle was nearly healed, a
rheumatic fever had slowly crcpt into
his system, so that the poor old man
was quite helpless.
Jack was the only one of the three
who could read, and now old books and
newspapers were picked up, and AT
night pulled out of ragged pockets,
when he would read aloud to Chispa
and Pedro and few of the rcighbOrs!
thus helping them rapidly to learn oul
language. If the literature was moi
always of the best, it was better than
none; and often there would be bit OF
story or poetry that would excite sym.
pathetic thrill in the hearts of these un.
cultivated children of Nature. Jack
thought a great deal about Chispa, and
when they were out by themselves he
sometimes questioned him about his
past life.
"Where did you learn that?' he
asked one day, as Chispa sang his favor.
God is wisdom. God is love-
"Oh, don't KNOW" said the child;
81 have known it always, I guess.
somehow remember lady holding me-
in her lap in a room where there where
flowers, and a bird in a cage, and beau.
tiful pictures, and such big, nice fire
and a splendid great dog painted in the
carpet before it; and oh! it is Just like
a dream, only it is not dream. was
not asleep, and she used to sing lots ol
stories to me-"
"What else do you remember, CHS.
pap
"Oh, l remember the water and Q
ship. and q great many folks; and 3
man with an organ who said was hi.
boy, but wasn't his boy; and he went
away and gave me to Pedro"
After a few days Jack resolved t.
breach the subject to Pedro himself
The poor old Spaniard was very reti
cent at first, but Jack was SO kind t.
him that at last he told in his broker
English how it was that Chispa cam,
under his care and keeping.
| A man, q brother street musician O
Pedro's, a rascally sort of fellow, hat
died two years before; and, having n,
relatives, gave Chispa and the organ
to him. He said that as he was stroll
ing about the country in one of tn
Eastern States, he heard the little DO,
sing. and stole him away, leaving SOM
of his clothes on a river bank nea