The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-12-11
"a 0FFsCOuRING."
"Well, yes, ma'am, 1 have stoler"
"Why. Johnt

Eyes, / asked you'll" the mission
teacher replied; sad, almost Disguised
expression on her sweet young face.
''What did you ask me for, if you
didn't want me to tell you. l could "a
liedp' the boy went on in stolid sort OF
IA way, and yet with ring of feeling in
his voice.
'.No, you couldn't, Johnny" the
teacher answered with smile, 'because
you promised, you remember, that you
would always tell the truth to me-"
We'll, didn't go back on it, did I ?''
No, Johnny. Have you any objee-
tions to telling me how often you have
taken things that didn't belong to you ?"
sMebee / couldn't remember them
all, the boy replied, "but never lifted
| anything very partickeler. Once when
the old woman where / hang out got
sick, and cried blue streak for oranges,
and nobody had the money to buy EN-,
asked the old cove that kept the grocery
store to trust me for couple till the next
day. He wouldn't do it, and that night
stole six from him"
why, johnny"
why didn't he let me have 'em,
then ?" theb oy went on doggedly. "Td
rs
the old woman got we'll off them or
anges."
''Then you are not sorry you took
them ?" the teacher inquired.
"Well, the old woman had to have
them oranges, and somebody had to get
'em for her"
The teachers face was very grave, and
as her companion looked up he saw the
tears in her eyes, a sight which had a
curious effect upon him.
Don't make me tell you any more,
please, ma'am," he said, dropping his
eyes, while his face flushed scarlet. "I
amt nothing but a offscouring anyhow,
and it amt no good to fret about what
do. I was kinder dragged into this
place, else I'd never bothered you
"What name did you call yourself?'
the teacher inquired. II didn't under
stand you"
Granny Leeds said was offscouring,
and SO am"
"What is an offscouring, John?'
''Oh! the leavin's of something that
amt no good"
Granny Leeds, as you call her, was
very much mistaken, and you are very
much mistaken about yourself, Johnny"
the teacher replied. ''You are not an off
securing, but Gods own child, and He is
giving you chance to make something
of yourself. How much do you think
the things are worth that you have taken
in all, johnny"
"Them oranges were worth four cents
apiece when / took 'em; that's twenty
four, and them two loaves of bread 1
lifted for two fellers that froze their feet
last winter; and mackerel to make the
bread go down. It's awful to eat bread
without nothing with it; and then a
baseball that was worth fifty cents, and
all them things would make near hand
to dollar. L don't remember anything
else now"
"Well, John, l shall give you dollar.
and want you to go to those places and
pay for all those things
''Then I'll have to own up" the boy
interrupted in his bewilderment, re-
lspsing at once into slang.
Wouldn't you feel better to confess
Johnny ?" the young lady INQUIRED, not
little troubled at the effect of her
words. For moment the boy seemed
lost in thought, and then, lifting frank
face to his companion, said: Il amt
never felt pertikeler bad about any of
them things 'cept the base ball, and that
could a done without, but if you say
so, Miss Lee, Ill give the whole thing
away; only as / amt lifted any thing late
iy. and don't never mean to again, they
would always suspicion me and make me
out thief when / amt no such thing
Don't you think 'twould do, ma'am, if /
dropped the money in them places so
they'd be sure to find it? If you dom t
think so I'll blow the whole thing, if it
takes me to the Island
.tWhat will you do, Johnny, if some
body needs bread and oranges, and you
havn't any money to buy them with %
That's sticker, ma'am. | dunno.
"And it wouldn't be strange if some
thing of that kind were to happen any
day"
centrally to pay with the folks / know"
"Well, Johnny, will tell you what to
do" the teacher replied. Here is my
oard, and when any of your acquaint-
ances are in trouble / wish you would
come directly to me, and if anything is
amiss with you at any time, be sure and
send messenger. You had better come
up tomorrow, anyway, Johnny, for
then it will be easy for you to find the
place next time
Johnny hung his head. This kindness
had overpowered him, and not word
could he say.
81 didn't mean to hurt you, Johnny,
the tender-hearted teacher hurried to say.
"You are willing l should help you, are
you not?"
I nry,aua .,o,, 6oJ I,o41ar Id
now, Miss Lee the boy replied huskily
'You could knock me down with an eye
| winker. You ner.!n't worry about my
now I'm all broke up"
"And I can trust you, Johnny?' the
lady inquired.
It's go, ma en-, the boy answered
simply.
hand, and Johnny hurried out of the
building,
It took considerable tact and skill as
well as time, for the boy to satisfactorily
manage the business which his teacher
had provided money for. For instance
| the grocer from whom he had lifted
oranges had sold out to another man
and Johnny was obliged to hunt him up
He was at last found, poor and i'll, ant
the boy without moments hesitation
confessed the theft and produced The
money. 81 guess can make it thirty
cents" he said, "and thatll be q littlt
interest. If wouldn't like to give yor
five dollars, then you may shoot me for
| crow"
The ex-grocer was SO surprised a
Johnny's confession and subsequen
generosity that he shook the boys hant
heartily and invited him to stop in AGAR
soon, which the lad promised as hearth,
to do.
BY nightfall these "back debts" at
Johnny naively called them, were al
settled, and then, after a scanty meal
the boy started out with his evening
papers. About a quarter to eight h
had sold out, and then, as fast as his fee
would carry him, he hurried to tn,
neighborhood of the Academy of Music
to watch the people go into the building
1t was opera night. and this was one o
Johnny's greatest pleasures; and SO, witt
his back to lamp-post, he gave himsel
up to the delight of watching the ga,
throng. Johnny wondered what i
would be like to drive around in luxuri
GUS carriages and have plenty of none,
to spend on fine clothes He thought o
the bread and herring he had eaten TO
his supper, and tried to imagine what i
would be like to have turkey and Gran
berry sauce every day. Every Christ
r L