Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-03-06

About a quarter to he had sold out
and then as fast as his feet would carr,
MN, he hurried TO the neighborhood o
the Academy of Music TO watch tn,
people go into the building. 1t wa
| opera night, and this was one O
tommy greatest pleasures, and 81
with MS back to the lamp post, he CAV,
himself up to the delight of watching
the throHg. Johnny wondered what il
would DO like to drive around in luxuri.
GUS carriages, and have plenty of.money
TO spend on fine clothes. He thought
OF the Tread and herring he had eaten
Tor his supper, and tried to imagine
what 1t would be like to have TURKEY
and cranberry sauce every day. Every
Christmas Johnny had turkey and Gran.
perry sauce for his dinner, and he knew
by experience how nice they were. lie
nad ridden in an ambulance with a
friend OF nis--a new5boy, who had been
run over by au express wagon, and this
was the nearest approach to carriage
ride he had ever en- loved
lie wondered, as he watched these
happy, gaily-dressed people, why it was
tnat some people had all they wanted
While Others were cold and hungry, and
sometimes starved to death. This was
not the first time that Johnny had been
perplexed with such thoughts, but the,
mad never made him feel quite SO un.
comfortable as on this occasion. He
called to mind the warm underclothine
and tidy jacket and pants which Miss
Lee mad given him that day, and tried
TO comfort himself with the thought
that there was one p rson in the world
who cared for him.
There had been heavy fall of snow
that day, and as Johnny, still ab.
soroed with his thoughts. started to
cross the street, he saw somethin
sparkle In the snow at the side If the
crossing. There had been rush O
carriages, and few had not been abb,
to pull up to the curb. As he picked h
up ne saw that it was an ornament in
the shape of cross, and studded with
diamonds TTTf~~ 80
.ohnny knew they were sinners. IA he
called them. as soon as he looked Al
them, so with his heart in his throat he
tucked the precious Jewel in his pocket.
still holding it firmly in his hand
Jonnnys ambition was to start coffee
and cake establishment whore the news
boys could be entertained at low rates
FOR more than a. year he had
nursed this OBJ oct, and here was
chance to carry it into execution. There
were nine, stones in the cross. Dis.
posing OF one at time to avoid sus.
plcion, here was money enough to last
him years and years, he told himself.
1t puzzled him to know where he could
keep the sinners, for there wasn't
soul among his acquaintance whom
nc dare trust with the secret. u OF
until he had crept into his poverty
stricken bed, with his treasure carefully
hid len among the straw, did the thought
occur that he ought to try and find an |
owner for it. Then followed hard bat
Tile between the natural honesty of thu |
lad and his very natura, desire fol
creature comforts.
The person who could wear q gold
thing like that 'chock full OF sinners
ne said to himself, must have money |
enough to buy more sinners. Here bc |
was, cold and hungry, with no prospect
before him but to be always hungry, il
not always cold; and here were these
sinners which would set him up in
business and give him chance to helr
The boys. Why should he find the owner
u the cross when he had nothing anG
he owner had everythingl This fight
continued until it was time for the Ia6
o start for the morning papers, All
through the busiest part Of the forenoon
he battle still ragged, and the |
lewsboy's thoughts were 80 oc
upied with his new-found richie,
hat ne almost forgot to attend to his
ustomers. About half past 10, as he
,,assed City Hall park, he noticed a gen
leman, and as he heard the words
diamond cross spoken, Johnny slack.
ned his pace and listened.
The diamonds were all of the first
7ater," the gentleman said: lit was q
itt to my wife from her father and she
terribly cut up by the loss. don't
oppose we shall ever find it"
"a on will advertise it, won't you?''
is companion inquired.
oh, OF course" the gentleman re
lied, but more than likely it has fallen
ITO dishonest hands, and unless the
eward is equal to the value of the
iamonds we shall never see them. .
When the gentlemen separated the
ne who was interested in the diamonds
1tered the city hall, and after little
lquiry, Johnny discovered that this
9ntleman held very honorable Office
the city department. After finding /
lis out tho lad took turn round the {
ark to think it over again.
Granny Leeds said | was q oTscour. 6
g, and Hiss Lee says | ain t." he ar
led to himself. If keep these shin. :
$ granny i DO right and Miss Ieell :
wrong. She said the Lord was Civ I
g me chance to make something of +
yself. Well, now, the question is, am +
Or am not a o securing If keep f
ese sinners am, if give them up, f
amt. Well, | amt and with these +
oris on his lips. Johnny started for h
g gentleman's Office. Nothing daunted E
entered, and presented himself at the I
SIX. '''O
Some of your folks have lost some
ing, amt they" he asked.
They have" said the gentleman.
viii your honor Tell me what it is y
e?" 80 J
1T is a gold cross set with diamonds, u
d the gentleman described the rela. L
n Al