The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-04
''LEFTENANT JIM"
A sroRY OF rHANKsary1No pAY !.


Time-About IL o'clock, A. NJ. of a
November morning, 1864 dead sky
above aud dead earth beneath, as they
are seen in dreams.
Piace-A little creek wedged in be-
tween two high banks, and allow rickety
bridge over the creek, whose three-foot
depth of water was filmed with ice !;
water whose sleeping ripples had not
been wakent d by the sun.
Persona shabby, scarcrow sort of
man bending over the rail, leaning the
while on his arm. The figure hardly
seemed a man. It's once black hat of
felt was rusty. hued, and haggled with
gashes, out of which sprouted thin
b inches of Jet black hair. The brim
WAS pulled down, front and rear. The
coat, once part of nobby summer suit,
was dirty, stained by rain, bleached by
line, and trimmed with holes, the scut-
ting leaks of unostentatious ill-for-
tune
Ine repose of man and nature was
suddenly and sharply ended. A tuneless
whistle broke out behind one of the
banks--a feeble, wavering spirit of hor-
rible discord such a sound as only q
lips. The man turned his head little.
Through the air sailed a speck. 1t
dropped upon the arm of the lounger.
1t was stone. II hurts, for the man
stood erect, uttered an oath, and turned
his face to the road down which now
trudged small boy, The youngsteI
and the whistle stopped as they reached
the bridge. The face frightened the
bov. 1t was thin, haggarl, and savage,
with a black beard of fortnight's
growth, and wild eyes that showed by
their setting how hunger had crowded
them back and pinched the nose and
cheeks not cruel face, all in all, but
one made pitiable by hopelessness and
starvation.
You young rascal" he said, CATCH
ing the little fellow and giving him a
gentle shake "I've a good mind to drop
You into the river and let the minnows
fight for you. What did you hit me for,
eh ?"
The captive, more frightened than
hurt, yelled at the first touch, and then
boy fashion, dropped to tears.
"What did you mean " asks the man,
suddenly softening in temper and
speech, and putting his hand, with
kindly touch, on the little fellows
head.
81 didn't mean nothin'," sobbed the
child. "I-Iwas only tryin' to whistle y
Ha ha That was it, eh? You
made very bad note in your tune,
don't you knowP You pegged me witt
stone. The stone hurt, hurt even 8
fellow like me-"
ST didn't mean TO, says the child.
"Of course not. know that new
You couldn't see me. I'll apologize
Now stop crying, cheer up, call it even
and let's be friends | Is It bargain ;
But the sobs would come mp and the
tears I'LL the eyes. The boy had sprung
q leak and seemed likely to sink. The
man became nervous. He might fright
en- a grown.up fellow, and enjoy th'
victory but as TO this child-Well h
was heartily ashamed of himself. 81
he tried the strategy of wealth. HI
thrust one hand into the ruins of pock
ct. 1t worked abo therein like tn,
scoop of a dredge. Ut came to the en-.
trace, full of debris.
"See here, little one he cries, get
ting down upon his knees, and spreading
his collection upon the boards. Jus
look here Isn't this 'brlc-a- bfac, a
they call it?" That's a brass button
useless for want of button-hole. Tha
comb I'll keep for my party-going hair
Yes know you have one. That's to
bacco, but you don't chew. This ia
jack knife is no good, for it will not cut
1 only keep it because it shuts up whel
1 want to Alk. Ugh Don't toucl
that for it's vile tobacco. Here's
key to a house l never owned. Let m
see That, guess, is bread done up i
tobacco. Well "cast that upon th
waters, pitching it into the creek
Wheat-the last of my crops. String
you can't eat that and there's not enoug
for kite. All Here we have it.
the sad remains of an ill-spent life
and he topped in the palm of his han
a dingy hVe-cent piece. Now sonn,
wiring out your eyes, stop crying, mah
friends with me, and the money is YOU
for candy or the iniaaionary- box, as 20
choose. is it bargain
The boys eyes frightened. He swa
lowed his sobs, put out his hand, toe
the money and said -s'phank you
His eaptor laughed.
"That's the way Of the world, Johnn,