The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-16

in. It's three miles to go, and it's five
months since I've had shoes on my feet.
o Grip! we've had a bad time on board,
and no cargo to speak OF to bring
home"
You won't pay for the shoes?''
asked Grip. r. .tlt--.
mo money" said 10, thrusting
forth tied-up foot, wrapped in sail
rags ''But, Grip, do hurry! | must
get home to mother, if she's alive"
"She's alive-saw her to meeting"
said Grip, fumbling in a wooden box to
get forth pair of half-worn shoes he
remembered about.
He produced them. 10 Jay seized
the shoes eagerly, and, taking off his
wrappings, quickly thrust his feet, that
had so long been shoeless, into them;
and with Il BLESS you, Grip! I'll make
it all right some day. hobbled off,
making tracks in the snow, Just before
Grip S father came up from the dock.
Mr.. John Allen returned in a despond-
ent mood. There was not oil enough
on board the ''Sweet Home to buy
shoes for the men.
who's been here, Grip? Socks in
and shoes out, see.'' E-'t.. ...
"Jo Jay, father
Where's the money, Crip?' and
Mr.. Allen turned his big, searching
blue eyes on Grip and held forth his
hand e t td GMsH w3E .ra;
"Why, father, y said Grip, she
hadn t any, and he wanted to go home.
It's three miles, you know, and snow
ing
"Crip Allen! Do you know what
you've doneP You've stolen pair of
Shoes ....
"Oh, haven't, father Grid Grip,
and twas only the old, half-worn
shoes that you mended for George Hine,
that he couldn't wear"
Christopherr' Numbered forth Mr..
Allen in a voice that made the lad
shake in his boots, ego into the house
and right upstairs to bed. You have
stolen a pair of shoes from your own
father. You kneeo they were not yours
to give away"
Poor Grip! Now he couldn't get a
sight of the "Sweet Home" tonight,
even through the darkness and the
snow. ga.
His upper lip began to tremble and
give way, but he went into the big red
house, up the front staircase to his own
room, and, in the cold crept under the
blankets into a big feather bed, and
thought of 10 plodding his way home.
About eight of the clock, when Grip
was fast asleep, the door opened, some
body walked in, and a hand touched the
boy, and left bit of cake on his pillow;
tba,, hn ho,,I n,l H.,
away, and Grip was left alone until morn
ing. He went down to breakfast when
called. His fathers face was more
stern than it had been the night before.
Grip could scarcely swallow the needful
food. When breakfast was over, Mr..
Allen said:
Christopher! Go into the garnet
and stay till l call you. I'll teach you
not to take what doesn't belong to you,
even to give away ~. -.
"Fatherr' beseechingly said Grips
mother, it is the boys birthday"
$50 to the gafretn' said Mr.. Allen.
Grip went, and he was having the
dismal time of it referred to in the be-
ginning of this story Poor little chap!
He stayed up there all the morning, his
his sisters saying in their hearts:
''Father's awful cruel" 1t did seem
so. but Mr.. Christopher Allen, the ma
tion-known shipping merchant, said,
fifty years later, when relating the story
to q party of friends on board one of
his fine steamships:
"That severe punishment was the
greatest kindness my father ever be-
slowed on my boyhood. Why, hun
dred times in my life, when under the
power of a great temptation to use
money in my hands that did not belong
to me, even for the best and highest
uses, and when | kneo that | could re-
place it, | have been saved by the
power of the stern, hard words, the
cold, flashing eyes, and the day in the
garnet Yes. yes, father was right.
ought to have taken off my shoes and
gone without any to give to 10 Jay.
That was his idea of giving "-,Sardh
j. Prichard, IN ST. Nicholas for March.