Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-06-04
THE STOLEN RIDE.


Made Restitution.
Two or three years ago.. when [ was
a hitler boy than l am now, l thought
nothing was much nicer than ride on
the horse-cars, especially if l was sent
off somewhere alone on an errand.
That made me feel very big and old.
One day, when l was sent down to
Aunt Ph9be's to get a pattern for
mamma, the conductor forgot to take
my five cents. 1 had it all ready in my
hand, but he never looked my way at
all.
I didn't get five cents to spend as
often as wanted it, and it popped into
my head q s'pose old Satan put it
there) that could have that money for
candy.
1.-The conductor ought to look out for
his fare, and if he doesn't, guess I've
a good right to keep it," said to my
self. Oh, of course knew better, but
you see wanted the candy so!
There was boy knew on the car.
At least, knew him little. He had
just come to live on our street. His
name was Willy Loring. He was some
bigger than I, a nice boy. wondered
if he saw the conductor pass me. by, and
what he would think about it.
Pretty soon got off the car. Willy
got off at the same place. l wanted to
get acquainted and be good friends
with him, so said: ''Come in the store
with me and I'll treat. l got my ride
for nothing this time.
..You didp How that?'' Willy asked,
staring hard at me.
The conductor didn't see me-. Come
on and we'll have some candy"
I shan't forget very soon how Willy
looked at me.
s.Sold yourself cheap, didn't you? 1
wouldn't be thief for only five cents.
No, thank you, I don't care for any of
your candy he said.
He turned and ran down the next
street, and left me standing there, oh,
how shamed and mortified.
"a thief for only five cents!'' s'Sold
myself cheap!" Who bought me? 1t
couldn't be anybody but Satan. kept
thinking it over all the way home, and
all the evening till went to bed, so
that couldn't play worth cent, and
my little sister Helen beat me at fox
and-g geese every time
mamma, what is stealingp" asked,
while she was tuckinng me up in bed.
..But want you to tell me exactly
what you think it isl said.
II think it is taking what doesn't be-
long to you," mamma said.
The ride on the horse-car certainly
didn't belong to me till paid for it. /
didn't put down the track, nor buy the
horses, nor make the car. Then I stole.
l was just what Willy Loring said: "a
thief for only five cents"
wasn't at all comfortable; I thought
I should never get to sleep. | laid
awake, tumbling and tossing about
five or six hours. At any rate, it seemed
as long as that. But l dropped off at
last and slept till broad daylight.
woke with bad feeling. I hated
to meet papa at breakfast, though /
knew he didn't think of such thing
as his boy being thief didn't get
rid of my miserable feelings that day
or the next. l was kind of sick at the
stomach every time l thought of what
Willy Lo-ing said.
Thursday night papa got home early,
and we were sitting alone by the parlor
fire. He looked so kind and good that
gathered up all my courage and
asked:
"Papa, what would you do, if you
wanted to find a car-conductor, and
didn't know his name, nor anything
about him only that he had scar on
his face close to the corner of his eye?''
OF course papa asked what l wanted
to see the conductor for, and finally got
the whole story. l was rather glad to
tell him, for 1 thought he would help
me out of my trouble. And he did He
didn't scold, or even stare at me, as
Willy Loring did, as if he'd never think
of me as a decent kind of boy again.
He put his arm round me, and wiped