The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-01-23
Fer THE YOUNG FOLKS.

JACKS SEARCH FOB THE HAPPY CoUN-
TRY.-A little sweep boy stood crying
beside his donkey and cart, crying as if
his very heart was breaking. Did you
ever see a sweep boy crying? If 80, you
will quite understand what a small bum
die Of smut and tears, rags and sorrow,
he,was; what sooty rivulets were coursing
down his thin cheeks; oh, he was such
a poor little blot of w~retchednessi And
then all around him the world was
bright, and sparkling, and gay, for it
was winter-time, and the snow had come, |
and old King Frost was LAUGHING and
rioting everywhere. What cared he if
some folks shivered in anything but
warm garments? All, what cared any
one? wa the question swelling and Sob
bling in the sweep boys desolate little
heart. The SUE shone, the sky smiled,
| the birds twittered and chirped, pert
| little sparrows and redbreasts flying
hither and thither, as if in sport. The
snow sparkled as if it were glad, glad of
the GOODNESS and biting winds, glad in
| spite of folks wants and sorrows. Oh,
the sooty rivulets flowed faster and
faster, as the boy thought it ALL The
donkey turned his head lovingly, one
would fancy pitifully, towards him; his
own life was none of the brightest, the
ill-used donkey of a brutal master.
Didn't he know Jacks little hand from
all others? Didn't he know that the
boy gave him many a sly mouthful, as
time and opportunity servedH Ay, he
did, the sage old brute. And nov his
poor little friend was crying. He often
cried, but not SO long and hopelessly as
to-day. The donkey turned to look at
him, and made sundry little sounds,
which no doubt had a meaning, if we
only knew more of donkey language to
give the Interpretation. Whereupon
Jack threw his arms round the old crea-
lures neck, and gave voice to his grief.
Let the old brute understand him or
not, he must speak or he should die.
ooh, Ned, Ned! I'm just starvin',
and nobody cares, no, not one, but you,
and you can't help me, cause you've
nothing for yourselfl" The boys sobs
seemed to choke him, and oh! the cold
was 80 biting, the day 30 bright, and
everybody else so glad?
They were justoutside the great city,
among gentlemen's villas; they had been
plying their trade there early in the
morning, he and his master; now his
master was somewhere drinking, and he
had to wait for him, he with Ned and
the cart. Life had never been brighter
for him than now; there was no golden
past for him to live owe again, that
small mite of ten years; no golden
future before him, stretching away and
away; he had no ambition, beyond
some day becoming the owner of such
another boy, Ned, and cart, only hi
boy should have good times, and never
bone should stand out in his Ned's sides
That was all; his flights of Imagination
went no higher, rosy day-dreams nevel
came TO his life. Knowing no parents
love, what of affection, kindness, or ten
der care had ever dimpled his younl
face e with laughter? None at all
dimples in his thin cheeks were an i'm
possibility. While he Rugged his don
keys neck in his whirlwind of sorrow,
dainty little lady tripped out of a hous
near, and ran quickly up to him. Sh
might have been a fairy to the smut,
boy, 80 glinting was her hair, SO fair ant
winsome her face.
: "Little boy, what is the matter s" sh
asked, laying her hand on his SCOT,
; sleeve.
5 "Tm only hungry, and miserable, an
. longin' to dier" He did not look up, h
E was too hopeless for that.
8 Gao fbor hara,o ooroa%b;1~& - not q
Her voice was like a silvery bell 70
sweetness, and out of her apron she too.
a huge hunk of cake, wrapped in paper
which she pushed against his hands
clinging round the donkey's neck.
He raised his head now. Was it tru
-, that little lady, the large piece Q
! cake, from which she was unfolding th
piece of paper? He gave a great gasI
: and pulled a lock of his sooty hair.
Giant truel" were his words, as
dreaming.
: "What isn't trueT" asked the daint
little one, smiling.
"That that's for me-" and Jack noe
r ded at the cake, which he was afraid
n "Yesit is, take it and eat it, poor Ii
e tie boy" so saying, tho gentle chill
n fairly pushed it into his hands.
L "Well, ma'am, you're a good unl
' This was his thanks, poor boy, and Their
+ upon he took the tempting present, an
. began to MUNICH away at it, the lit
h giver smiling the while at being Gale
o ma'am.
Why did you give it to met" que
toned Jack, examining his mouth full
because l thought you were hui
n gry," replied the little girl, but 81
blushed and hesitated.
:. WAS that allw asked Jack, as if n
Ie satisfied.
u II "No, I thought too of my text
d it was, Feed my lambs,'" said the l
l. tie silvery voice.
What's thatw queried Jack,
re great establishment, for the child's wor
a were like Greek and Latin to him.
y "My text was the words of Jesus
" responded the little one. He tells
to feed His lambs, that is, the poor hu
lie cry little boys and girls, you know, f
ID His sake" Jack did not know, /
eager questioning eyes said SO. But SOL
"a one was tapping at the window, al
II calling the little girl, so she said, "Goo
bye," gave him a smile, and dart
d. away.
i'll And just then an old blind read'
es who often took his stand there-Ja
y had often seer him there before, his d
at his side, pert, bright, and sharp,
n a blind mans dog should be-well, Il
m same blind man began to read, and the
are the words he read:
,e "They shall hunger no more, Meth
thirst any more; neither shall the s
IN light on them, mol any heat. For
az Lamb which is in the midst of the thro
cd shall feed them, and shall lead The
ay unto living fountains of water; a
=. God shall wipe away all tears from thu
eyes,"
Hunger no more, thirstno more JAG
~ heart craved and longed as he listen,
he That wal the place for him-no hung
Is, no thirst, no searching heat, the La1
res should feed them, and lead them to
on ing fountains. The Lamb, who was 3
its He whose words the little girls tt
wasl God should wipe away all tea