The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-02-10
JOHNNY'S VALENTINE.
Tho Great Change Wrought By
Acts Of Kindness.


Two boys stopped in front of shop
window, which was hung with lines o.
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 oner' cried Paul bud.
ley. ''Sce what 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 momen,
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, 70,
all the world! See the side crook in
his leg, and the funny red nose?'
Paul recognized the likeness in an
equally hearty voice.
If he only had pipe and stick,
now, and his coat-tails were little
longer! But it's pretty good of him as
it is"
Suppose we get it. and send it tc
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"
''Jolly!' cried Paul. Lets do it
Come on!''
They entered the stationer's togeth.
or, pointed out the picture they want.
ed. and gieefully put it in 4 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-o:ice." said Paul.
''Oh. he'll probably be looking for .
love-lettcr about this time of year,
replied Ned.
But there's no fun if he doesn't ge,
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 door? Then Wen know
lie has il"
''Yes; just slip it under the crack.
and, by the time he has opened it, we
can get out of sight"
'.No. Paul; Til tell you. Wen 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 can
get yours again on the way home,
said Paul.
Johnny Shay was a half-imbecile,
secmingly-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 tender-hearted people who could
comprehend his misfortunes. He lived
with his old mother in 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 bolsterous school-children to fol-
low him almost to his own door. with a
refrain that seemed particularly to ex-
asperatc him: SHAY, Shay. one-horse
Shayr'
Tho reason for this was not alto
gether cruel one. as might be sup
posed, but, on the contrary, species
of play for which Johnny was quite as
responsible as 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
at them the very lines he seemed SO
much to dislike, as 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 dis room a minute and wrote
on the outside of the big envelope:
ITO Johnny Shay. Esq. from ST. Valentine -
1t was almost shutdown 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 effer-
resced. although they were painting
and rudy with their brisk walk.
What dingy little den!' said
Paul. Il should think he'd freeze to
death"
mo. he has . fire; there's smoke