Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-28
A OFFsCOURING."

WELL, yes, ma am nave sJOle!'
"Why, Johnl"
"You asked me, didn't youP"
"Yes, / asked you'll" the mission
teacher replied, a sad, almost disguised
expression on her sweet, young face.
"What did you ask me for, if you
didn't want me to tell youP ] could "a
liedl" the boy went on in stolid sort
of way, and yet with a ring of feeling
in his voice.
"No, you couldn't, Johnny" the
teacher answered with a smile, abe
cause you promised, you remember,
that you would always tell the truth to
me-"
"Wen, didn'tgo back on it, did IP''
"No, Johnny. Have you any OBJ
lection to telling me how often you have
taken things that didn't belong to youPi
''Mebbe | couldn't remember them
all" the boy replied, " "but never lifted
any thing very partikeler Once the
old woman where 1 hang out got sick,
and cried blue streak for oranges, and
nobody had any money to get 'em, ]
asked the old cove that kept the gro.
Gerry store to trust me for a couple till
the next day. He wouldn't do it, and
lAAtlb Alklb oNOAI nlA AlOhll Lllll
"Why, Johnnyi"
"Why didn't he let me have 'em,
thenp" the boy went on doggedly.
"I'd "a paid him, cause 1 said would.
Anyhow the old woman got well of
them oranges"
"Then you are not sorry you took
them?" the teacher inquired.
"Well, the old woman had to have
them oranges, and somebody had to gel
'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,n he said, dropping his
eyes, while his face flushed scarlet. "l
amt nothing but a offscouring anyhow
and it amt no go to fret about what
do. was kinder dragged into thi:
place, else I'd never bothered you"
"What name did you call yourself?'
the teacher inquired. 81 didn't under.
stand you"
"Granny Leeds always said was 6
offscouring, and so am"
"What is an offscoufing, JohnP"
"Oh! the leavin's of something tha'
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 il
giving you chance to make something
of yourself. How much do you thinG
the things are worth that you have
taken, in all, JohnnyPn
"Them oranges was worth four cents
apiece when took 'em; that's twenty
four; and then two loaves of bread
lifted for two fellers that froze their feet
last winter, and mackerel to make the
bread 60 down. It's awful tough to eaf
bread without nothing with it and theI
a baseball that was worth fifty cents
and all them things would make neal
hand to a dollar. l don't remember
any thing else now"
"WelI, John, 1 shall give you 9
dollar, and l want you to 90 to those
places and pay for all those things"
Then I'll have to own up,n the boy
interrupted, in his bewilderment re
lapsing at once into slang.
Wouldn't you feel better to confess
JohnnyP" the young lady inquired
not little troubled at the effect of hel
words. For moment the boy seemed
lost in thought, and then lifting a franl
face to his companion said, al aim
never felt partikeler bad about any o.
them things 'cept the base ball, anC
that l could IA done without, but if yor
say so, Miss Lee, I'll give the whole
thing away; only as l amt lifted any
thing lately, and don't never mean t
again, they would always suspicion me
and make me out a thief when l aim
no such thing. Don't you think 'twoulC
do, ma'am, if l dropped the money il
them places so they'd be sure to find it
If you don't think soI'll blow the whole
thing, if it takes me to the Island"
"What will you do, Johnny,
somebody needs bread and orange
and you haven't any money to buy then
withPn
"That's sticker, ma'am. / dunno
"And it wouldn't be strange i
something of that kind were to happel
any day"
"No, ma'am. There's something
putty centrally to pay with the folks
know"
"Wel, Johnny, 1 will tell you wha
to do" the teacher replied. "Here i
my card, and when any of your ac
Ouaintances are in trouble wish yol
would come directly to me; and if AM
thing is amiss with you at any time b
sure and send messenger. You hat
better come up tomorrow, anyway
Johnny, for | want to give you som
warm clothes, and then it viii be cas-,
for you to find the place next time"
johnny hung his head. This kind
ness had overpowered him, and not
word could he speak.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, johnny,
the tender-heated teacher hurried {,
say. "You are willing l should hell
you, are you not?"
81 guess you had better let me git
now, Miss Lee, 50 the boy replied, huslily
" You could knock me down with eye
winker You nerdn't worry about IN,
remembering all you've saidi but jus
now I'm all broke up"
"And can trust you, JohnnyP" tn
lady inquired.
" 1t is 90, ma'am," the boy an
swered, simply.
Miss Lee tucked a dollar in his hand
and Johnny hurried out of the building