St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1881-09-10
ALL THROUGH APOCKET-
BOOK.

fashion. npon the rug before the fire,
with very disconsolate look upon
the young faces the dancing flames
lit up. 1t is a stormy night and
they are, therefore, disappointed of
promised treat to which for
week back they hail been looking
forward.
Suddenly the door opens and
gives entrance to tall, brisk fig
ure.
"Boys, are you here? Poor fell
lowsl it's too bad you are doomed to
disappointment-bu what say you
to a story? Would it compensate
in the least degree for the great ami
NAL show?"
Yes. they think it will; and, with
a slight but decided change i'll both
position and expression, they wait
expectantly, confident of being in
terested, for they are no strangers to
their brother-in-laws graphic sto-
ries. And he begins:
at vas a very cold day, and, as
little Dick stood on the corner
shivering in the keen blast which
pierced relentlessly through his thin
ragged garments, he said, half
aloud: oh, dear! this world isn't
much of a place. I wonder if it's
warmer where mother is! ! wish /
was therei'
"Poor boy! A month ago death
had robbed hira of his only friend
by taking away his mother, and
since then he had lived as thous-
ands do-'everywhere'- up
what odd jobs he could in the day
time. and sleeping at night in any
nook that offered him shelter. But
work was not always to be found,
and for the past two days his pock-
cts had not held even u penny with
which to buy bread, and the boy
was almost furnished. He walked
on slowly, the tears running down
his pinched face, when suddenly a
great thrill ran all through his
frame, for the moment bringing a
warmth it had but rarely known.
Could it be, or did his eyes deceive
him? There, right before him on
the pavement, was a pocket-book
with hasty glance backward
the lad, with trembling fingers, lift
ed and opened his prize, and saw
what seemed like incalculable riches
to his unaccustomed eye-a roll of
crisp bank notes
"'Now I can get something to
to eatr
But something white attracted
his notice; card, ana penciled
upon it a name and address.
"Dick could read a little, and he
easily picked out the written char
acters which proclaimed to whom
the lost p pocket-book belonged.
For moment the boy hesitated.
1t was his. He mad found it. Had
he not q right to it?
but even as he thought con-
science rose, AMI with loud voice
erie ii:
"'No! as long as you know the
owners name 1t is not yours"
Just before she died his mother
had said to him..
"'Dick. my poor boy, I doubt
not but that you may come to wear
torn, soiled coat, but there is no
need that. it should cover a soil
ed soul. BE trne and honest, no
matter what happens, and God will
care for yon.'
"A eloking sob rose in the boys
throat as he slowly turned.
".I will take it to the house that
is on the card, he said softly; but
oh, how hungry I am!
He thrust the pocket-book into
the breast of his jacket, but not
before it had been seen.
"'Spe here, Dickey, cid fellow,
shell out! You've got find ard
you must GO shares. Here, hand
over that pocket-book
"Dick looked up resolutely into
the boyish faces of his accosters.
They were bigger boys that be, but
he was no coward.
You can't have it, he said, for
it is not mire; and I'm taking it
where it belongs"
"'You can't come that dodge
over me. Here, hand it over, or
you'll wish you had,' and the taller
OF the boys raised one hand to
strike. while he made a snatch at
Dicks jacket with the other.
THE thin cloth parted, and the
object of dispute rolled upOn the