The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-12-11
RosEBURG. OREGON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER H. 1850

people had all they wanted, while 9TH
ers were cold and hungry and some
times starved to death. This was not the
first time that Johnny had been per.
picked with such thoughts, but they had
never made him feel quite SO uncomfort-
able as on this occasion. He 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 as 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 rush of carriages, and 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 rs he looked at
them, so with his heart in
his throat he tucked the precious
jewel into his pocket, still hold
ing it firmly in his hand. Johnny's am
bition 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 execu
ton. There were nine stones in the
cross. Disposing of one at time, SO as
to avoid suspicion, there was money
enough to last MIN for "years and years"
he told himself. 1t puzzled him TO
know where he could keep the sinners,
for there wasn't a soul among his ac-
| quaintances whom he dare trust with the
secret. Not nntil he crept into his pov
erty-stricken bed, with his treasure care
fully hidden among the straw, did the
thought occur that he ought to try to
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 a gold thing like that, "chock full
of sinners" he said to himself, 'tmust
have money enough ty buy more
shienrs." Here he was, cold and hungry
half the time, with no prospect before
him but to be always hungry, if not al
ways cold; and here were these sinners,
which would set him up in business and
give him 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 everything This fight continued
until it was time for the lad to start out
for his morning papers. All through
the business part of the forenoon the bat
tie still ragged, and the newsboy's
thoughts were so occupied with his new
found riches that he almost forgot to at
tend to his customers. At about ten, as
he crossed City Hall Park, he noticed
gentleman in earnest conversation with
another gentleman, as he passed he heard
the words diamond cross spoken. Johnny
slackened his pace and listened.
"The diamonds were all of the first
water" the gentleman said. 1T was a
present to my wife from her father, and
She is terribly cut up at the loss, L don't
suppose we shall ever find it"
"You will advertise it, won't you ?"
his companion inquired.
''Of course" the gentleman replied,
''but more than likely it has fallen into
dishonest hands, and unless the reward
is made equal to the value of the dia-
monds we shall probably never see
them"
when the gentlemen separated the
one who was interested in the diamonds
entered the City Hall and after littls in-
quiry Johnny discovered that this gen.
tleman held very honorable office in
the city department. After finding this
out the lad took turn around the Park
to think it over again.
Granny Leeds said / was ofscour-
ing and Miss Lee said amt, he aruged
to himself "If I keep these sinners
Granny will be right and Miss Lee'll be
wrong. She said the Lord was giving
me chance to make something of my
self. Well, now, the question is, am 1,
or am I not an offscoGring. If keep
these sinners I am, if give them up
I amt. Wei, 1 amt" and with these
words on his lips, Johnny started for the
gentleman's office. Nothing daunted, he
entered and presented himself at the desk.
"Some of you folks have lost some
thins, amt you?" he asked.
will your honor tell me what it is
Iike?"
"It is q gold cross set with diamonds" :"
and the gentleman described the relative
| position of the stones. "It was lost
either inthe Academy of Music last
night, or on the way to or from that
place"
':Johnny's coat was off in a twinkling,
and, with rap at the stitches which con-
fined his treasure, he took it out and put
on his coat again. ST s'pose this is it, y
he said, handing it to the gentleman. II
wanted to keep them sinners awful bad, "
he continued. They'd "a set me up in
business, them sinners would. bnt you
see couldn't get to be such offscour-
ing as that, though / have been trying to
be thief all night long. If was your
folks" he went on, "Id get stronger
string to hold them sinners, for fear
they'd be gone for good and all next
time"
"What is your name?" the gentleman
inquired, as the lad, with his cap in his
hand, stood modestly before him.
"John Resney," the boy replied.
"Have you father and mother?p was
the next question.
Nobody, yer honor, but myself"
(Which would you prefer to do,
Johnny" the gentleman next inquired
"go into business or go to school?'
"Why, should rather go to school,
ten to one," said Johnny, "but there
amt no show for that"
1--WE will see," said the gentleman.
"Will you come into my office, Johnny,
until see what is best to be done?"
Yes, sir, replied Johnny, the tears
starting to his eyes.
II shall want you to go home with me
in an hour or two, and give my wife hei
diamonds, and see what she thinks OF
| you"
'tAll right" said Johnny, brushing
away the tears. Anything 10 do now,
yer honor?"
The following Sunday Johnny went to
the Mission school for the last time, and
in such good clothes that Miss Lee hardly
knew him. The grateful boy told his
teacher what had happened, and con
cluded as follows:
81 am going away to school tomorrow.
and if I've got the learning stuff in me
can go to college,; but, Miss Lee, if i
hadn't been for you and God I should
have been offscouring all the days o.
my life.
The Irish journals recount with glet
that noble lord in the neighborhood O
Belfast had announced his intention tt
pass the winter in Ireland. The pros
pect was not pleasing to Milady's French