Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-12

mother had not returned, wnlcn fact
pleased him, but not the visitor.
You may tell your mother that some
of my folks will be here in a day or
two, my boy. l will not wait any
longer now. You and your mother eat
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 though: hs
heard his mothers footsteps, but they
for my money to-day long time, but
didn't get it and then l 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 wha. that
long, lingering pressure meant, the ST.
lence that was more eloquent than
words.
Not a 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 explainp
Presently he said: 1--WE have got Q
turkey"
No, we cannot have turkey, John
n.y." was the reply, "but we will have
something else right away. l will 60
out now and get it."
"But l 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 ita Who brought it
hereP"
Fer questions came with such rapid
ity and seriousness that the boy began
to be afraid.
II just asked for it, mother. as you
ask for things when YOU kneel with me;
only went to the stores where they
asked ever so many times, until finally
found man who gave it to me and
brought it here. I 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 1 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 hugged 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. l 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 a 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 ye 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-
ative work for the future. Thus hap
PLY ended John Henry's New Years
adventure