The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-06
FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
FIVE DOLLARS.

WueH JlllS ESQuGS dNOhC ulll lLOlh IHC
reverie in which he had been plunged.
He was perched on top of one of the
high old-fashioned gate-pOsts, so lost
in thought that he had not noticed the
carriage rolling rapidly along the dus-
ty road until it came to a sudden
stop beneath the branches of the old
elm.
Eyes, sir" he answered, scram-
bling down from his perch in
red confusion; and in a few min
utes he had drawn a bucket of cool
water from the old moss-grown well
and brought some to the carriage in the
only glass the modest home afforded.
Jack shyly shutfled his bare feet in
the hot sand while he waited for the
glass, only giving one swift glance at
the occupants of the carriage-an old
lady, with white soft curls framing her
kindly face. a gentleman, and boy
about jacks own size, but as different
from the sturdy, bare-legged, sun
burned boy as daintily clad delicate
invalid could be.
"Much obliged" and the carriage
went on its way again, while Jack
turned the silver dime the gentleman
had dropped in the glass over and over
in his brown hand.
.Oh! if | could only get a dollar
somehow" he said, presently Inns
is a start toward it, but l know Ill
never get the rest in time. faint no
use trying; I might as well give up at
once. Things amt fair in this world
nohow. That boy in the carriage has
every thing he wants, and | can't have
any thing
The usually bright, boyish face was
wrinllled up into an expression OF dis
content as Jack compared his lot with
that of the little invalid in the carriage
forgetting the story of suffering that
the crutches told. As he turned toward
the cate, he saw something that looked
like a crumpled bit Of green paper lying
in the road. STOPPING down, he picked
it up; and as be opened it with trem-
bling fingers, he gave a long, low
whistle of delight and incrcdulity.
Five dOllarsi just at the very time
when he had been wishing so earnestly
for some money, or the way to earn 1t.
He turned two or three somcrsaults by
way of working off the eXubcrance Of
his delight. and then he perched him
selfon the gate-post again to spread his
treasure out, and accustom himself TO
the possession of his new riches.
81 suppose some one in that carriage
must have dropped it," he said to him
self when he began to reflect upon the
manner in which the bill had so oppor-
tunely come into his possession. With
this thought came another one that
Jack strove instinctively to Danish with
out paying it any heed. He had no
business to keep the money, for it did
not belong to him; he must return it to
its owner.
81 won't" Jack said angrily to him
self, with a stubborn look on his face.
Ifound it, and it's mine, and I'm 60
ing to keep it, sou
Thief! their
Jack started guiltily. 1t was only a
cat-bird swaying on the branches of the
elm, and looking down at the boy with
its inquisitive black eye. Jack flung
his brimless hat at it in his irritation.
For a long half-hOur he sat on the
gate-post, while the sunbeams filtered
down through the waving leaves, and
fell in shimmering fecks of light upon
the brown curls. A hard battle was be-
ing waged between desire and duty.
This money meant so much to him, but
was it worth stealing?
mo, sir!" rang out in clear, emphatic
tones at last; and Jack swung himself
down with look of determination, re-
covered his dilapidatcd headgear, and
started off for Rose Villa, a dusty walk
OF two miles.
The summer afternoon was drawing
to a close. as Jack opened the iron gate,
and walked slowly up the graveled
walk. He was hot and dusty, and tired
too; for he had had to fight against
temptation all the way.
The family were sitting on the front
porch, as Jack, with a red face, came
up, and held out the bill he had been
tightly clasping ever since he left
home.
Here's your money, sir. You
dropped it when the carriage stopped
in front of our house this afternoon.
Leastways, l guess you did, for found
it as soon as you had gone"
There was a peculiar expression up
on the gentleman's face as he glanced
at the bill.
''And so you took this long walk to
return lost property" he said, looking
keenly at Jack; Ibid you start as soon
as you found it?"
"No, sir!" confessed Jack bravely
IL meant to keep it first, but then |
thought better of it. l was just want
ing some money so bad that it was aw-
full hard TO bring ii back"
'What did you want it for?n the gem
tleman asked. not unkindly.
II wanted to get some books, so l
could go to school next term" an
swered Jack. II thought this after
noon, if / could only get a dollar |
.yo,,1J craf Coma oapdina opd tl,iorre