The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-08-22

Ana up the stairs, two at time, h,
went. The Office staggered Joe. Clerk
to the right of him, clerks to the left O
him, and high railing to keep on
common folks" like himself. Joe re
membered that in the army privates UNI
covered their heads when they came into
officers quarters, and off went his shabby
hat "Can I see Mr.. Johnson2" he
asked, looking at all the clerks in turn.
"He is busy just now answered lit
tic man, peering over his big books.
Take a seat, and when he's at liberty
I'll tell him."
It seemed hours to Joe and the per.
spiration stood in great beads over his
face.
"Now," said the man, ncome on, you
can go in" and opening door into ar
inner Office he ushered in Joe.
But one quick look was enough fol-
him. there, seated at his desk and facing
Joe, sat the man with the "yellow
wheels"
"Come in" said the man kindly; but
roe fairly grasped the door knob for
support. "What can do for you9"
"Don't you know me2" gasped Joe.
~ am sorry to say do not, replied
the man.
elbows them wheels9" moaned Joe
''them yeller wheels l mashed up on the
avenue, and the hata"
ooh, are you the MANI" inquired the
other.
~ was the man, but amt no more,
you bet; and if you'll tell me what's the
damage I'd like to settle"
"And you've come down for thatn'
asked his enemy.
ooh, moi" said Joe, conscious that he
hadn't cent in his pockets. "Ive most
| forgot what have come for, seeing as its
you" You could have overturned Joe
with feather and the man with the
"yellow wheels wore a puzzled sort of
look.
III see," said the man, getting up from
his desk; "but it seems to me you're a
little late. l had almost forgotten the
whole thing; in fact, you not only made
my wheels look pretty badly, but you
spoiled my hat and you upset me for a
long time"
"Good Lord" said Joe, ~ didn't see
you spilled OUT
81 was only mentally upset." rejoined
his enemy. II haven't been very strong,
and used to drive for exercise. If had
your physique 1 would have annihilated
you, then and there"
"If you'd a-had to pay for my ply
sique,'" said Joe, thinking of all the
doctors bills and the patent medicines he
had bought for the little woman. eff
you'd a-had to pay them bills you
wouldn't want my physique; altho' it's
the woman as doses, not me, he con-
tinued.
Something about Joe interested the
man. He looked at him and at his
watch, and, coming close to Joe, he sat
down beside him. "Tell me-" he began
-"tell me what brought you here"
And Joe began stammeringly, haltingly
at first, but growing more and more elo-
quent, more and more earnest as he went
on, the sad, white face of the little woman
peering into his thoughts and into his
words as if she stood beside him. And
he told the homely story of his life.
~ hated them wheels!" said Joe. GIVE
told you all. We're poor; she's always
a-wishing for that corner lot; she always
says if sshe could have it she'd just live
and be well; and every time had sort
of talk with her, every time she'd sorter
wish for that lot, and broke me all up,
I'd go out and allus, allus" said Joe,
"meet you,and them wheels, them 'yeller
wheels And somehow thought it was
them wheels that was a-running over me,
was travelling up and down my life all
the time. I didn't know who to hate or
what to hate, because I didn't get no.
where, and you came the highest; you
were the handiest, and so l hated you
and them wheels. Amt there no yeller
wheels in your life, mister2" Be the
only man that hates something that he
sees every day and never can have9"
asked Joe.
ooh, mol" said the man soberly and
kindly; "you are not the only
man. Into my life; yes, into everyone's
life, my friend, come yellow wheels;'
and for moment the rich man and the
poor man met on equal terms.
"You want to buy that lot, do you2"
he inquired. "And have you money
enough to do it2 Wait" he said, 81
have plan" And then he told Joe
that he wanted some one to make be-
ginning on the properly. Joe could buy
the lot, and pay for it as he was able.
He would lend him the money to build
his house; he wouldn't even take a mort
gage; he would take his own, Joe's own
simple note, and the house and the lot
should be in Joe's wife's name-Joe
Jeffus began to cry! Great, strong Joe
Jeffus cried like child, and the man
with the s'yellow wheels" went out and
left him alone.
But the man kept his word. The lot
was bought, and slowly and steadily
came the old light into the little, tired,
waiting eyes, softly crept the girlish color
into the pallid checks, and the little wo-
man crept back to her golden youth.
On the corner lot stands the yellowest
cottage you ever saw. Before the door
stands the yellowest baby carriage you
ever saw, ard nailed up over the front
door-nailed there for luck and for love
is little yellow wheel
Joe Jeffus is foreman now of all the
coal teams; but the man he hated, the
man he loved, is resting quietly, resting
in the churchyard far from the busy town.
But every spring time when the jonquils
bloom, man and a woman, with I'M
covered heads, lay them upon his grave;
and Joe Jeffus's only faith, his only be-
lief, as he watches the stars at night, is,
that up among the angels, driving through
the skies, is his hero, his Idol, with the
stvellnM wheels y Nern YorE En1enendenf