The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-18

i
"Well, Sue, you see. didn't like ia
take it; for she's awful generous, if she
is poor, and she tried to get it back on
me by saying she thought upper, and
twas only her lips that said lower. She
meant upper all the time. She isn't
weii-Sue isn't.
''She's little and white, and ono DO
later amt much of supper for the like
of her, anyway. And at last made her
eat the whole of it. told her that we d
have good dinner to-day, cause
knowed somebody would buy my greens,
and I'm going to spend the whole five
cents for one dinner. What do you
think of that? Pm going to get three
behring's at cent apiece, and the rest
| in potatoes"
And he smacked his lips as he thought
! OF the treat in store for them all.
81 think" he continued, 'that you We
paid me pretty well for my greens in
doughnuts without any five cents at all.
Still, as I look at it." he added, with a
sly twinkle in his great blue eyes,
''d0ughnuts is doughnuts, and cents is
cents. and the doughnuts is present,
and the cents is pay"
| laughed aloud at his reasoning,
which was certainly most sensible and
true. and then said:
''Now Jack, want you to keep your
five cents till some night you haven't
any supper, and let me till your basket
with something that l know will go
around. want Susie to have glass
of fresh milk. So you must carry this
tin pail besides the basket. Do you
think you can manage them bothp"
well, ma'am, | guess you'll see
whether can manage 'em or not. But
do you think can dig greens enough to
pay for all them things you're putting
Inp'
mo, Jack,I don't; for they are not to
be paid. want to send these to your
mother-that is all; and as you said
yourself, doughnuts is doughnuts and
cents is cents"
''To-be-sure," he answered, merrily.
Well, ma am, just wish you could see
'em when l tell 'em how good you We
been to me. Some folks amt good, you
know" he added, with sigh.
While / filled the basket, he told me
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, good, kind man, who had
left her one morning, full of life and
strength, to go to his work in 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-sacrificing spirit shone out
through his words, proving to me the
strength and sweetness OF his charac-
ter What hero he was, this little
twelve-year-o Jacki
Mother has worked so hard for Sue
and me that she hasn't much strength
left. And don't you think" he added,
Strengthening himself up proudly
''don't you think Pm big enough to
take care of us three? Leastways, I've
been lucky this morning, for I've sold
my greens and found you."
The gratitude in his heart was plain
ly visible in his little face as he turned
it up to me.
/ told him that henceforth we would
be the very best and warmest of friends,
and that happier days were in store for
him and those at home; that / could
find work for him to do which would
certainly help toward the support of all
three.
Such happy Jack as he was when
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 like
to hear-what pleasant days followed
for Jack and those so dear to him; but
it would make such a long, long story
we should never come to the end of it.
Indeed. there is no end to it. 1t is a
story which is being Iired through now.
and it grows more interesting and more
beautiful more tender and true with
every chapter.
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
on his back, and he is as happy as
King-happier than many Kings, am
sure"
Little, pale Susie'is not half so pale
as she was before she. too, had the
chance given her to ''help."
She has free range in my flower-gar-
den, and makes up the daintiest .'but-
ton-hole boquets.'' with which she fills
her small basket every morning for
Jack to take with him.
He never finds the least difficulty in
of them all, and proud little
lass she is when he drops the pennies
into her hands at night.
The mother, we think, is growing
strong and well again--happy in her
boys thoughtful care and CHEEKY,
ways.
He is not yet thirteen years old, but
is mother calls him the .'head of the
house." and he truly deserves the title.
Brave little man-God bless him!---
Golden Days.
"A remedy for the cholera, which it
is said was the result of many e>peri-
n. I'LL Al