The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-05-16
THE SNOWMAN.

Little Johnnle's Self Denial, and WHAT
sa Came of 1t.
When the first snow came little John
ME Lowell was out on the hill with the
rest, stamping his feet to keep them
warm, blowing on his numb fingers and
cycling the coasters wistfully.
Hello. Johnnie. Don't you wish you
had sled P" said Rob billiard, mock
ingly.
Eyes, do" said Johnnie, emphatic
ally. Whats more, I'm going to get
one" M
"How?" demanded Sam May.
"Oh, work, and earn money, and
save up. See if don't" ii
''Good for you, little chap! Here's a
dime to begin WITH" said Rob, tossing
him ten cents. $50
.And here's Nickel" said Sam. If
had more I'd give it, but ! haven't, +"
and off he went.
That was beginning!
JOHNNIE was little boy, but he was
industrious. He shoveled snow, he
carried bundles, sometimes he even
took care of Mrs. Dempsey's baby, but
that was girls work and he hated it.
Every night he went to the big hardware
store to price sleds. There was a
beauty there, q red one, ''The Rein
deer" and it only cost two dollars.
Two dollars! That was very cheap.
But, dear, how long it takes one little
boy to earn two dollars!
Then there was Margie, Johnnie $
lame sister. He never could resist the
temptation to buy her an apple, or an
orange, or bright picture. He began
to be afraid the snow would all be gone
before he got the sled.
wonder why it never occurred to
anybody to give him one! There were
plenty rich people living around them,
but they always gave presents to
Margie, or to Granny Lowell. who was
old and rheumatic. Because Johnnie
was such a bright little fellow and
earned money for himself, they never
thought of giving presents to him. They
never noticed that his sharp little
elbows had worn holes right through
his sleeves, his nat was brimless, and
his poor little toes were peeping out of
his shoes. But what was that to john
ME, if he could only get the red Rein
deer?
At last he had the money! It had
taken three long, long months to earn
it, but now-twenty-five cents for carry
ing Mr.. billiards. bundle, instead Of
only ten, as he had expected, and the
two dollars were his.
He stopped at the hardware store on
his way home to look at the Reindeer,
but he did not tell anybody he was GO
ing to buy it that very afternoon. Some
thing might happen to prevent; his
money might be stolen or burnt up be-
fore he got home. Terrified by the
thought, he sped home. burst open the
door, tore up stairs-yes, it was safe!
He counted it twice to make sure.
Each time it came out two dollars. He
was rushing out again when Margie
called him. fs3sNT
Johnnie never could refuse to hear
that plaintiye voice.
He turned back to the kitchen She
sat in the wheeled chair by the window,
her pale, tired face aglow with some
great excitement. 80
20, johnnie, only think r she cried.
"Dr. Brown says can walk if 4 have a
pair of crutchesi'' III
.Hoopee! Hip hip hurrah!' shouted
Johnnie. es1
''But the clutches cost two dollars, y
said Margie.
1.-TWO dollarsr' Johnny staggered up
against the wall and stared at her.
Eyes" she went on. II heard the
doctor say so to granny. He said he
could get them cheap. Two dollars
isn't much for pair of clutches, you
known
..N-no, it isn't much" assented
Johnnie, woefully, doubling up his lit
tie red fist over the two dollars that
had cost him three months labor.
Granny, she said the doctor might
as well say ten dollars as two; but
knew you could earn money, Johnnie,
so thought I'd ask you to save up fol-
that, after you get the Reindeer, OF
course. o Johnnie, how nice it win be
when can walkl You win save up
for it, won't your"
s!Yes, I'll save up for it," said John
ME. in \ queer, choked voice. Ill
guess Ill go out now. Good-bye!''
Goodbye! hope you'll hurry up
and buy the Reindeer said Margie,
cheerfully.
Somehow the snow looked dull and
dead, and the sun shone with a dim
light after that. johnnie would never
have sled now. The coasting would
be gone long before he could save up
another two dollars, and next winter
he would be old and gray-haired and
rheumatic-far too old to care for sleds.