Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-12-23
John HENRY'S NEW YEAR.

John Henry was boy of not more
than five years of age. He lived in a
dark, alley, over which ne sometimes
saw the blue sky on the dull clouds,
brt oftener only dingy coal smoke.
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
sucb occasions he would watch the lit
tle 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 ewes, and though he said nothing at
the time, he began to wonder rs 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 filed with beautiful things,
and wondered if there was no way in
which he could get into them. The
markets and groceries particular rose
up before him in his vision like verita-
bic heavens.
His mind dwelt on what he had seen
only few weeks ago when he was
downtown with his mother-how
nearly every one they met was carrying
home huge bundles, and that his mother
told him they contained turkeys for the
Thanksgiving dinners of the rich.
Only q 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-
meut 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 "Ask
and We shall receive" She had asked
Nd ho hoI
He never had asked because he had not
seen anybody to ask, and he wondered
how his mother could expect to get the
things She .tsked 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 marveling.
There was only one thing to be done,
ne thought, and that he proceeded to
90 1t was disobedience, but he be-
Heyed that his mother when she re-
turned hungry and tired would forgive
MN. 1t was plain to his mind that she
mad not gone about things in the right
way, Bundling himself up in we'll
Worn shawl, for he had no overcoat, he
ran down the alley, the frosty air max
ing MS little frame quake, and gaining
'4e brilliantly lighted street he walked
along peering into windows until he
came to a market With his mother
words ringing in his ears and with a
l9i4 sublime in its simplicity he raised
'ie latch with difficulty and walking
straight TO the big man behind the block
VIII YOU please give me turkey?'
'Iot any moneypn
mo, SIR"
Who is it forP"
for me and mother.
wet out of this, you little devll!'
auu lhe man made a motion as if TO
,l'a>e him. The boy retreated toward
,Ie door and pressed on. In dozen
faces he repeated his query, and as he
sSe" colder and his teeth began to
natter he made up his mind that per-
1SSlN alter all his mother knew best.
'i'' oe she bad tried all these places
II f.N met with no better success than he.
would have turned back, but he saw
~ great market ahead, larger, hand
1eI and more brilliantly lighted
se eaa any he had yet seen. There were
,-' @I'i nI carriages and horses with liv-
NV 5's4 drivers in front of it. and through
5 H.. oSted windows he could see many
riel ,.-gles and gentleman and some
s.! dressed children.
'e1"-g BODY turned as the queer little
nav nav en'ered, and when his blue Fps
80. To ask the oft-used question
Il, Gpody heard it.
DIV ' KY You any money! was the re-
r. sui % q kinder tone
, qn We more the answer came mo
the ~ .ugA With an effort, Il have asked
In l., ".here, and if don't get it now
~ gong home"
MI -Ie market man looked at him cur
WY, wondering what to make of him.
M. ! child's freak or was he the
16,.5 emissary of an older good-for-
GA wolf in sleeps clothing?
Is n 81 the gentlemen who had been
~ 1 \. listener stopped down and
MAX ne lad Withdrawing his hand
MY and saying: