Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-02-10
J0HNNY'S VALENTINE.
The Great Change Wrought by
Acts of Kindness.


Two boys stopped in front of shop
window, which was hung with lines OF
grotesque pictures.
They were on their way home from
school, and loitered and fingered in
sheer enjoyment of the fresh, soft air.
Look ut that onel'' cried Paul Dud-
ley. "Scc what a nose on him!"
"And look at the curls on that piano
player! | can just hear her bang" said
Ned Wallace.
They ran over the whole list of comic
Valentines, amused for the moment
because there happened TO be nothing
else at hand to divert them.
Presently, Ned broke out with an
eager laugh.
There's little old Johnny Shay, for
nil the world! See the side crook in
his leg, and the funny red nosce"
Paul recognized the likeness in an
equally hearty voice.
IF he only had pipe and stick,
now, and his coat-tails were u little
longer! But it's pretty good of him as
it is.
Suppose we get it, and send it to
himP" suggested Ned, gaily. "How
hopping mad he'd be! He'd shake his
cane at us worse than he does now,
when we sing after him, SHAY! Shay!
pnc-horse ShayH"
"Jollyr cried Paul. Lets do it!
Come onr'
They entered the stationcr's togeth-
er, pointed out the picture they want
ed, and gleefully put itin large, white
envelope. The question then arose be-
tween them how to get it to Johnny
Shay.
"Of course, he never goes to the
post-oilice,n said Paul.
"Oh, he'll probably be looking for q
love-lettcr about this time of year."
replied Ned.
but there sno fun if he doesn't get
it. And we want 10 know he gets it the
very day, too"
"What if we go over to the hill and
leave it at his door? Then wen know
he has it, -
"Ycs; just slip it under the crack,
can get out of sight"
mo, Paul; I'll tell you. Well 90 in
great state, knock ut the door, and de-
liver it with sober faces and very polite
bows. We can tell him the President
sent it,"
And they laughed at each new sug-
gestion, that seemed to make their
frolic merrier
I'm run down our alley and leave
our books Mt the back door. You can
get yours again on the way home,"
said Paul.
Johnny Shay was n half-imbecilc,
seemingly-old man, who had for years
been given TO wandering about the
town, the butt of boy mischief, the
dread of little children, and the pity of
all tcndcr-hearted people who could
comprehend his misfortunes. He lived
with his old mother in a small, brown
house just at the limit of the village,
partly upon charity and partly upon
what he could earn at odd jobs of wood
saving and other work.
1t was no uncommon thing for the
more boisterous school-children to fol-
low him almost to his own door, with n
refrain that seemed particularly to ex-
asperate him: "Shay, Shay, one-horse
Shayi"
The reason for this was not alto
gether a cruel one, as might be sup
posed, but, on the contrary, n species
Of play for which johnny was quite as
responsible rs they. He would men
ace them with his stick, mutter
threats about Shooting them, and
even turn and give chase when his tor
mentors came too near. If they let
him pass unmolested, he would call out
ut them the very lines he seemed so
much to dislike, MS If to challenge
them.
When the boys stopped at Paul's
house to leave their books and to fill
their pockets with ginger-snaps, they
ran up to his room n minute and wrote
on the outside of the big envelope:
'To Johnny Shay, ESQ, from St. Valentine"
1t was almost sundown when they
came to the lonely vacant lots between
the scattered houses of the outskirts
and the side hill where Johnny's house
stood apart by itself. BY that time
much of their fine spirits had efler-
vesced. although they were painting
and rnddy with their brisk walk.
What dingy little denr' said
Paul. ~ should think he'd freeze to
DEATH"
mo, he has q fire; there's smoke
coming out of the chimney. I'd like a
peep inside. It's about as big as dog
Kennel"
The light from the west shone in the
patched windows with glow as If
there might be cozy comfort within.
But the show of warmth from n west
crn sun is short-liyed. 1t seemed to
fade out all at once. The path lead
ing to the door was but poorly beaten,
and Ned laughed as he detected marks
of Johnny's stick at either side in the
snow.
you could tell it was lame man
that made track like this" said Ned
Paul had the envelope slipped just
inside the breast Of his oyercoat, aud