Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23
JOHN HENRY's NEW YEAR.


John Henry was boy of not more
than five years of age. He lived in
dark, alley, over which he sometimes
saw the blue sky on the dull clouds,
but oftener only dingy coal smoke.
His mother was a hard worker but she
took pretty good care of him. They
lived alone in q single room. When
she could she took him with her, but it
frequently happened that he was left
alone in the room all day with his din
ner set out for him on the table. On
such occasions he would watch the lit
tie clock patiently, and when the short
hand began to near certain figure he
knew that he had not much longer to
wait and he would press his nose against
the window pane and watch each shad-
.owy figure as it passed.
The day before the New Year seemed
longer than usual. In the first place,
his dinner was scanty and he was hun
CRY when his mother set it out for him
on the little tin plate. As she stopped
TO bid him good-by he noticed tears in
her eyes, and though he said nothing at
the time, he began to wonder as the
day wore on what it all meant. The
hands on the clock never moved so slow
before. He ate his insufficient meal
earlier than usual, and wished there
was another one. Then he thought of
the great stores downtown and the
windows filled with beautiful things,
and wondered If there was no way in
which he could get into them. The
markets and groceries in particular rose
up before him in his vision like Yerita-
bic heavens.
His mind dwelt on what he had seen
only few weeks ago when he was
downtown with his mother-how
early every one they met was carrying
acme huge bundles, and that his mother
told him they contained turkeys for the
Thanksgiving dinners of the rich.
Only few days ago nearly every one
he had seen passing along the streets
was loaded down with large packages
which he was told contained Christmas
presents of toys and other playthings
for children. John Henry did not so
much care for these as he did for some
thing to eat. The pangs of hunger
were superior to the desire for amuse-
ment and his mind reverted to turkeys.
He thought he would know turkey if
he saw one. Then he began to wonder
and think as he never had before. In
some of the long and bitter days and
nights that he had passed with his
mother he remembered that in her
prayers and instruction she had told
him that the great God had said 'sAsk
and We shall receive. F." She had asked
many times and he had seen no return.
He never had asked because he had not
seen anybody to ask, and he wondered
L. l. = - Al
things she asked for when she only
talked into vacancy. Alas, that the
whispered prayers of millions, answer
ed maybe in ways that they know not
OF, should from older lips than this pro-
yoke similar maryeling.
There was only one thing to be done,
he thought, and that he proceeded to
do. 1t was disobedienCe, but he be-
HeYed that his mother when she re-
turned hungry and tired would forgive
him. 1t was plain to his mind that she
had not gone about things in the right
way. Bundling himself up in a we'll
worn shawl, for he had no oyercoat, he
ran down the alley, the frosty air max
ing his little frame quake, and gaining
the brilliantly lighted street he walked
along peering. into windows until he
anne to d market. With his mothers
words ringing in his ears and with a
faith sublime in its simplicity he raised
he latch with difficulty and walking
straight to the big man behind the block
said:
''Wil you please give me a turkey?"
Got any money!"
mo, sir
''Who is it for?"
'For me and mother. =
''Get out of this, you little deviln'
and the man made a motion as if to
chase him. The boy retreated toward
the door and pressed on. In a dozen
places he repeated his query, and as he
grew colder and his teeth began to
halter he made up his mind that per-
maps after all his mother knew best.
Maybe she had tried all these places
and met with no better success than he.
He would have turned back, but he saw
one great market ahead, larger, hand
somer, and more brilliantly lighted
han any he had yet seen. There were
beautiful carriages and horses with liv-
erred drivers In front of it, and through
The frosted windows he could see many
dne ladies and gentleman and some
richly dressed children.
Everybody turned as the queer little
fellow entered, and when his blue lips
parted to ask the oft-used question
everybody heard it.
.sHaye you any money?n was the re-
DIV, but in kinder tone.
Once more the answer came ssNo,''
i'd then, with an effort, 81 have asked
verywhere, and if don't get it now
I'm going home"
The market man looked at him cur
ously, wondering what to make of him.
Vas it a child's freak or was he the
5afty emissary of an older good-for-
uothing-a wolf IN sleeps clothing?
One of the gentlemen who had been
IN interested listener stopped down and
cit of the lad, Withdrawing his hand
quickly and saying: