The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-04-04

''hittultN WISH never commenced
going to Mr. Harriss school, because it was
after that began to be mean TO those two
boys. ] was walking with Harry Allen one
day (he's the richest boy in our school,
you know, rides to school every
day with groom behind him, and has all
the money he wants, and he's only twelve J
We'll, ! was walking with him and we met
Jimmy and jerry. Somehow ! wished we
hadn't but they smiled and nodded, and of
course did, though they were very ragged,
and | did wish that Allen needn't have
known they were my friends. 'Who are
those cads,' he said 'grinnng at you? And
when told him how they had saved Ponto's
life and wouldn't take anything, and what
nice boys they were, he only laughed and
said, Before I'd be seen speaking to such
boys What if they did save your dog I
That was la,t summer / woul Int speak to
| them n0C, If was YOU Aunt Sadie. after
that used TO try not to see Jimmy and Jer.
ry when any of Mr.. Harris's boys were with
me and couldn't begin to tell you how
many times I've lodged around corner or
down as ally so as not to meet them. 1t
makes me ho. all over now to thnk of it.
You know Turner's hill, Auntie ? What
splendid coasting there always is down there
whenever there is coastiug anywhere And
though there's been good skating all winter,
there wasn't speck Of chance for sled
till Wednesday morning. Wasn't pleased
when | woke up and found it showing .
There was my new sled such a prime one,
that father gave me on Christmas, never'd
been out of the house yet.--Didn't 1 just
hurry it ont after breakfast, though
1T was just the right kind of snow. Soft
and lots of it, and coming down all the time
in great double handlus. Before school was
out it cleared up and was freezing hard, and
it didn't take us boys very long to make n
beautiful track down the hill after we got
there.
I'D only been down the hill three times
(-plendid slides they wore because the
Reindeer goes like u bird,) and was Just
starting up again, when who should ! see
standing close together at the top of the bill
but Jimmy and Jerry, smiling, and looking
anxious to have me see them. They did
look dreadfully poor, Aunt Sadie they
haven't any overcoats, and their pantaloons
were patched in two or three different places.
They had old tippets around their necks,
and their caps were so ragged but they
looked just as happy as if they'd been Har-
ry Allen in his furlined overcoat and zeal
skin cap and gloves. In q minute | re.
membered how they came to BE- there.
'One day in the fall when 1 was off nut.
ting with them, we began to tau, about
sliding down-hll and the boys sui ttcy
had always wished for sled but they didnt
suppose they'd ever have one, and that al
most all the slides they'd ever had were on
pieces of boards and barrel slaves. l said
thought it was a real shame and then
went on: Now, boys, you remember-the
very first time it's good coasting next winter
you come over to Turner'S hill. I'll be there;
and we'lltak turns with my sled-turn and
turn about rcgularly-and see if we won't
have some fun. NoW don't you forgetH
The boys promised not to; and sure
enough, there they were, aud there | was.
what do you think | did, Auutie Kept
my promise? But l didn't Isneaked away
of on The other side of the hill, and pre-.
tended not to see them at all. Allen had
told the other boys about my friends in Mill.
lane, and l didn't want to have them see
me speaking to them. But do you think
had good time ?
4 felt hot and mean and uncomfortable
every time | caught lutter of Jerry's tip
pet or saw how disappointed and surprised
they looked when | didn't notice them.
Once l fell of my sled, halfway dowr
the hill. and rolled down the rest of the way
humping my head every turn. saw tel
million stars before | got to the bottom, anC
| was lying there trying to make up N!
mind where | was, when Jimmy and Jerry
came running down, and Jimmy says, 'Ar,
you hurt ? Shall | help you up? Anc
Jimmy says, Shall we draw you up the hill
We'd just as leaf as not
What do you think | did ? This is tn
meanest thing thing of all, Auntie. jus
pulled the sled-rope away from Jerry, AM
never even looked at them when | growle,
out, you leave my sled alone ? aud race,
otfup the hill. When | looked around agai
they were gone, and away down South stree
| could see them walking slowly away, witt
their caps down over their eyes never say
ing a word to one another.
I thought was going to have goo
time after they were gone. l did shout an
laugh and try hard to but somehow m
stomach ached, guess, and couldn't hel
thinking about how disappointed the boy
had looked and don't you remember yo
wondered how | came to get home so early
and what made me 50 cross
i couldn't get to sleep for ever and eve
SO long. | was awake when mamma cam
up stairs, and then | couldn't stand it an
longer, SO | called her, and she sat on Ii
bed while | told Ler all about it, she va
just as sorry as | was. We made up OF
minds what I'd better do and then | felt
great deal better. Isn't it funny how muc
better boy feels when he has told, and sal
. he's sotry?'
: But this afternoon, when went arour
A after school TO look for them, the mean fee
t ing came back again when l saw Allen al
| two or three boys taking the short G.
4 through Mill-lane to the hill and all sa
to Jimmy and Jerry was, Boys, don't "
. want to take my sled for a little while {? i
| stead Of asking them to come with me,
,. mother thought I'd better,
e They looked real pleased at first +, and tn,
Jimmy shook his head and said, You dol
=, want US TO talk To you any more. guess we
e rather not borrow your sled, think ye.'
They never waited for me to say anoth
5. word, but ran away around the corner oft
d lane, and saw Jerry rub his eyes with t
r 1 l 4.