The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-18
FOR LITTLE PEOPLE.
NY GRANDPA,S STORY.


wonder u grandpas can always tell
stories that boys like. and girls ~ wcil7
Mine tells always the incest kind,
But a grandpa like mine is hard to lind.
The last one he told was ., very good
Though lie made the lesson well under.
stood
That want 10 tell II just as he did,
lie kept the mora! 80 nicely hid.
Said Grandpa: "Tne first wear went down
To the cd academy out OF town.
There was one boy there among tho rest
Asmart one, but just the guccrest dressed
Ills name was .Jonathan-Jonathan JOY
u > name was no queererthan was the boy.
His folks had lately moved, they said
His mother and sister-hs father was de ad.
lie was only thirteen, and small ut that,
But there's little we fellows could beat him
at.
lie took all the care OF the schoo Ihouse,
too.
And colder winter never knew.
lie must have suffered. his clothes were so
thin,
But matters like that boys don't take in.
And honc1y he was, this little boy!
] never saw palmer than Jonathan Joy
But the very queercst thing OF all
Was his boots; he was so very small,
And his boots were a mans boots, stout and
strong,
Thick, and heavy. and wide, and long;
How such boy could tug 'em about
don't now, but the toes were all stuffed
out.
NOW to orr shame it mast b, told
That we scorncd this boy whose clothes
we're Old.
Often and often. each hour OF the day,
We sneered at his boots, and would call and
say:
Boots, where are you going with that little
boy?'
1t must have been awful to Jonathan Joy.
AT last the leader o: all our band
He's been dead for years. poor Charley
Rand
Proposed to do something SO bad and bold
Almost too ugly to ever be told,
He knew that every night, lie s lid,
This Jonathan kept his boots in shed.
"IIe knew the house-such a poor iittl 9
home
And he said: Now, boys, il you'll all keep
mum
I'll tell you something first rate to be done.
Let's go to night and have some fun;
Let's all Of ms 20 still as a mouse,
And steal those boots from that old wood.
house.
I'VE all agreed, to our shame, be 1t said.
And at night, when we should have been in
bed,
We stole to the home Of Jonathan Joy
feel 80 ashamed OF every boyi
We went TO the window to listen first,
Aud that for our plan was just the worst.
"lIe and his mother were there alone;
1t was cold that night, but fire they had
none;
We saw his mother as well as he;
His heatd in her lap. We all could see;
Her hand was caressing the brow of the boy,
And the rough red tresses of Jonathan Joy.
"Then we heard her voice and the words
she said,
Till we wished we had been at home in bed
Johnnie she said. 50 soft and low,
''Tis terrible trial, that know,
but it's wear the boots or stay away
Not go to school another day.
ave can't buy boots as well as bread,
And keep this poor roof over our heads,
And you hope to be able. you always say,
Through your learning to build home
some day.
The boys must be ugly to treat you So"
1.-The soft voice faltered, aud then there
came
The sound OF sobbing o. twas n shame!
But Charley turned to the rest of his crew
And whispered: I've thought Of a thing
to do;
Come out Of this-here, follow my lead;
/ feel as small AS Il mustard seed.
Boys he said softly, let's buy him a
pair
Just such as the rest OF rs fellows wear
Then he took US away and told his plan,
And each of US felt rather more like a man.
We put our mites together, and then
Next night we went to the woodshed again.
"And still and sly rs we went before
We left the boots and shut the door.
Such beauties they were, and brand new
ones,
Red-topped, with letters which shone like
suns,
And the rest of the winter, I'm glad to tell,
We treated that fellow extremely well.
Years have passed; mis- place Is higher by
far,
And he's richer than all the rest OF US are.
Ills mother died long. long years ago,
But she lived to be proud of him, l know:
And know he was pure gnd without alloy,
For married the sister Of Jonathan JOY"
Emily Baker smailc. In Pansy.