Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-23

Mother and me wants il" came in
a piping voice. eve amt got any,
and mothers at work, and [ thought
maybe I'd get one if I asked for it. =
$50 you shall. So you SHALL" said
the man. ''Give me the biggest bird
you've got, Tom, right away, and I'll
take it home with this child at once"
The turkey that was made ready
| looked bigger than John Henry, and
when the three were in the carriage the
coachman drove rapidly downtown. 1t
was a great day for John Henry. He
answered his companion S questions as
| best he could, but he kept close watch
on the streets and alleys. Finally the
buildings began to look familiar, and
be at last broke out with
'"Here it is! Here it is! Please stop
him and I'll run home"
The gentleman stopped the carriage;
got out and helped the boy down the
dreary alley to his cherries room. The
fire in the cook stove had burned low
and the room was dark. The man
| lighted the lamp which his little COM
panion gave him and was evidently
pleased to witness the tidy though bar
rem aspect Of the place. John Henry's
| mother had not returned, which 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. / 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 thought he
heard his mothers footsteps, but they
died away on the pavement. He was
hungry and cold and impatient. A
dozen times he moved his chair up to
/ the little clock and felt of the hands. It
was getting late-later than usual for
his mother to be out, and he began to
feel a choking sensation. What if she
| should not come? OF what use would
be big uncooked turkey to a small
boy shivering with the exposure he had
undergone and weak from hunger?
| just as he had about made up his
mind that she had been lost and would
never come back the door opened, and
dark figure entered.
''Oh, mamma! mother! I'm glad
you've come. I'm hungry and cold. ~
yes; my child, we are both hungry
and cold, but am helpless. [ waited
| for my money to-day long time, but
didn't get it and then [ 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
checks. In after years if he remem-
bers that hour he viii know what that
long, lingering pressure meant, the ST.
lence that was more eloquent than
| words.
| Not 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 explain?
| Presently he said: eve have got a
turkey.n
mo, we cannot have a turkey, John
ny, was the reply, "but we will have
something else right away. I will go
out now and get it."
''But | say we've got one now," ssid
John Henry, jumping down from her
lap. Its 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 it? Who brought it
here?"
Her 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
kept them and asked and asked and
asked ever SO many times, until finally
l found man who gave it to me and
brought it here. [ 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 / did it. 1 won't any more"
The mother leaFned 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 Rugged him,
laughed and cried.
'sWhat could have put it into your
head to be beggar? My child, it was
begging to do that, and we have never
begged before
He said nothing for minute and
then answered: you taught me to
pray and have said that if we would
ask we would receive. [ did ask and
God kept his word.n
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, 0 We 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
HaDy.yv who oO11l6 caaroo1u 1a1iova