, 1880-12-17
"I OFF,CDl RlNG'

ssYou asked me dldn You
..Yes, l asked you" the mission
sucher replied; sad, almost disSnN'ed
xzpressiou on her sweet young face.
What did YOU ask NE for, II you
Didn't want me to tell you. | could "A
Eelr sbe boy vent on in a stolid sort OF
vay, and yet with ring Of feeling IN
his voice. >, -.
.pacber answered with smile, because
Won promised, YOU remember, that You
xouid always tell the truth TO me.
well. didn't so back on it, did | 2
'.No. johnny. Have You any oblec-
Sons 10 telling me how often You have
Skep things that didn't belong to you?'
.'Mebee l couldn't remember them
ALL" the boy replied, "but l never lifted
anything very partickeler. Once when
fhe old woman where l hang out got
sick, and cried blue streak for oranges,
and nobody had the money to buy EN-, |
asked the old cove .hat kept the grocery
store to trust me for couple TIL the next
day. He wouldn't do it, and that night
/ stole six from him.
Why, Johnny?'
why didn't he let me have EN-,
shen p theb oy went on doggedly. I'D
- him, cause / said l would. Anyhow,
the old woman got we'll off them or
xnges."
'.Then you are not sorry you took
hem ?" the teacher inquired.
swell, the old woman had to have
Them oranges, and somebody had to get
EN- for her.
The teachers face was very grave, and
rs 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. II
amt nothing but offscouring anyhow,
and it amt no good to fret about what l
do. / was kinder dragged into this
place, else I'd never q bothered you."
''What name did you call YOURSELF"
Ehe teacher inquired. Il didn't under
stand you"
Granny Leeds said l was ofscouring,
anG so I am"
'tWhat 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"
she teacher replied. "You are not an off
securing, but Gods own child, and Heis
giving you chance to make something
Of yourself. How much do you think
the things are worth that you have taken
N all, johnny"
Then oranges were worth four cents
Epiece when l took 'em; that's twenty
four, and them two loaves OF bread L
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
al them things would make near hand
10 dollar. / don't remember anything
else now"
well, John, 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, rs-
lapsing at once into slang.
Wouldn't you feel better to confess
Johnny! 2" the young lady inquired, nos
4 little troubled al the effect Of her
words. For moment the boy seemed
lost in thought, and then, lifting frank
lace to his companion, said: II amt
never felt peTtikeler bad about anv Of
them things 'eept the base ball, and that
/ could a lone without, but if you say
30, Miss Lee, Ill give the whole thing
away; only as l amt lifted any thing late
ly, 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'arn, il L
dropped the money in them places so
they'd be sure 70 find it? If you don Z
think so I'll blow the whole thing, il it
takes me to the Island"
What viii you do, Johnny, If some
body needs bread and oranges, and you
havn't any money to buy them with q
That's q stieker, lna'am. / dunno"
''And it wouldn't De strange if some
thing Of that kind were TO happen any
day"
mo, ma'am. That's something putty
centrally TO pay with the folks | know
well, Johnny, / will tell you what to
do, " the teacher replied. Here is my
eard, and when any Of your aeduaint-
znees are in trouble I wish You would
eoERe directly to me, and If anything Is
amiss with yod at any time, be sure and
send messenger. You had better com
up tomorrow, anyway, Johnny, for
want 10 give you some warm clothes, and
then it viii be easy for you to find the
place next time.
Johnny hung his head. This kindness
had OverpOwered him, and not a word
could be say.
II didn't mean to hurt you, johnny. ."
he tender-hearted teacher hurried tn saw.
You are willing i should help you, are
you not:"
Il guess You had better let me git.
now, Mas Lee, the boy replied huskily.
''You eould knock me down with an eye
Binksr. You needn't worry about INV
1