The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-08-04
JOHNNIE AND PAT.

Little John worked in q barrel factory
IL the thriving town Of E. in Penn
:, lvania.
Piling slaves or rolling barrels all day
long il not very enjoyable work. but
Johnnie did not grnmblc; no. indeed.
he was too happy TO ret cven the harst-
est and dullest work 10 do. He wanted
10 70 to school. and his ann had
said ii he could save money enough 10
buy books and clothes. he might 20.
lie was delighted with this permission,
and clattered down stairs. three steps
at a time, 10 hunt up Pat. his friend and
conidant. who would double his happi-
ness BY sharing Il.
Pat was a news-boy on the railroad. q
| CHEEKY. good-natured Irish lad. whose
mother had dici years ago. when he
was but a blue-eyed baby. The new
mother that came into the little white
washed cabin b. the railroad was too
busy with her pigs, her garden and her
little ones 10 pay much attention 70 Pat
at first: though by-and BY she thought
there was no room for him in the little
home. Poor Pat, he had d hard time
find ng any place where there was room
for him. Afiast Johnnie persuaded his
aunt to let the for~aken Irish boy share
his bed. They had been firm friends.
sharing their boyish griefS and joys with
the complete sympathy Of childhood;
they were brothers in heart. II not in
name.
johnnie and Pat were industrious.
contented and happy. During The day
they worked On the cars and in the fac
tory. but in the evening the kind aunt
taught them the common school studies
Both BOYS eagerly longed for the time
when thev could enjoy fuller advantages
for education.
PAT saw his way but dimly. but John
MES happiness seemed near ~ hand.
II was q touching sight 70 see the two
boys once or twice a week bring ont
their store OF savings. No miser ever
thrilled at the sight and touch OF heaps
Of gold as those two boys Al their paltry
handful OF silver and copper.
II was about q month before school
began. and yet Johnnie had not saved
quite the desired amount
One evening he came rushing home
waving his hat and dinner pail 70 his
aunt. who stood in the doorway.
.Oh. auntie. 4 have enough now.
he shouted joyfully. /,
Her motion for silence and the lool
on her face lowered his glad voice.
What i the matter? Are you i'll;
Has anything happened 70 Patg' hs
: hurriedly asked.
Gone in and sit down. and I vii
. tell yon. Y she replied
"A strange sickening 0ior Of som'
drug filled the house; there was an I'M
usual stir in the front room. Johnnie
|, heart sank within him. He listenes
with tcrror-stricken face 10 the terribl'
: news An accident on the road; PA
was hurt; they were amputating hi
/, arm: they feared he would die.
His face grew whittier and winter :
!. each detail Of the horror grew upon hi
mind. He buried his face in his hands
. and sat motionlcss q long time
I After q time he went softly into IN
house. into the room where Pat lay stil
unconscious.
Y Pat. dear Pat" ne sobbed, laying
4 his wet face against the one colories
!. hand.
Here he remained until he heard n
doctors step In the hall, when - with
drew to the shadow OF the curtain
dreading vet longing 70 hear his words
: How his heart leaped with joy to kn0'
thar Pat might live. though : cripple
His dear. dashing, ~frolicksome fst
n cripple! !.
eyes on the palIid young face He -
i irving 70 think out some plan for he'll
ing him. A firm. happy look dawne
On bis grave. thoughtful fsce. n
seemed 70 have solved : part - his haI
a problem.
Toward morning Pat opened bis ey'
and looked around IN : daze sort
Il way. He tried 70 rise. but Was 4
4 weak. Slowly he recalled the acciden
Il the pain. and the darkness VIII
]. came them Looking around in : hel
\ less. wistful manner, he NV Johnnie
big ewes shining on him through falliI
u tears. He novel his left hand arouI
n 70 find che right one. Alas! e ~
= gone. Turning his face % the Va
y The hot tears slipped down from !
closed eyes
II We . lone day for the boys, job
II ME at his toils0mc labor In the factor
. and Pst, &c home. thinking, thlnkin
i: thinking, trying % find some gleam
n brightness. some way q self-help IN
ia future.
N Going home that night Johnnie bong
NJ An 4 and > picture for his fricI
N IL cndeavorcd 10 be more than usra
~ cheerful in his manner that cyeniI
~ pat was trying too. but II was suci
faint smile that he gave that John
had hard work % keep back the tears