Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-16
"A ND, J4ANU AIRY 1G, 1885.

the turkey and have feast. There are
others where that came from"
When his companion had gone the
child turned down the lamp and blew
it out and resumed his place at the
window. Once or twice he thought he
heard his mothers footsteps, but they
died away on the pavement. He was
hungry and cold and impatient. A
dozen times he moved his chair up to
the little clock and felt of the hands. 1t
was getting late-later than usual for
his mother to be out, and he began TO
feel a choking sensation. What if she
should not come? OF what use would
be a big uncooked turkey to small
boy shivering with the exposure he had
undergone and weak from hunger?
just as he had about mad, up his
mind that she had been lost and would
never come back the door opened, and
!. dark figure entered.
''Oh. mamma, mother! Tn glad
you've come. I'm hungry and cold"
Yes; my child, we are both hungry
and cold, but | am helpless. | waited
for my money to-day long time, bat
didn's 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 free himself,
while hot tears rolled down her sunken
cheeks. In after years if he remem-
berS that hour he will know what that
long. lingering pressure meant, the ST.
lence that was more eloquent than
words.
Not 4 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
turkey
No, we cannot have a turkey. john
1y.' was the reply, but we will have
something else right away. l will go
ouenow and get it."
but | 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
pleasure.
"Why. where did this come from?
How did you get il? Who brought it
here?n
Her questions came with such rapid
ity and seriousness that the boy began
to be afraid.
Il just asked for il, mother, as You
ask for things when YOU kneel with me;
only | went 20 the stores where they
kept them and asked and asked and
asked ever so many times, until finally
found man who gave it TO me and
brought il here. was 'rful cold and
| was afraid I'd get lost. sIt the man
brought me home and said his folks
would be here tomorrow or next day.
What are YOU CRYING about? Oh. IN
sorry did it. won't any more.
The mother learned from him little
hv little the whole story of his adven-
ture. the rough words, the gruf refus-
ais. the bitter suspicious. and the long
walk in the freezing nj ght air, and al
teruafcly kissed and kugged him.
laughed and cried.
What could have put it into your
head TO be bcggar? My child, it was
begged before.
He said nothing for n 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-
iug his hair ,cndcrly said in voice
scarcely audible: IF. then. God so
clothc the grass which is to-day in the
field. and tomorrow is east into the
oven. how much more will he clothe
you, . We of little faith
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 dain,e>, 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-
atiye work for the future. Thus hap
PLY ended John Henry's New Years
adventure.