Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-22

lance with friend of his--a newsboy--
who had been run over by an express
wagon, and this was the nearest approach
to carriage ride that Johnny had ever
enjoyed, he wondered, as he watched
these happy, gayly dressed people, al
ways enjoying themselves, 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 80 uncom-
Portable 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 CON-
fort himself with the thought that there
was one person in the world who cared
for him.
There had been a heavy fall of snow
that day, and as Johnny, still absorbed
with his thought, 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 a few
had not been able to pull up at 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 SINNERS" 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 pocket,
still holding it firmly in his hand. john
nys ambition had been to start coffee
and cake establishment where newsboys
could be entertained at low rates. For
more than year had nursed this project,
and here was a chance to carry it into
execution. There was nine stones in tho
cross. Disposing of one at time so as
to avoid suspicion, there was money
enough to last him "for years and years
he told himself 1t puzzled him to know
where he keep the sinners, for there
wasn't a soul among his acquaintances
whom he dare trust with the secret. Not
until he had crept into his poverty-strick-
en- bed, with his treasure carefully hid
den among the straw, did the thought oc
cur that he ought to try and find an own
er for it. Then followed hard battle
between the natural honesty of the lad
and his natural desire for creature COM
forts. The person who could wear a
gold thing like that "chock full of shin
ers," he said to himself, "must have mon
ey enough to buy more sinners Here
he was, cold and hungry, half the time,
with no prospect before him but to be
always hungry, if not always cold; and
here were these "shiners" which would
set him up in business and give him a
chance to help the boys. Johnny honest
ly wanted to help the boys. Why should
he find the owner of this cross when he
had nothing and the owner had every
thing: This fight continued until it
was time for the lad to start out for his
orning papers. All through the busiest
part of the forenoon the battle still ragged
and the newsboy's thoughts were so oc-
cupied with his new found riches that he
almost forgot to attend to his customers.
About half past ten, as he crossed City
Hall Park he noticed gentleman in earn
est conversation with another gentleman,
and as he passed he heard the words
diamond cross" spoken. Johnny slack
ened 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. | don't
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 fallen
into dishonest hands, and unless the
reward is made equal to the value Of the
diamonds we shall probably never SET
them"
When the gentlemen separated, the
one who was interested in the diamonds
entered the City Hall, and after a little
inquiry Johnny discovered that this gen,
tleman held very honorable Office in
the city department. After finding this
out the lad took turn round the Park
to think it over again.
"Granny Leeds said was ofscour-
ing and Miss Lee says amt" he argued
to himself. "If l keep these sinners
Granny Il be right and Miss Lee II be
wrong. She said the Lord was giving
me chance to make something Of my.
self. Well, now, the question is, am
or am l not ofscouring. If keeE
these sinners / am, if give them up