The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-01

never come back tire door opened, ana
a dark figure entered.
''Oh, mamma! motheri I'm glad
you've come. Tn hungry and cold. :"
Yes; my child, we are both hungry
and cold, but am helpless. waited
for my money to-day long time. but
didn't get it and then had to walk
two miles to borrow . little. We will
have something to eat pretty SOON"
When the lamp was lighted the
mother stirred the fire and sat down to
warm herself, holding the child in her
lap with an embrace so tight that he
struggled once or twice to tree himself,
while hot tears rolled down her sunken
cheeks. In after years If he remem-
bers that hour he viii know what that
long, lingering pressure meant, the 81
lence that was more eloquent than
words.
Not q word had been said about his
adventure or the turkey. The great
bird had been carefully slowed away in
the closet and the boy looked toward
the closed door frequently as if expect
ing to see the fowl walk out and say
something. How would he explain?
Presently he said: I'VE have got a
"No. we cannot have turkey. John
n.y." was the reply. 'but we will have
something else right away. viii go
out now and get It."
But i say we've got one now" said
John Henry, jumping down from her
lap. 'It's here in the closet" and he
threw the door open, standing at one
side, his eyes sparkling with pride and
"Why. where did this come fromP
How did you get it? Who brought it
herep"
Her questions came with such rapid
ity and seriousness that the boy began
to be afraid.
~ Just asked for it, mother, as YOU
ask for things when you kneel with me;
only went to the stores where they
kept them and asked and asked and
asked ever so many times, until finally
i found man who gave it to me and
brought it here. / was awful cold and
/ was afraid I'd get lost, but the man
brought me home and said his folks
would be here tomorrow or next day.
What are you crying about? Oh, I'm
sorry did it. IwOn't any more"
The mother learned from him little
by little the whole story of his adven-
ture, the rough words, the gruff refus-
ais, the bitter suspicious, and the long
walk in the freezing night air, and al.
ternately kissed and Rugged him,
laughed and cried.
What could have put it into your
head to be beggarP My child. it was
begging TO do that, and we have never
begged before"
He said nothing for a minute and
then answered: You taught ME to
pray and have said that if we would
ask we would receive did ask and
God kept his word"
At night when the child was asleep
the mother stood by his side and strok-
ing his hair tenderly said in voice
scarcely audible: "If, then, God so
clothe the grass which is to-day in the
field, and tomorrow is cast into the
oven, how much more will he clothe
you, o We of little faithr'
The kind man was as good as his
word. His wife and daughters called
the next morning bringing with them
warm clothing and some wines and
other dainties, besides toys for John
Henry, who could scarcely believe his
eyes as he joyOusly saw them unwrap-
ped and placed before him. The New
Year for him was full of joy and hap
piness, and his mothers heart was
gladdened by the promise of remuner-
atiEe work for the future. Thus hap
PLY ended John Henry's New Years
adventure