Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-08-26
ALL 1HROUGH Il POCKET
BOOK.

Tom and Joe lie stretched. boy-fash-
ion, upon the rug before the fire, with a
very disconsolate look upon the young
iaccs the dancing flames lit up. 1t is
stormy night, and they are, therefore,
disappointed of promised treat to
which for week back they have been
looking forward. ...
Suddenly the door opens and gives
entrance to tall, brisk figure.
"Boys, are you here? Poor fellows !
it's too bad you arc doomed to disap-
rointment; but what say you to story ?
Would it compensate in the least degree
for the great animal shown
Yes, they think ii will; and, with a
slight but decided change in both posi-
ton and expression, they wait expect
antly, confident OF being interested, for
they are no strangers to their brother
in-law's graphic stories. AID he begins:
at was very cold day, and, as little
Dick stood on the corner shivering in
the keen blast which pierced relentlessly
through his thin, ragged garments, he
said, half aloud: ooh, dear this world
isn't much Of place. wonder if it's
warmer where mother is wish was
there
"Poor boy A month ago death had
robbed him OF his only friend by taking
away his mother, and since then he had
lived as thousands do everywhere =
picking up what odd jobs he could in
the daytime, and sleeping at night in
any nook that offered him shelter. But
work was not always to be found, and
for the past two days his pockets had
not held even penny with which to
buy bread, and the boy was almost fam
ished. He walked on slowly, the tears
running down his pinched face, when
suddenly great thrill ran all through
his frame, for the moment bringing
warmth it had but rarely known.
Could it be, or did his eyes deceive himP
There, right before him on the pave
ment, was a pocket-book
"With a hasty glance backward the
lad, with trembling fingers, lifted and
opened his prize, and saw what seemed
like incalculable riches to his unaccus-
toned eyes--a roll of crisp bank-notes.
"Now 1 can get something to eat
"But something white attracted his
notice; card, and penoiled upon it a
name and address.
"Dick could read a little, and he
easily picked out the written characters
which proclaimed to whom the lost
pocketbook belonged.
"For a moment the boy hesitated. 1
was his. He had found it. Had he no
right to it?
"But even as he thought conscienc,
rose, and with loud voice cried:
"Nol AS long as you know the own
er's name ii Is not yours
"Just before she died his mother hat
said to him:
"'Dick, my poor boy, I doubt no
but that you may come to wear torn
soiled coat, but there is no need that i
should cover o soiled soul. Be true ant
honest, no matter what happens, ant
God will care for you.
"a choking sob rose in the boy
throat as he slowly turned.
al will take it to the house that il
IN the card he said softly; but, oh
low hungry / ami"
"He thrust the pocket-book into tn,
breast of his jacket, but not before i
mad been seen.
"'See here, Dickey, old fellow, shell
out You've got find, and you mus
go shares. Here, hand over that pock
st book.
"Dick looked up resolutely into tn
boyish faces of his accosters. The,
were bigger boys than he, but he wa
no coward.
"'You can't have it, he said, for i
isn't mine; and I'm taking it where
belongs.
"'You can't come that dodge owe
me. Here, hand it over, or you'll wis
You had, and the taller OF the two boy
raised one hand to strike, while he mad
snatch at Dicks jacket with the othel
"The thin cloth parted, and the oil
iect of dispute rolled upon the pave
ment.
"'You young rowdy, what are 20
striking that little boy for?'
1.-THE newcomer wts q middle-aget
benevolent-faced man, and, as he spoke
he emphasized his words by graspin
the rough boys shoulder with no gent
hand.
"'He's thief he's got my poke
book, was the sullen reply, with va
glance around for the companion, wi
had lest no time in putting good did
ance between himself and the scene
action.
"'That he hasn't. 1 have bee
watching the whole occurrence from Il
stoop just over the way. saw this Ii
tie lad find the pocket-book, read Il
card. and heard what passed betwet