St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-11
.JOHNNY'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 at that one!' cried Pau. Dud-
ley. "See what nose on himn'
.'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
all the world! See the side crook in
his leg, and the funny red nose?" ?
Paul recognized the likeness in an
equallyfhearty voice.
IF he only had a pipe and stick,
now, and his coat-tails were a 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!
one-horse Shayr"
"Jollyr' cried Paul. "Let's do it!
Come on!'
They entered the stationer's togeth-
er, pointed out the picture they want
cd. 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-office, said Paul.
'.Oh, he'll probably be looking for a
iove-letter about this time of year, !"
replied Ned.
But there's no fun if he doesn't get
it. And we want to know he gets it the
very day, too"
what if we go over to the hill and
leave it at his doorP Then we'll know
he has it. +"
Yes; just slip it under the crack,
and. by the time he has opened it, we
can get out of sight"
mo, Paul; I'll tell you. Well 60 in
great state, knock at 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 at the back door. You car
get yours again ON the way home, !
said Paul.
Johnny Shay was a half-imbecile
.scemingly-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 o.
all tender-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 upor
what he could earn at odd jobs OF wood
saving and other work.
1t was no uncommon thing for the
more bolsterous school-children to fol
low him almost to his own door, with |
refrain that seemed particularly to ex
asperate him: "Shay, Shay. one-horst
.Shayr'
The reason for this was not alto
gether cruel one, as might be sup
posed, but. on the contrary, specie
of play for which Johnny was quite q
responsible as they. He would men
ace them with his stick. mute
threats about shooting them, ant
even turn and give chase when his tor
mentors came too near. II they lie
him pass unmolested. he would call on
at them the very lines he seemed q
much to dislike, as il to challeng
them.
When the boys stopped at Paul
house to leave their books and to 81
their pockets with ginger-snaps, the,