Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-27
Price Three Cents

boy of ten, and so absorbed was he in con- templsting the narVels of beauty upon which his big brown eyes were feRsting that he for 1 got en tirely the cold wind that was making l his ears jingle and biting away furiously at the little blue toes peeping from the dilap- l dated boots, originally intended for much larger person, which but poorly cov- cred his feet.
 Poor little Jimmy!
 Small share of kindness or comfort had he ever known since the day when his mother, who lay dying in a miserable garrst where they had lived ever since he could remember, had called him to her bedside and told him in weak, falsering tones that soon, very soon, she would go away from him forever. And then as the little boy lay sobbing upon her breast, Caroline Neversink, nee Johnson, had passed peacefully away, and when Jipo- mic awoke from the sleep into which grief and exhaustion had plunged him the face that was pressed against his own was cold in death and the arm that encircled him rigid and nerveless
 It is not long story-that of poor boys Efe-albeit @ sad one. With no friend in all the wide, wide world to whom he could look for aid or even sympathy, Jimmy had start- ed out noanfally to fight the hard battle of toll and privRtton, found himself ho better of than when he crept. weeping, out of the l garrett that cold winters day, leaving behind him the only person who had ever kissed or ICVeQ nln1-nlS anger mother. Standing before the store window this Christmas eve Jimmy's thoughts wander back over his life, and then, as he sees other little boys, warmly clad and with smiling faces, trudging along the streets he feels for the first time the sickening sense of utter desolation that comes to the miserable few I who have no friends at Christmas-time-who ] neither receive presents nor give them. AL most before he know it the tears are trick ling down his cheeks and there is 8 choking sensation in his throat that he has never felt before. The tears come faster and faster, and at last when the poor, weak, little frame is shaken by storm of sobs that cannot be repressed, he feels touch upon his should CT, and looking up sees kindly face and hears voice saying:
 ''Cheer up, my little man! This is 10 time for sorrow."
 John W. Twelvepercent, the rich old bank CT, was regarded by his friends as man of marked eocentricities. In the way of busi- ness he WAS stern and unyielding, never al- lowing sentiment to interfere with what he conceived to be his due, and although there was vague rumor that he once loaned a poor woman SIS on no other security than 8 $2o gold piece, it was not generally believed. That there was 8 romance connected with his early life was well known, but it's nature none could with certainty state Some said that the woman whom he madly loved had 
 others asserted that he had fallen while prac- ticing on roller skates and never recovered from the shock. Be this as it may, John w. TGelvepercent was rich old bachelor with handsome home and two soft corns.
 ''Why are you weeping, my lad?" he asked in kindly tones of Jimmy.
 The boy told the story of his life, and when he came to that part in which occurred the death of his mother John TweIvepercent gave convulsive start.
 f'You say your mothers name was Caro- line 2" he asked, his voice trembling as he spoke.
 "Yes, sir
 "Was she bow-legged?" 2"
 CT do not know, sir" replied Jimmy; 'tbut few days before she died she gave ma this locket, which contains her picture. I have always worn it next to my heart"
 The banker opened the locket with feverish haste, and by the light which streamed in 8 mellow flood from the store window looked earnestly at the face within. My God, he muttered, ''it Is indeed Caroline Catchfy, the love of my youth; And so this is her son. this little ragged boy, who Is suffering from cold and hunger. How terrible that Caro- lines son-Caroline, the first and only love of my life-should be in want" Then bend ing tenderly over the bey, he speaks to him again.
 ''You have DO friends, Jimmy?'
 'No, sir"
 ''And would you like to go and live with me? Go where you could have warm clothes, pretty playthings and have plenty to eat?"
 The boy looked up to him, and into the big brown eyes, so like those of the mother on whose grave the snow is falling tonight, there comes an expression Of joy and hope. ''Oh, sir, he says, 1T should love 80 dearly to go with you"
 q do not doubt it,' replies the banker, ''and the decision shows you have a sound judgment. Some day, perhaps, you will have home to go to -" and turning on his heel he walk5 away, leaving the snow still sitting into Jimmy's pants.