The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-10

back to the lamp-post, he gave himself
up to the delight of watching the
throng Johnny wondered what it
would be like to drive around in luxu-
rious carriages and have plenty of money
to spend on fine clothes. He thought
of the bread and herring he had eaten
for his supper, and tried to imagine
what it would be like to have turkey
and cranberry sauce every day. Every
Christmas Johnny had turkey and cram
berry sauce for his dinner, and he
knew by experience how nice they
were. He had ridden in an ambulance
with friend of his-a newsboy, who
had been run over by an express wagon
and this was the nearest approach to
carriage ride he had ever enjoyed.
He wondered, as he watched these
happy, gaily dressed people, why it was
that some people had all they wanted
while others were cold and hungry, and
sometimes starved to death. This was
not the first time that Johnny had been
perplexed with such thoughts, but they
had never made him feel quite so un-
comfortable as on this occasion. He
called to mind the warm Undertaking
and tidy jacket and pants which Miss
Lee had given to him that day, and
tried to comfort himself with the
thought that there was one person in
the world who cared for him.
There had been heavy fall of snow
that day, and as Johnny, still absorbed
with his thoughts, started to cross the
street, he saw something sparkle in the
snow at the side of the crossing. There
had been a rush of carriages, and few
had not been able to pull up at the curb.
AS he picked it up he saw that it was an
ornament in the shape of a cross, and
studded with diamonds.
Johnny knew they were Sinners"
as he called them, so, with his heart in
his throat, he tucked the precious Jewel
into his pocket, still holding it firmly in
his hand. Johnny's ambition was to
start a coffee and cake establishment,
where newsboys could be entertained at
had nursed this object, and here was a
chance to carry it into execution. There
were nine stones in the cross. Dispos-
ing of one at time, to avoid suspicion,
here was money enough to last him for
years and years, he told himself. 1t
puzzled him to know where he could
keep the sinners, for there wasn't a
soul among his acquaintance whom he
dare trust with the secret. Not until
he had crept into his poverty-stricken
bed, with his treasure carefully hidden
among the straw, did the thought occur
that he ought to try and find an owner
for it.. Then followed hard battle be-
tween the natural honesty of the lad
and his very natural desire for creature
comforts.
The person who could wear a gold
thing like that, "chock full of sinners, )"
he said to himself, must have money
enough to buy more sinners. Here he
was, cold and hungry, with no prospect
before him but to be always hungry if
not always cold; and here were these
Sinners" which would set him up in
business and give him a chance to help
the boys. Why should he find the
owner of this cross when he had moth
ing and the owner everything? This
fight continued until it was time for the
lad to start for the morning papers.
All through the busiest part of the fore
noon the battle still ragged and the news
boys thoughts were so occupied with
his new-found riches that he almost
forgot to attend to his customers. About
half-past ten, as he passed City Hall
park, he noticed gentleman, and hear
ing the words diamond cross spoken
Johnny slackened his pace and listened.
1.-THE diamonds were all of the first
water" the gentleman said; cit was a
gift to my wife from her father, and
she is terribly cut up at the loss.
don't suppose we shall ever find it,"
You will advertise it, won't you ?''
his companion inquired.
Oh, of COURSE" the gentleman re-
piled, but more than likely it has fallen
into dishonest hands, and unless the re-
ward is equal to the value of the dia-
monds we shall probably never see
them"
When the gentlemen separated the
one who was interested in the diamonds
entered the City Hall, and after little
inquiry Johnny discovered that this
gentleman held very honorable Office
in the city department. After finding
this out the lad took turn round the
park to think it over again.
Granny Leeds said l was a off.
securing, and Miss Lee says | amt,
he argued to himself. elf / keeI
these sinners Granny'll be right anC
Miss Lee'll be wrong. She said the
Lord was giving me chance to make
something of myself. Well, now, thu
question is, am l or am l not off
securing? If 1 keep these sinners
am, if / give them up l amt Well,
ain'tp' and, with these words on hi
lips, Johnny started for the gentleman
office. Nothing daunted, he entered
and presented himself at the desk.
" Some of your folks have lost some
thing, amt they?" he asked.
"They have" said the gentleman.
" Will your honor tell me what it il
like?"
cit is a gold cross set with diamonds,
and the gentleman described the rela
tive position of the stones. 1T wa
lost either in the Academy of Music
last night, or on the way to or from
that place"
Johnny's coat was off in twinklin,
and, with rip at the stitches whicl
confined his treasure, he took it out an,
put on his coat again. GO suppos,
that is it," he said, handing it to tn
gentleman. I" wanted to keep tn
sinners awful bad" he continued
"They'd set me up in business, then
sinners would, but you see ] couldn't &c
to be such offscouring as that
though have been irving to be a THE