The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-03-10
SNOW MAN.
Little JOhnnie's Salf.Oenial and
What Came of it.

vAAess SeSAAsO W Aes
When the fret snow came little John.
ie Lowell was out on the hill with the
,st, stamping his feet to keep them
arm, blowing on his numb fingers and
yeine The coasters wistfullv. I,
Hello, Johnnie. Don't you wish you
ad q sled ?" said Rob billiard mock.
,glv.
Eyes. I do" said Johnnie emphs,icsl-
?. What's more, I'm going to get
me-"
"How2' demanded Sam May.
"Oh, work and earn money and save
lp; see II don't"
"Good for you, little chapl Here's Q
fine to begin viii" said Rob tossing \
him ten cents.
sand here's Nickel" said Sam "If
had more I'd give it, but I haven't"
and off be went.
That was q beginning.
Johnnie was little boy but he was
He shoveled snow, he car
ried bundles, sometimes he even took
care Of Mrs. Dempsey's baby, but that
Was girls work and be hated il. Every
night he went to the big hardware store
to price sleds. There was beauty there,
q red one, "Tbe Reindeer" and it only
cost two dollars. Two dollars! That
vas very cheap But, dear, how long it
takes one little boy to earn two dollars /!
Then there was Margie, Johnnie's
lame sister. He never could resist the
temptation to buy her an apple, or an or
ange, or bright picture. He began to
be afraid the snow would all be gone be-
fore he got the sled.
I wonder why It never occurred to
anybody to give him onel There we're
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
bright little fellow and earned money for
himself they never thought Of giving
presents to him. They never noticed
that bis sharp little elbows had worn
holes right through bis sleeves, bis hat
was bripless. and bic poor little toes were
peepiLg out Of his shoes. But what was
that to Johnnie il be could only get the
"Red Reindeer ?"
At last be had the money! 1t had 10.
ken three long. long months to earn It,
but now-twenty.d five cents for carrying
Mr.. billiards bundle, instead of only
ten. ss he had expected, and the two dol
lars we're his.
He stopped on his way home to look
at the Reindeer, hut he did not tell any,
body that he was going to buy it that
very afternoon. Something might hap
pen to prevent; his money might be sto.
len or burnt up before he got home Ter
rifed by The thought be sped home, burst
open the door, tore up stairs-yes,it WAS
safe! He counted it twice to make sure.
Each time il came out two dollars. He
was rushing out again when Margie call
ed him.
Johnnie never could refuse to hear that
plaintive voice.
He turned back to the kitchen. She
sat in the wheeled chair hy the window,
her pale, ,tirei face aglow with some great
excitement.
"Oh, Johnnie. only think !" she cried !;
"Dr. Brown ssvs I can walk il / have
pair of crutches!'
"HoopeeI Hip, hip hurrahi' shouted
Johnnie
"Bat the crntches cost two dollars"
said Margle
1.-TWO dollarsw JOHNNY staggered up
against the wall and stared At her.
"Yes, she went on; 81 heard the doc
tor say 90 to granny. He said he could
get them cheap. Two dollars isn't much
for pair Of crutches, YOU know"
"N-no, it isn't much" assented john
sic woefuIlg. doubling up his little red
fist over the two dollars that had cost
him three months lstor.
"Granny she said the doctor might ss
we'll say ten dollars as two; but I knew
you could earn money. johnnie, so l
thought I'd ask you to save up for that,
after you'd got the Re ndeer,' Of course
o, Johnnie, how nice 1t will be when
can wax! You will sivs up for it, won't
your"
"Y 9, I'll savs up for It," said john
ME, in q queer, choked voice. sI-I
guess III go ont now. Good-by r.
"Good-by! l hope you'll hurry up
and buy the Reindeer" said Mareie,
cheerfully.
Somehow the snow looked dull aud
dead, and the sun SHINE with dim light
after that Johnnie would never have .
sled nov. The coasiing would be gone
long before he could save up another two
dollars, and next winter be would he old
and grav.haired and rheumatic too
old TO care for sleds.
But he did no. hesitate q moment He
went straight in the direction of the doc
tors house.
Rob HilIiard had hurt hi- foot aiding
down hill and Sam May had di-located
his thumb, and thev were both ut the
doctors when johnnie came 10.
"Here's two dollars for my sisters
crutches," he said solemnly.
"Where did you get two dollars, young
man ?" asked the doctor.
"I've been saving it up all winter" be
ans 1ered-then with heart broken sob
Ito buy q e-s-sled!" he added and
burst out Of the house.
Rob looked al Sam, and Sam looked
AZ Rob, and the doctor looked at both OF
them, and then all three began to talk at
once.
II say. Johnnie" said Rob the next
day, "mv fathers got job for you, and
oh the doctor siy stop for the crutches
on your way bcme."
Margie was looking out at the window
and che saw Johnnie walk up the street
in solemn way. quite unlike himself.
No sooner had he disappeared than
dozen boys rushed into the yard, nodded
pleasantly to her and fell 10 work mys-
teriously. Before long . snow man be-
gan to rise on the scene, legs, body,
arms, head Margie watched with breath.
less interest, wondering why they had
chosen her yard to build it in.
HurYah! it was done, and Sam triumph.
sntly placed hat on its head. Not the
shabby, dilspidated bat snow men usual
ly wear, but 9 pretty brown Tam o.
Shanter. Rob 6ung q warm coat grace
fnllv ovor h,a ahoujdera and another hov