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

hunt him up. lie was at last found,
poor and III, and the boy without a mo-
ment's hesitation confessed the theft
and produced the money. "I guess /
can make IL thirty cents, IS he said, "and
that'll be a little interest. III wouldn't
like TO give you five dollars then you
may shoot me for a crow"
The ex-grocer was so surprised at
JOhnny's confession and subsequent
generosity that he shook the boys hand
heartily and invited him TO step in again
soon, which the lad promised as heartily
TO do.
By nightfall these "back debts,n as
Johnny naively called them, were all
sett.ed, and then, after scanty meal,
the boy started out with his evening
papers. About a quarter to eight he
had sold out, and then, as fast as his
fleet feet would carry him, he hurried
to the neighborhood Of the Academy of
Music to watch the people go into the
building. II was opera night, and this
was one of Johnny's greatest pleasures ;
and so, with his back to a lamp-post,
he gave himself up to the delight of
watching the gay throng. Johnny won
dered what it would be like TO drive
round in luxurious carriages and have
plenty to spend on fine clothes. lie
thought of the bread and herring he
had eaten for his supper, and tried to
imagine what it would be like TO have
turkey and cranberry sauce every day.
Every Christmas Johnny had turkey and
cranberry sauce for his dinner, and he
knew from experience how nice they
were. He had once ridden in 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 a 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. He called to mind the warm
Undertaking 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 a 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 as he looked
at them, so with his heart in his throat
he tucked the precious jewel in his pock.
l,et, still holding it firmly in his hand.
| Johnny's ambition had been to start a
coffee and cake establishment where
newsboys could be entertained at low
rates. For more than a year he had
nursed this project, and here was q
chance to carry it into execution. There
were nine stones in the cross. Dispos-
| ing of one at 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 fol
creature comforts. The person who
| a,,,1I
"chock full of shiners," he said to him,
self, "must have money enough to buy
more sinners" Here he was, cold anC
hungry half the time, with no prospec
before him but to be always hungry, i
not always cold; and here were these
"shiners " which would set him up il
business and give him a chance tC
help the boys. Johnny honestly
wanted to help the boys. Why should
he find the owner of this cross when ht
had nothing and the owner had every
thingP This fight continued until it wal
| 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's thoughts werC
so occupied with his new-found riches
that he almost forgot 10 attend to hi!
customers. About half-past ten, as hC
crossed City Hall Park, he noticed {
| gentleman in earnest conversation will
another gentleman, and as he passed h,
heard the words " diamond cross ;
spoken. Johnny slackened his pace an(
listened.
"The diamonds were all of the frs
WATER" the gentleman said. ''lt was {
present to my wife from her father, anC
she is terribly cut up at the loss. don
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 fallel
into dishonest hands, and unless the re
ward is made equal to the value of tn,
diamonds we shall probably never Sc,
I them.n
When the gentlemen separated tn,
one who was interested in the diamond
entered the City Hall, and after littl,
Inquiry Johnny discovered that this gen
tleman held very honorable Office il
the city department After finding thi
out the lad took turn round the Parl
to think it over again.
"Granny Leeds said 1 was a offscour
ing, and Miss Lee says 1 amt he ar
gued to himself. eff I keep these shin
ers Granny IL be right and Miss Lee y
be wrong. She said the Lord was Civ
ing me a chance to make something o
myself. Well, now, the question is, an
I or am 1 not offseou-ingP If kee
these sinners l am, if give them up
amt. We'll, aiftf' and with thes
words on his lips Johnny started for tn
gentleman's office. Nothing daunted
he entered, and presented himself at tn