The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-04-04
THE MISSING PAGES.

HtFsh paper kuf VSWs'~"t W ~
10 the trsin. ns'smf lines. Herald. sni
an the DsgsEsSesl
Bot The people hnrried past Jobo's it'll
s,And ir,o the s,sliou, IS they bad doc
sll the morning only two psPers sold
ADD here II Was nooil Profit two cents
on ssuny days bis sales we're preii, brisk
bat IL ~ss dfixxIisg The thick air ~
fuil of falling sooi. aud nobody cared :
boy.
No wonder they want 10 hurry ont q
this horrible place mu,,ered Jobo. iool
log about st the vet. dingy houses, ib
pools OF black mud through which ID
horses issmped. and clouds OF smoke roll
log through the streets He thought Q
the sunny farm on which be ~ss born, an'
felt ths, be never could grow used 10 thi
place. Two cents pronl Not enough !
buy q loaf Of bread,
John thought Of bis mother. and OF ih
scanty breakfast which they had eaten 10
geiber 10 their bare gsrref. with its win
dows opening on the sooty roofs II b.
could but have good trade hc nigh
have carried q nice little treat home 4
her. Blu. the crowd hurried pas, and no
body stopped.
Magazine, ms'smY Something to reat
on
The lady stopped. All. your book
are dir,yl she said, dropping the sootl
magazine with shrug.
A. il he could help that Bat he began
blowing away the soot for the twentieth
time that day. II was four years since BIZ
father died, and be and his mother hat
come down to town; and in that time ht
had done nothing but fight weekly agaiDs
SCOT and starvation.
He had opened one Of the story paper,
for boys. There was q sea story in it; 1
boz goes of in the first chapter as stowa
way; in the third, the gallant lad lesped
upon the deck, and the com odore clasp
ed him in his arms. On the next page
was an account Of boy going home from
work, who arrived 10 time TO scale the
walls OF burning house aud rescue q
child, for which daring act he was the next
day taken into partnership by the child
father. . millionaire.
Some fellows have such splendid chan
Gee said John laying down the book with
a sigh. Now, I've been here four years.
and nothing grand or noble ever turns mp
for me TO do. Buy twenty five papers
daily; sci them = il can. On Saturdays,
buy the week.-Mrs. once . month, the mag
szines. That's the heft Of it, year in. year
out. How'sa fellow to make . living at
that sort OF work?
An old gentleman. who had missed the
train. sauntered up and began idly look
ing over the boys stock.
John watched him anXiously. II he
should buy one Of those six bound books!
Profit on each was quarter Of dollarl
II be should buy one Of those, he could
take home q little treat to his mother sf'
ter all.
The boys eyes fairly glistened. for, be
sides being foad Of his mother, he was
hungry, and the smell Of fried oysters and
coffee from the stall near by was almost
more than he could bear.
The old gentleman took up one Of the
books. John thought he was certainly
going to buy one. What should the treat
be2 A bit OF fresh meat? A mince pie9
He decided that steak would be the best.
All! here is the book that l have wanted
for long time, said the gentleman. What
is the price OF this my boy'
Those are one dollar each. sir.
I'll take this. No. you needn't wrap it
up. I'll read ii on the train.
He laid down bright new dollar
John could almost smell the delicious
steak, be thought OF his mothers thin,
starved face. They had not tasted meat
for days. But glance at the book, as the
gentleman dropped it into his satchel. .csu-
sed him to say family;
Stop sirl did not see which one you
had taken. That is an imperfect copy.
There are four leaves missing ia the mid.
die
Too bad. throwing it down. The mon
ey, please.
Will none Of the others suit2 said
Jobu.
No. have wanted this book for some
time.
You can have it for half price, said
John, eagerly.
don't want mutilated copy at oil.
John handed him back the money, and,
closing the satchel. the man walked on .
few steps and sat down in an open door
way, 10 wait for the train. He Was rud
dy. fat old gentleman. with q kindly.
sbrewd blue eye. Having nothing to do.
be thought the occurrence over leisureIy.
That's an honest lad, he said TO the
Of the store in which he stood
He might have cheated me Just now, but
be did not.
Who' John McTsvish2 As honest "a
'teel He's been under my eye nov for
'our years. aud know him to be as truth
'al lad as ever Was born Of Scotch
blood
I'm. uml ssid the old gentleman, but
be- pnt on bis speciscles and eyed John
rom head to foot.