Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-12-24

| for Pete as he worked and thought
| of Sonny's chance in cropping way.
Capering days for Sonny filed with
| happiness, a red ball and the new
''readin' books"
When Sonny was eight years old he
pranced into the shop one day in early
| spring where Pete sat at work.
Pete looked up and smiled at Sonny
| and Sonny smiled back at Pete.
Then Sonny put his wonderful readin'
book, away and picked up the red
| leather ball.
A few minutes later he had marsh
| aled his baseball nine on the green
where dad kin see u.s." he said
As Pete pegged away he heard the
| shouts and commands to the imaginary
eight The game progressed to fever
heat of excitement.
Sonny, with upturned, eager blue
eyes and flying feet, was speeding
across the green to catch the ball.
| Suddenly his foot struck a stone that
| was frozen into the ground. He fell
| with heavy thud.
The sudden silence outside caused
Pete to look up from his work. Then
he hastily laid down the unfinished
shoe.
Soon he was STOPPING over Sonny,
| who lay with closed eyes and the red
| ball held fast in one small hand.
At last Sonny slowly opened his eyes
and looked into the face so near his
| own.
| He tried to smile a little as he
said: ''Suthin' cracked in here, daddy.
! ! heerd it crack Jest here" pointing to
his hip.
| For answer Pete smoothed back
| Sonny's hair gently and said: Dad
dy'll fix it for We, Sonny. Daddy'n fix
it if he kim
Sonny smiled family again and
| closed his eyes
| Pete carried the child into the house.
Very carefully he laid him down on the
bed in the living" room. Then he
hurried up the street to see about
Sonny's chance.
Pete walked on till he came to
sign that was taking a swing in the
spring breeze while it told the public
that this was the office of one s. P.
| Gilbert, NJ. ID.
| There was no one in the Office, so
Pete sat down patiently to wait.
| On the table lay an open telegram.
1t w,.s dated Chicago, and read:
It. DIR. 5. P. Gilbert: Come at once
Maurice is dying.
ELIZABETH G. PORTER.
Or Gilbert, coming in from one of
mis- patients, had picked up the tel
egram. When he had read it he said:
"Poor sister! / must go to her.'
So he had gone that day to Chicago.
When Dr. Gilbert reached his sisters
home he found that there was no hope
for the boys life.
The child dieG.
The next day the doctor returned to
his patients.
He found scrawled on his order slate:
"Kum ter suny at Pete Peculiars'
The doctor inquired the way an6
went
Soon he was following Pete through
the shop TO the bed in the corner.
Sonny smiled up at them as he lay with
white face and patient eyes.
Sonny's smile was SO like Pete's.
The doctor looked grave when he
heard Pete's story.
After long weeks of patient uncom-
planning little Sonny and pegging
Pete, the doctor said the child could
try to use his leg.
Then Pete smiled more hopefully
He began to sit up nights working
away at something made of wood and
leather
They were clumsy little crutches that
Pete made for Sonny. But Pete had
said gently as he smoothed Sonny's hair:
"Daddy'n fix 'em fer ye,'' and Sonny
had smiled and waited.
70 ho oil hot
| of crutches could be.
1t was on Christmas eve that Pete
put the last touches to them. So the
next day there was a merry time at
Pete's, for Sonny and Pete were fond
of "kele bratin'' as they always called
it at Christmas time.
The widow said: That's jest like
them Pecoolyurs. Who ever heerd tell
of :..kile bratin" at Krissmus an havin'
fire-crackers too. Pecoolyur by name
an natur | say"
For two years the sound of Sonnv's
voice and Sonny's crutches could be
heard sometimes in the school, but
more often at Pete's.
Pete had been busy lately making a
pair of boots for DR.. Gilbert.
Pete had confided to Sonny tibet he
wuz goin' ter max 'em mighty good
an 1astin'." For the doctor would
take no pay
So when Pete had finished the boots
and tied them together, Sonny slung
them across his shoulders and went off
slowly on his crutches to carry them
as surprise to the doctor.
The doctor looked thoughfully into
Sonney's face and silly felt his pulse
/ as he shook his hand and told him to
thank Pete, but tell him to spend no
Imcre time on boots for him as these
looked as if the wou Id last forever.
To which Sonny smiled in a pleased
way and replied: Daddy said he'd
MAX 'em mighty lastin'-"
The next day the doctor came into
Pete's and said the boots fitted him
VERY well indeed. and that he guessed
he would take another look at Sonny's
leg.
When DIR. Gilbert reached his Office
that night he sat down to think over
his days work among his patients
Then he picked ND a pen and directed