Sharp County record., 1882-08-24
JOHNNIE AND PAT.

Illlng SldNe VI Iol1lIlS oalIOl" "li u''J
lone 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 90 to school, and his aunt had
said if he could save money enough to
buy books and clothes, he might 60.
He was delighted with this permission,
and elattered down stairs, three steps
at time, to hunt up Pat, his friend and
confdant, who would double his happi-
ness by sharing it.
Pat was news-boy on the railroad, a
CHEEKY, good-natured Irish lad, whose
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 to pay much attention to Pat
at first; though by-and 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
nie's happiness seemed near at hand.
1t was touching sight to see the two
boys once or twice 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, | 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 Pat?" 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 un-
usual stir in 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 motionless 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.
How his heart leaped with joy to know
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 a part his hard
problem.
Toward morning Pat opened his eyes
and looked around in a 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, wistful 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 gleam OF
brightness, some way of self-help 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.