Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-08-21

thing from the "Whelp" lest ii be
stolen. The "Whelp," knowing
this, had, by dint OF hard work
and much economy, managed
to Scrape together ten cents which
he invested in a barlow knife for
his little friend, threwdly enjoin-
ing upon the merchant to write on
paper, This knife was bought
by Toney Topper for ten cents"
the name of the vendor duly sub
scribed How happy e was with
the honestly won knife in his
pocket, waiting for the morrow.
Willie's birthday, that he might
present it. He walked on air 10
the meadow, and was quite hu-
man in his treatment of the cows
that evening. The sun was never
so bright before, nor the birds so
glad. His heart was so big he
could not sleep; rising thrice from
his little hard bed to see that the
knife was safe, and examine the
blade by the uncertain light of the
moon. The paper was fingered
even more carefully than the
knife.
"Blazes, won't his eyes sparkle
when he sees it, and won't his lit
tie white hands hold tight, and
won't he be proud for sure? And
won't he say, %! thank you,
Toney, | wanted it more nor the
the fine wagon nor anything
/ got on my birthday"
The day was suspicious for the
gift. Little Willie was at the gate
bright as a ray of sunshine. Big.
ger and bigger swelled Toney's
heart as he approached the child
the being for whom, in all the
world, he had the most rever-
ence.
Use four years old Toney, and
I've got. plum cake, a top and
lots of things"
willie. say breathlessly ask
ed the Whelp," Ibid you get a
knife" It
How his heart beat! If Willie
should only say yes! But he did
not. s
mo, Toney,' and his counte.
nance fell, you see, 1 wanted
that more'n anything else, but |
thought 1t would not be manners
to ask for it,"
Willie, would you take this
from me? Here, keep this paper
and don't lose 1t, 1t is more valua-
BILE nor the knife, and you run
straight and show 1t to your pa
rents"
And the youth, with all the full
ness of perfect joy swelling his
bosom at sight of the child's de-
light, ran quickly away, much to
the dismay of Mrs. Northcott,
who believed he had stolen some
thing from her boy that he might
prize. AL the fine things were
forgotten. The mother saw that,
by her little one, and the rude
knife Rugged close to him with
one dimpled hand while the other
piled smeetmeats on a plate for
"Whelp' by the time he should
return with the cows. What was
il again in the heart of that loving
mother that wrought nameless
pain, a tender yearning for the
young Pariah. that had been her
dread and torment for more than
two years past.
Nov l can cut sticks for Toney
to build me q mill, and can
make anything with my knife,
mamma" l.4 -
Mrs. Northcott smiled absen thy.
She was thinking what thing she
might do for the "Whelp," to
make him a little nearer her idea
of an honest boy. The slip Of pa
per that came with the knife she
folded away, hoping in future
days 10 be able to show Ii to him
when he had grown, through her
teaching, q better boy. m
MAY Willie just 60 with me to
the meadow fence, till Ildrive the
cows back TO the lot? I'll take
good care of him." Toney said to
Mrs. Northcott, and pleasantly,
though reluctantly the consented.
She waited, and waited, but
they came not. She went to bring
her darling home. 1t was done
Also a limp, unconscious body,
sand smeared and purple faced.
They had taken Toney from the
water in this state. He was quite
dead-drowned In saving Willie's
life. When able to relate it all, the
child said he had dropped his
knife into the pond, and in at
tempting to regain 1t fell in. Some
harvesters saw Toney 60 in after
him and they hurried to the spot,
But his strength held out no long
er than to reach the shore with
the child. When taken from the
water he was almost dead; entire