Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-03
SIDNEY'S PRESENT.
BY ALVIN BURTON.


every boy in Ferndale was counting
on a good time. not such time as the
sturdy, winter-bred boys of the North
enjoy, however. Ferndale was
beautiful Florida village, and Christ
mas came amid flowers and soft, hui
mid airs and boating and fishing.
A knot of boys were gathered about
little cottage near the edge of Silver
Lake the afternoon of the day before
Christmas.
The boat is for sale. gentlemen,
and the price is one hundred and fifty
dollars. If you have that amount ly-
ing loose around your pockets, just
pay it now, and the boat goes to the
best man." And Abner Tucker, the
old fisherman, looked at the crowd of
boys at the door of the cabin, and then
at the handsome little boat ly ing moor
ed upon the beach of the lake.
Justin Orren, the son Of tho richest
man in the village, was the first to
speak.
'I'll get my governor to buy her,
She's perfect beauty"
"You want to hurry up them"
said the old fisherman. Shes like
ly craft, and there's some fellow from
New York been looking at her. What
are you thinking OFF" he queried,
abruptly turning to Sidney Clare, a
poor lad who was favorite with him.
II was wishing that could buy it. -
"You!n sneered Justin Orren.
you'll be thinking of buying the viii
lage next"
Sidney Clare flushed holly.
Il can express my thoughts. be-
lieve," he said. 81 may be able to buy
it yet"
when you do, let me know" sneer-
ed young Orren.
Sidney turned from the throng with
a quiet air.
You cannot provoke me to quar-
rel" he said. "You may be rich
mans son, but you are bully for all
that"
"Help, helpr'
The cry startled the boys from their
petty pickering, sounding as if out al
sea, and looking thither they saw an
overturned boat and a man struggling
in the water In a moment Sidney had
reached the beach, and. springing into
the little boat which had just been the
object of the conversation, with cut
ting stroke he drove it toward the
drowning man.
1t proved to be a visitor to the vii.
lage, a boarder at the hotel. ono Mr..
Brandon, who was out sailing when
the accident occurred.
You are brave lad," he said
when he reached the beach. land but
for you / should have been drowned.
How shall reward yoN"
II ask no reward" spid Sidney.
81 am not Il ricri ran" said the
stranger, "but csp do something foi
you. Come to tbs >iltdge inn, and yor
shall have smah recognition of youl
services at lears"
Some time alter Ghe boy was dealing
to his comp oiers she generosity of the
stranger 3se hasa given to him piece
of Mexican s."vey-a curious coin
worth nearly ten dollars.
II have only a few OF these, y
he had said to the boy. %
am in great hopes that l shall
find many more, however. l would
like to have you go to the island in the
lake with me tomorrow. 1 have {
secret quest to make that may interes
you.'
OF course there was great specula
ton and curiosity among the
boys, and the following day
Sidney Clare set out for the island
with the stranger Mr.. Brandon.
1t was toward night that day tina
the boys, led by Justin Orren, wer,
standing at the door of the old fisher
mans cabin conversing with Abnel
Tucker on the subject of his boat wher
they were approached by the stranger
accomanied by Sidney Clare.
us your boat still for sale, Mr.
Tuckerp" queried the latter.
Are you going to invest?" sneeret
Orren.
Sidney did not reply. The old fish
erman answered.:
Yes, at the same price-one hun
bred and fifty dollars
"Ill take it." said Sidney. and, I,
the surprise of all, paid him then
from a roll of bills which he tool
from his pocket.
Orren was considerably taken abacl
when it afterward transpired that tn,
stranger had found buried in the sol
of the island box OF old coin, and tina
he had shared literally with his youns
companion. After that the rich mani
son was content to become littl'
more humble to the fortunate possesso
iof the boat which was the envy OF all
and which constituted a royal Christ
mas present indeed.