The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-09-04


I ing away, that ne might not see thu
tears in my eyes.
| "Well, Sue, you see, Didn't ike -
take it; for she's awful generous. IF sbs
is poor, and she tried. to get it back On
me by saying she tto2tgW upper, and
twas only her lips that said lower. She
meant upper all the time. She isnit
well--Sue isn't.
She's little and white, and ono NO.
later amt much of q supper for the Ike
of her, anyway. And at last made her
eat the whole of it. / told her that ,yeid
have good dinner to-day, 'eause /
knowed somebody would buT my greens
and I'm going to spend the whole five
cents for one dinner. What do Won
think of that? I m going to get three
1 behring's at a cent apiece, and the rest
in potatoes"
And he smacked hislips as he thoueht
of the treat in store for them all.
81 think, he continued, 'sthat vou'va
paid me pretty well for my greens in
doughnuts without any five cents at All.
| Still, as | look at it, = he added, with \
sly twinkle in his great blue ewes.
''doughnuts is doughnuts, and cents Is
4
and the cents is pag."
| laughed aloud at his reasoning.
which was certainly most sensible and
true, and then said:
''Now Jack, Iwant you to keep your
five cents till some night you haven't
any supper, and let me ill your basket
with something that / know will 90
around. j want Susie to have a GLASS
of fresh milk. So you must carry this
tin pail besides the basket. Do Won
think you can manage them both?"
'Well, na'am, | guess youth see
whether can manage EN- or not. But
| do you think | can dig greens enough TO
pay for all them things you're put ing
ina''
/ mo, Jack, don't; for they are NOT to
be paid. l want to send these To y0ar
mother-that is all; and as YOU said
yourself, doughnuts is doughnuts and
cents is cents"
.tTo-be-sure," he answered. merrilr.
Well, ma am, | just wish you could see
'em when tell 'em how good You've
been tonne. Some folks ant good, you
know" he added, with a sigh.
While | filled the basket, he told Mo
their little history, never realizing how
full it was of the deepest pathos--the
struggles of the poor mother to keep her
family together after the death Of her
husband, q good, kind man, who had
left her one morning, full of life and
strength, to go to his work i'll the great
iron foundry, and was brought back to
her few hours later, having met his
death while toiling for those he loved
He did not realize, either, how his
own self-sacrihcing spirit shone QUO
through his words, proving to me tho
strength and sweetness of his charac-
ter. What hero he was, this litae
tWelve-year-old Jack!
''Mother has worked so hard for Sue
| and me that she hasn't much strength
left. And dom YOU think, y he added,
STRENGTHENING himself up proudly
ls''don,t you think I'm big enough 10
take care of us threep Leastways, Two
been lucky this morning, for TYesold
my greens and found goa"
The gratitude in his heart was plain
lily visible in bis little face as he turned
it up to me.
4 told him that heneeforth we would
be the very best and warmest of friends,
and that happier days were in store for
him and those at home; that I could
find work for him to do which would
certainly help toward the support Of ALL
three. h4E a
Such a happy Jack as he was when l
sent him home that April morning with
the heavy basket on one arm and a pail
of milk on the other; and wish could
tell you-for am sure you would ike
to hear-what pleasant days followed
for Jack and those so dear to him; but
1T would make such long, long story
we should never come to the end Of It.
Indeed, there is no end to it. 1t Is .
story which is being Lired through now.
and it grows more interesting and more
beautiful more tender and true with
every chapter. ~ 81
Jack is proving himself the hero !
knew him to be.
He works, early and late, on small
piece OF ground which we allow him to-
, cultivate on our farm; and he carries!
his produce to town in basket strapped
son his back, and be is as happy rs a
King-happier than many Kings, am
sure"
AlILlCs Jttl6 GUST ~ IlO1 Ateil ~ PtstD
as she was before she. too, had the
chance given her to ''help-'
She has free range In my fower-gar-
: den, and makes up the daintiest ''but-l
!, ton-hole boquets,H with which she fills
2 her small basket every morningTfor
, Jack to take with him.
He never finds the least difficulty IN
t. disposing of them all, and proud little
) lass she is when he drops the pennies
t into her hands at night.
, The mother, we think, is growing
t strong and wen again-happy in her
boys thoughtful care and CHEEKY
4 light-hearted ways.
! He is not yet thirteen years old, but
} is mother calls him the ''head ofstle
) house, and he truly deserves the title.
Brave little man-God bless HIM.
5 Golden Days. $50
|