St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-04-18
Written for the Californian
JACKS EASTER.

This exclamation was made by a lit
| tie fellow not more than ten years
old He was a newsboy, for he had
his package of papers under his arm,
| but such a sorrowful looking little
boy-poor, both in body and cloth
ing, his jacket and pants ragged and
his piece of cap which was perched
on top of the curly hair looked as
though it had parted company with
the original one, and was trying to
do its duty in small way, while the
| boots which our newsboy wore, were
almost beyond description, large,
so large, that to look at them made
you wonder if the owner could ever
find his feet after they had once dis
appeared in the depths. He made an
almost laughable appearance as he
stood there, but you could not help
pitying such a forlorn little person
age From the piece OF a cap to the
turned up toes of his boots he looked
what he was, a ragged newsboy
without a home or any one to care
for him. He had ceased his cry of
"Her-ald, Globe and Record" for
a few moments and stood looking at
the florists windows that were filled
with exquisite flowers. Among them
was large cluster of Easter lilies. AS
it was the Saturday before Easter,
there were many of these flowers. 1t
was this special cluster which had
caused the exclamation from our lit
tie boy.
A policeman was about to tell him
to "move on; don't stand there in
everybodys' way" when two young
ladies came out of the store. Their
hands were filled with beautiful flow
ers and as they turned to go down
the street the hurrying mass of peo-
pie caused one of the ladies to drop a
few of her blossoms. She was pass
ing on unconscious of her loss but the
little fellow, who had been near
sprang forward and caught them be-
fore they could be stepped on, and
rushing down the street came up
against the young ladies with such
more of their flowers. Heres your
flowers, Miss. They amt hurt much
l guess, painted the little boy. The
young lady said to her friend 'Oh
Fannie, my Easter lilies; they are al
most ruined, just see. How could
you be SO careless boy, as to get them
so dirty, but no wonder, just see
your hands" And without even
thank you she took the lilies and
walked on
"Oh my !" said the little boy
Amt she big feelin', most wish
had let her go and kept the flowers
No | don't either, they don't belong
to me, but weren't they pretty? |
wish l could have such flowers. She
said my hands were dirty. | wonder
if hers would be clean if she had to
sleep on bed of straw in a stable
and then stand out doors and sell
papers all day. | can't seem to sell
any today and my feet are awful
tired. My boots are so big | just
walk two steps i'll them while | go
one on the sidewalk. There man :;
l wonder if he won't buy paper,
Herald, SIR A tall portly man
was walking leisurely down the street
and as he saw the boy, said, Yes,
will take one, but you better go home
and wash your face and hands," and
on went the gentleman evidently
thinking he had done a charitable
deed in buying a paper and giving
advice. But the boy thought differ
emily and he said 'Oh, my; what a
big man, believe my boots would
fit him, but | guess he would get his
face dirty if he did not have any soap
and could not sell papers enough to
buy any" Here comes that gentle
man who said a pleasant word to me
IL Il 1 4 - Il. L,
say my face is dirty, Have a paper,
sir p"
Rev H. Dillon would inspire conf
dence in anyone. He caused the
members of his congregation to say,
''they always wanted to watch his
face, so as not to lose one word of
his sermons" He was tall and
slender with a fine countenance and
pleasing manner. His face was
lighted with a smile as he came
toward the little newsboy and in
answer to his question said, 'Thank
you, will take q Herald. This is a
fine day my little friend, isn't it? Is
trade pretty good? Walk down the
to talk with you, but first please tell
me your name then can talk bett ter"
'Newsboy Jack, sir, that is what
they call me, | don't know as | ever
had any other"
"Well, Jack, have you found any
better success in your business than
when | saw you before? ~
mo, sir l mostly don't have good
luck, l don't know why. don't like
to sell papers very well-Oh, my!
lust see them flowers"
They were near a church and
wagon loaded with plants in full
bloom was being relieved of its con-
tents at the church door. Mr.. Dill
Ion smiled as he saw the eager little
face, and said to himself, Il believe
there is a gem under that dirty exte-
rior The little fellow has the bright
est eyes and is fit for something l
know" Then he said to the boy,
do you like flowers, Jack? Come
to church tomorrow and see all these
flowers together and hear the music
and also what the minister has to
say. 1t will be Easter Sunday. You
don't know what that means do you,
we'll, come tomorrow and find out,
won't you ~
ooh, my And see all those flowers,
do you really mean it mister? |
come and see them. | never did be-
fore. l don't know how, can | go
with your"
Il will tell you how" returned the
gentleman, you get some of your
friends to come with you, tell them
it is Easter Sunday and they can see
the flowers and all the rest about it.
l cannot come with you but | will
see you after you get there. Now,
good by. | am going in here to help