Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-09-21
JOHNNIE AND PAT.

Little John worked in a barrel facto-
ry in the thriving town of E., in Penn
sylvania.
Piling slaves or rolling barrels all day
long is not very enjoyable work, but
Johnnie did not grumble; no, indeed. be
was too happy to get even the hsrdest
and dullest work to do. He wanted to
go to school. and his aunt had said if he
could save money enough to buy books
and clothes, he might 60. He was de-
lighted with this permission. and clat-
tered down stairs. three steps at time,
to hunt up Pat, his friend and confidant,
who would double his happines by shar-
ing it.
Pat was q newsbey on the railroad. 3
CHEEKY, good-natured Irish lad. whose
mother had died years ago, when he was
but a 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 Titles one TO
pay much attention to Pat at ilst; !;
though by-and-by she thought there was
no room for him in the little home.
Poor Pat! he had 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 advaLtag-
es 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 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. 1 have enough now," he
shouted joyfully.
on her face lowered his glad voice.
What is the matter? Are you i'll?
Has anything happened to Pat?" he hur-
riedly asked.
Come in and sit down, and l will tell
you," she replied.
A strange sickening Odor of some
drug filled the house; there was unusu-
al stir in the front room. JOhnnie's
heart. sank within him. He listened
with terror-strickcn face to the terrible
news. An accident on the road; Pat
was hurt; they were amputating his
arm; they feared he would die.
His foce 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 facd 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 yet longing to hear his words.
How his heart leaped with joy to know
that Pat might live, though a cripple.
His dear, dashing, frOlicsome Pat a Grip
pie!
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 downed on
his grave, thoughtful face. He seemed
to have solved part of his hard prob
lem.
Toward morning Pat opened his eyes
and looked around in dazed sort Of
way. He tried to rise, but was too
weak. Slowly he recalled the accident,
the pain, and the darkness. What came
thenp Looking around in a helpless,
wistful manner, he saw Johnnie's big
eyes shining on him thrO' falling tears.
He moved his left hand around to nnd
the right one. Alas it way gone. Turn
ing his face to the wall, the hot tears
slipped down from his closed eyes.
IL 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-help in the
future.
Going home that night Johnnie bought
an orange aud picture for his friend.