, 1888-12-13
A STORY OF JIM.

II was bleak, clustering, early morn
ing in November. The winds were busy
with the fallen leaves, 0ambolinR among
them like lot OF frolicsome puppies, wor.
rying 20 nething because they were cutting
their teeth, rather than intent to do mis-
chief.
| 81 saw sky full of moons last night
in my dreams" said Roly to his mother,
as he drew on his mittens before the kitch-
en- fire and gave himself u preparatory
! toast before starting out for the city.
| Whats it a sign Off"
"A sign you re late and better hurry"
said Mrs. Kinks.
20, mother how practical you are. But
| that's as good sign as any; here goes,
| good bye" And Rolly set the excitable
candle to flickering and sputtering at the
Whit OF frosty air which rushed in as he
went out
The peighbors all called Rolly cold, and
some even said he was ''little queer"
Certainly he was quaint, genial fellow,
full OF pleasantly and good humor, and
with certain stock of imagination which
cropped out now and then in dreams and
what not, appearing droll enough in man
who was only small farmer, 35 years old
and unmarried. he had been formally
christened Roland, but had always been
Cdileu oy Jue OdUy ululnuUlNe, WNlCu ulu
not trouble him in the least.
Rolly was poet. One of the speechless
sort-it's pity we don't have more Of
them whose soul was full of beauty,
whose eye always caught and appreciated
every one of natures varying moods. He
was poet who lacked expression; an ar
tist who conld not transfer to canvas; q
philanthropist who had only his good
heart and strong hand to assist the world
with; u preacher whose sermons never ma
terialized and took the form of speech.
As he toppled out of the house-Rolly
always had the appearance of topping, be-
ing possessed of u very large head, IA very
small body and pair of very long legs,
which always seemed to have a tendency to
throw off the trunk-and toppled into his
little produce wagon, he appeared to be
about as whimsical and good-natured a
body as one ever beheld. Nor was this
impression made any the less
strong when he turned and shouted
back with his full.lunged, hearty
voice:
'.lhey were all new moons, mother"
Mrs. Kinks threw out the dish water
emphatically, and shook her head after
the rattling wagon, half in perplexity and
half in disgusted amusement.
IA sky full of new moons! Now that
boy'll be thinkin' bout them new moons
all day, an like as not somebody'll over
reach him. BE just like him." continued
she, little mixed in her metaphor, "be
just like him! orter went too. But
can't be in two places't tn same time, p"
and Mrs. Klinks heaved despairing
sigh.
Mrs. Kinks, in common with many an.
other mother, cherished the delusion that
her offspring had not yet grown up. He
was always--and always would be--"that
boy to her. How many child would be
endowed with perennial youth If time
only reckoned years as mother does!
Rolly ratified along at a round pace. the
ponies making II merry rustling among the
dead leaves. Ii was not yet break of day,
and promised nothing in the way of a
glorious SUNRISE or bright hours to follow.
Ten miles to Kansas City and ten miles
back. Rag seemed to understand the
gravity of the situation, but Tag. being q
friskS and self'opined pony, made occa-
| sional futile attempts at excursions into
| the iids. and twinkling his small heels in
disgust at their failure. This same small
Span of ponies had been purchased by
Rolly at auction. greatly to his mother 8
dismay, Her ejaculation on seeing them
had christened as comical a span as ever
frisked Through life.
wall! II you amt got rag'tag and
uOU'lukt dU ldSb.
And Roily, serene soul. had roared out
a cheerful appreciation Of the joke, and
called them from thst time forth Rag and
Tag.
The gray day was creeping over the city,
and Rolly. discovered, grayer than the day
itself. and creeping as slowly out OF the
barrel as day was over the hills and
houses, q ragged mite of boy. who
laboriously got himself into q half-erect
posture and shook himself, as dog does
coming out of water, thereby difusing o
cloud of 6ne dust and ashes into the air,
and eliciting snort of astonishment and
disspproval from the alert Tag.
my stars!" exclaimed Rolly, utterly
aghast at this spectacle. IL required q
minute or two for him to recover sufficient
" TO frame question. The boy, with
the composure Of the Ramin. was the first
TO recover himself
Jimmy, amt it cold. though" And
then, in growing distrust of Rolly's pro-
longed stare. he muttered. resentfullW
Say, mister wot yer givin' us. blinkin
ye. peepees at a feller that wayY"
Rolly recovered sufficiently at the sound
of his voice TO ask how he came IN that
barrel.
10 my eye! he wants ter kno' how
com in ther. 0, was invited in ther by
tn president. | was H."
The impudepce Of this aud the manner
in which it was said. would have rufiied