Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-02-16

have plenty OF money 70 spehu on
fine clothes, lie thought ofthe bread
and herring he had eaton for bis sup
per. and tried TO imagine what II
would be like 10 have turkey and
cranberry sauce every day. Every
Christmas Johnny had turkey aud
cranberry sauce for his dinner, aud hs
knew from experience how nice they
were. He had once ridden in an an
bulancc with q friend Of hls-a news
boy-w no had been run over by an
express wagon, and this was the near
est approach to carriage ride that
Johnny had ever enjoyed, lilo won
dered, an no watched these gayly
dressed people, always enjoying them
selves, why II was that some people
had all they wanted while others
were cold aud hungry AMI some times
starved to death. This was not tho
first time that Johnny had been per-
plexed with such thoughts, hut they
had never made him feel quite 70
uncomfortable rs on that occasion.
lie called to mind the warm under
clothing 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 a heavy fall ofsnow
that day, and as Johnny, still absorb
cd with his thoughts, started to cross
the street, he saw som e,hing sparkle
in tho snow at tho crossing. There
had been rush Of carriages. and a
few had been able to pull up tho curb.
As he picked it up he saw that it was
an orname ent in the shape Off cross,
and studded with diamonds.
Johnny knew they were "shlners''
rs he called them, a. 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. Johnny's ambition had been to
start u 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 chance to carry it into execu-
ton. There were nine stones in the
cross. Disrosing OF one at a time so
as to avoid suspicion, there was mon
ey enough to last him "for years aud
years." he told himself. 1t puzzled
him TO know where he c:uld keep the
sinners, for there wasn't soul among
his acquaintances whom no 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 thonght
occur that he ought to try and find On
owner tor it Then followed a hard
battle between the natural honesty OF
the lad and bis very natural desire tor
creature comforts. The person who
could wear a gold thing like that
"chuck full Of shiners," he said to
himself, "must have money enough to
buy more sinners" Here he was,
cold and hungry half the time, with
no prospect before him but to be al
ways hungry, if not always cold; and
here were these "shiners" which would
sci: him ur in business and give him a
chance to help the boys Johnny
honestly wanted to help the boys.
Why should he find the owner Of this
GROSS when he had nothing and the
owner had everything! This fight
continued until it was time for the lad
to start out for his morning papers.
All through the busiest part of the
forenoon the battle still ragged, and the
ne ew.boy's thoughts were SO occupied
with hls new FOUND riches that he
almost forgot to attend to his custom
ers. About half past ten, as he GROSS
ed Oity Hall Park, he noticed gen
tlsman ip earnest conversation with
another gentleman, and a. he passed
be heard the words "diamond CROSS"
spoken, Johnny slaokened his pace
and listened.
"The diamopds were all Of the first
WATER" the gentleman said. ut was
a present 10 my wife from her father,
and, she is terribly out up at the loss,
I don't suppose We shall ever fRd it."
"You will advertise it, won't you Y
his companion inquired.
lob, of course" The gentleman re-
piled, "but more than likely it has
fallen into dishonest hands, and unless
the reward is made equal 10 the value
Of the diamonds we shall probably
never see them"
When the gentlemen separated, the