Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-28

had sold out, and then, rs fast rs hi
fleet feet would carry him, he hurried
to the neighborhood of the Academy o
Music TO watch the people go into tn
building. 1t was opera night, and thi
was one of Johnny's greatest pleasures
and so, with his back TO a lamp-post
he gave himself up to the delight o
watching the gay throng. Johnny won
derod what it would be like TO driv,
round in luxurious carriages and have
plenty to spend on fine clothes. III,
thought of the bread and herring hC
had eaten for his supper, and tried tC
imagine what it would be like to have
turkey and cranberry sauce every day
Every Christmas Johnny had turkey anC
cranberry sauce for his dinner, and ht
knew from experience how nice they
were. He had once ridden i'm an am.
bulance with friend of his-a news.
boy-who had been run over by an ex.
press wagon, and this was the nearest
approach to carriage ride that Johnny
had ever enjoyed. He wondered, as he
watched these happy, gayly dressed
people, why it was that some people had
all they wanted while others were cold
and hungry, and sometimes starved to
death. This was not the first time that
Johnny had been perpleXed with such
thoughts, but they had never made him
feel quite so uncomfortable as on this
occasion. lie called to mind the warm
underclothing and tidy jacket and pants
which Miss Lee had given him that day,
and tried to comfort himself with the
thought that there was one person in
the world who cared for him.
There had been heavy fall of snow
that day, and rs Johnny, still absorbed
with his thoughts, started to cross the
street he saw something sparkle in the
snow at the side of the crossing. There
had been a rush of carriages, and n few
had not been able to pull up to the curb.
As he picked it up he saw that it was an
ornament in the shape of cross, and
studded with diamonds.
Johnny knew they were "shiners," :"
as he called them, as soon as he looked
at them, so with his heart in his throat
he tucked the precious jewel in his pock-
ct, still holding it firmly in his hand.
Johnny's ambition had been to start
coffee and cake establishment where
newsboys could be entertained at low
rates. For more than year he had
nursed this project, and here was
chance to carry it into execution. There
were nine stones in the cross. Dispos-
ing of one at a time, so as to avoid sus-
picion, there was money enough to last
him "for years and years." he told
himself. It puzzled him to know where
he could keep the sinners, for there
wasn't a soul among his acquaintance
whom he dare trust with the secret.
Not until he had crept into his poverty
stricken bed, with his treasure carefully
hidden among the straw, did the thought
occur that he ought to try and find an
owner for it. Then followed a hard
battle between the natural honesty of
the lad and his very natural desire for
creature comforts. The person who
could wear gold thing like that,
" "chock full of Sinners" he said to him
self, "must have money enough to buy
more sinners" Here he was, cold and
hungry half the time, with no prospect
before him but to be always hungry, if
not always cold; and here were these
"shiners " which would set him up in
business and give him u chance to
help the boys. Johnny honestly
wanted to help the boys. why should
he find the owner of this cross when he
had nothing and the owner had every
thingP This fight continued until it was
time for the lad to start out for his morn
ing papers. All through the busiest
part of the forenoon the battle still
ragged, and the newsboy' IS thoughts were
so occupied with his new-found riches
that he almost forgot 10 attend to his
customers. About half-past ten, as he
crossed City Hall Park, he noticed a
gentleman in earnest conversation with
another gentleman, and as he passed he
heard the words " diamond cross -
spoken. Johnny slackened his pace and
"The diamonds were all of the first
water,p the gentleman said. 'It was
present to my wife from her father, and
she is terribly cut up at the loss. don't
suppose we shall ever find it.''
"You will advertise it, won't you?"
his companion inquired.
"Oh, of course" the gentleman re-
piled, "but more than likely it has fallen
into dishonest hands, and unless the re-
ward is made equal to the value of the
we shall probably never see
them"
When the gentlemen separated the
one who was interested in the diamonds
the City Hall, and after little
inquiry Johnny discoveredthat this gen
tleman held very honorable Office in
the city department. After finding this
out the lad took turn round the Park
to think it over again.
Granny Leeds said was offscour-
ing, and Miss Lee says l amt" he ar
gued to himself. "If 1 keep these shin
ers Granny III be right and Miss Lee III
be wrong. She said the Lord was Civ
ing me chance to make something of
myself. Well, now, the question is, am
or am not a offscouringP If keep
these sinners | am, if give them up
amt. Well, dintr and with these
words on his lips Johnny started for the
office. Nothing daunted,
he entered, and presented himself at the
desk.
"Some of your folks have lost some-
thing, amt theyP" he asked.
"They have" said the gentleman.
"Will yer honor tell me what it is
likeP"
alt is a gold cross set with dia-
and the gentleman described
the relative position of the stones. "It
was lost either in the Academy of Music
last night, or on the way to or from that
place."
Johnny's coat was off in twinkling,
and with rip at the stitches which con-
fined his treasure he took il out and put
on his coat again. 81 s'pose this is it,
he said, handing it to the gentleman.
81 wanted to keep them sinners awful
bad," he continued. "They'd "a set
me up in business, them sinners would,
but you see couldn't get to be such
offscouring as that, though have been
trying to be thief all night long. fl
was your folks, ;" he went on, "1'd get a
stronger string to hold them sinners, for
fear they'd be gone for good and all
next time"
"What is your nameP" the gentleman
inquired, as the lad with his cap in his
hand, stood modestly before him.
"John Resney,n the boy replied.