Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-03
HOW JOHNNIE WENT TO SCHOOL.

81 lvania.
Filing slaves or rolling barrels all day
long is not very enjoyable work, but
johnnie did not grumble; no, indeed,
he was too happy to get even the hard
est and dullest work to do. He wanted
to 60 to school, and his aunt had
said if he could save money enough to
buy books and clothes, he might 90.
He was delighted with this permission,
and clattered down stairs, three steps
at time, to hunt up Pat, his friend and
conIidant, who would double his happi-
ness by sharing it.
Pat was a news-boy on the railroad. a
mother had died years ago, when he
was but blue-eyed baby The new
mother that came into the little white
washed cabin by the railroad was too
busy with her pigs, her garden and her
little ones topay much attention to Pat
at first; though by-aad by she thought
there was no room for him in the little
home. Poor Pat! he had a hard time
finding any place where there was room
for him. At last Johnnie persuaded his
aunt to let the forsaken 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, if 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 they could enjoy fuller advantages
for education.
Pat saw his way but dimly, but John
MES happiness seemed near at hand.
1t was touching sight to see the two
boys once or twice a week bring out
their store of savings. No miser ever
thrilled at the sight and touch of heaps
of gold as those two boys at their paltry
handful of silver and copper.
1t was about a 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 to his
aunt, who stood in the doorway.
''Oh, auntie, l have enough now,"
he shouted joyfully.
Her motion for silence and the look
on her face lowered his glad voice.
''What is the matter? Are you i'll?
Has anything happened to Fat?' he
hurriedly asked.
Come in and sit down, and will
tell YOU" she replied.
A strange sickening odor of some
drug filled the house; there was an UNI
usual stir il the front room. Johnnie S
heart sank within him. He listened
with terror-stricken face to the terrible
news. An accident ON the road; Pat
was hurt; they were amputating his
arm; they feared he would die.
His face grew whittier and whittier as
each detail Of the horror grew upon his
mind. He buried his face in his hands,
and sat mo ionless long time.
After time he went softly into the
house, into the room where Pat lay still
unconscious.
Pat, dear Pat he sobbed, laying
his wet face against the one colorless
hand.
Here he remained until he heard the
doctors step in the hall, when he with
drew to the shadow of the curtain,
dreading vet longing to hear his words.
that Pat might live, though cripple.
His dear, dashing, frolicksome Pat a
cripple!
All night long Johnnie sat with his
eyes on the pallid young face. He was
trying to think out some plan for help
ing him. A firm, happy look dawned
on his grave, thoughtful face. He
seemed to have solved part of his hard
problem.
Toward morning Pat opened his eyes
and looked around in daze sort of
way. He tried to rise, but was too
weak. Slowly he recalled the accident,
the pain. and the darkness. What
came then? Looking around in help
less, wisttul manner, he saw Johnnie's
big eyes shining ON him through falling
tears. He moved his left hand around
to find the right one. Alas! it was
gone. Turning his face to the wall,
the hot tears slipped down from his
closed eyes.
1t was long day for the boys, John
ME at his toilsome labor in the factory,
and Pat, at home, thinking, thinking,
thinking, trying to find some CLEAN of
brightness, some way of self-heIp in the
future.
Going home that night Johnnie bought
an orange and picture for his friend.
He endeavored to be more than usually
cheerful in his manner that evening.
Pat was trying too, but it was such a
faint smile that he gave that Johnnie
had hard work to keep back the tears.
g But l did, he triumphantly said to
his aunt. Il never mean to make Pat
feel badly any more if I can help it.
Oh, auntie''- this very eagerly may
l let Pat take my money and go to
school? l can wait little longer, and
Pat will help me in the evenings"
His aunt touched his sunshiny head
tenderly. "You know best, my dear
boy. 1t is your money. Use it to sat-
isfy your own heart
1t was some time before Pat was well
again, but after the first few days strug-
ole he never murmured. He seemed to
accept and make the best of his circum-
stances. Every evening Johnnie re-
mem bere2 to bring him some token of