South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-04-27

How Johnnie Went to School.
BY NARY A. PoRrERFlBLD.
Little John worked in a barrel
factory in the thriving town OF
E.. in Pennsylvania.
& PilinG staves OF rolling barrels
all day long is not very agreeable
work, but Johnnie did not GRIM
BILE; no. inde ed, be was too happy
to get even the hardest work to do.
He wanted to 60 TO school and his
aunt had said if he could save nlon-
ey enough to buy hooks and clothes
be might 60. He was deligh
with this permission. and clattered
down sta: re three steps at time to
hunt up Fat, bis friend and conf
dant, who would double his hap.
piness by shariLg it.
~ Pat was newsboy on the rail.
road. q CHEEKY good nstured Irish
lad whose mother had died years
ago, when. he was but blue-eyed
baby. The new mother that came
into the little whltewashed cabin
By the railroad was too busy with
her pigs, her garden and her own
little ones to pay much attention
to Pat at frat; though by.and.by!
che thought there was no room for
him in the little home Poor Pat!
he had hard time finding any
place where there was any room
tor him. At last Johnnie persua.
ded the forsaken Irish boy to share
hls bed. They had been firm
friends, sharing their boyish griefs
and joys with the complete gym
pathy Of childhood; they were bro
theirs IN heart if not in name.
Johnnie and Fat we're indus.
trious contented and happy. Dur.
ing the day they worked on the
cars and in the factory, but in the
evening the kind aunt taught them
the common school studies. Both
boys eagerly longed for the time
when they could enjoy fuller ad.
vantages tor education.
Pat saw bis way but din,ly but
Johnnie's happiness seemed near
at hand. 1t WIS q touching sight
to see the two Toys once week
bring cut their store Of savings.
No miser ever thrilled at the eight
and touch of heaps of gold as those
two boys at THEN paltry handful of
silver and copper.
1t was about month before
school began and yet johnnie had
not saved quite the desired amount.
One evening lie came rushing
home waving his hat and dinner
pail to his aunt who stood in the
doorway.
oh, auatle. l have enough now,
he shouted joyfully.
Her motion for silence and the
look on her face lowered his glad
voice.
What is the matter? Are you ill.,?
Has anything happened TO PATTI he
hurriedly asked.
Come in aud cit down and
will tell YOU she replied.
A strange sickening odor of
some drug filed the house; there
was an unusual stir in the front
room. Jobunie's heart sank With
in him. lie listened with terror
stricken face to the terrible uews.
An accident on the road Pat was
hurt; they were amputating his
arm; they feared he would die.
His face grew winter and whittier
as each detail OF the horror grew
upon his mind. He buried his
face IN his hands and sat motion.
less for long time.
After time he went softly into
the house, into the room where
Pat still lay unconscious.
pat, dear Pat he sobbed, lay.
ing his wet face against the one
colorless hand.
Here he remained until he heard
the doctors step IN the hall, when
he withdrew to- the shadow of the
curtain dreading yet longing to
hear his words. How his heart
leaped with JOY to know that Pat
might live, though a cripple. Ills
red, dashing f'rolicsome Pat Grip.
pie.
All night long Johnnie sat with
his eyes on the palid young face.
lie was trying to think out some
plan for helping him. A firm.
happy look dawbed on his grave
thoughtful face lie seemed TO
have solved part Of bis hard prob.
lem.
Toward morning Pat opened
his eyes and looked around in a
dazed sort of way. lie tried to
rise bat too weak. Slowly he re.
called the accident, the pain aud
the darkness. What came them?
Looking around in a wistful man
er he saw Johnnie's big eyes shin
ming on him through falling tears.
lie moved his left hand round to
~ Al Il