Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-09
JOHNNIE'S SNOW-STORM.
BY EMMA HOWARD WIGHT.

From Arthur's Home Magazine, August, '9l
Johnnie had bran.new sled; q perfec
beauty it was, all painted the bri gh.est red
and with smooth, cleaning runners whic
Johnnie was sure could skim over the SNOW
like lightning. Johnnie was just MN
years old, and the sled had been sent al
the way from New FORK by his Uucle Johl
for a birthday present. How delights,
Johnnie was when he saw it. There wasn'
boy In the whole town who had a slet
like it, he was sure. What glorious linn
he would have on the big bill 'behiud th'
sohool-house when the snow cine. Aut
the great wish of Jobnuie's heart from thai
time was for snow.
Every morning when he awuke the frs
thing he did was to run to the widow Il
see II there were any signs of coming
snow storm. But he was always disap.
pointed. The weather continued clear auC
sunny, and unusually mild for win;er; il
fact, almost like spring. "Will it evel
snow?" Jhonnie would nurmur, ,diacontent
edly, and he grew almost 10 hate sunshine
aad the mild, bright days, especially when
he looked at that new sled, which was verJ
often. and felt the smooth, glittering run
ners which were destined to beat anything
on the hill owned by the other bows. In
imagination he could see that hill behind
the school house all covered With snow and
himself on the beautiful new sled skimmiue
along to the admiration and envy of all his
scho0lmstes and companions.
The winter before, when he had only an
old, homemade sled, there had been lots
of snow, and now it seemed as though i,
never would snow again. Johnnie felt al
nn ho vuor hain hrI in,
deed, by the clerk of the weather; and he
grew cross and irritlble, as great many
older and wiser people sometimes do wher
things 20 contrary and they are thwarted
in their pleasures and denied their desires
Johnnie lost interest in all his boyish pur-
suits and pleasures and entered into them
with so little zest and such listlessuess and
indifference that his playmates voted him
dull, and wondered what had come over
him.
None of them knew anything about that
beautiful, new sled. Johnnie had been
thoughts, had decided that 1t would be
much more fun to wait until il showed,
and then to appear triumphantly with the
new eled and take all the fellows by sur
prise. He pictured to himself again and
again their amazement, admin alton, and
envy. But pOne of these delightful antici.
pations could be realized without a snow
storm, and the snow storm wouldn't put in
an appearance. So poor johnnie was far
from being a contented and happy little
boy. One Sltuiday morning his mother
said to him:
'Johnnie, you know the little white COT
tage just before you reach the sawmil?"
Johnnie replied that he did.
"Well, want you to 60 down here and
take q NOE to the widow, who just moved
in g few weeks ago. They say she sews
very nicely, and want to engage ber to DO
some for me-"
Johpnie took the note and set out. 1t
was clear, bright day as warm as spring.
Not the slightest prospect of spow-ss ofm, !,
and Johnnie looked up sallenly at the blue,
smiling sky. About ten minutes walk
brought him to his des iuaiion, a tiny
white cottage, with small porch and bit
of a yard in front. johnnie s ared great
deal as he opened the little gate and went
in; for on the porch, in big chat, with
pillows at his back, sat a boy of about his
own age. But johnnie had pever seen be-
fore boy so thin, f) viii ., - f'ail-look-
ing na this one - ha advanced rather
hesitatinglY and said:
''Is the lady who lives here iL?''
The boy smiled; and it was very sweet
and gentle smile.
"You mean my mother, I guess" he re
Piled, and his voice was like the smile,
very sweet and gentle. 'No, she amt in
Just now, but she will be presently. She's
Just gone to the store up there. Won't you
sit down and wait for he1?"
Tohouia cat 1OuJr m tho low stan af tho
porch and looked up curiousIy at his COM
panion.
II guess you are pretty sick, amt you?'
be said, after few moments
"Ob! no!" was the reply, "I aint sick
now. Sometimes my back hurts awfully
and then am pretty bad. But I am all
right now"
"What makes you sit in that chair that
way if you amt sick?" said Johnnie, rather
land you look like you are
sick, too"
"Oh! always have to sit this way" re-
Piled the other, with his gentle smile. 81
have spine disease and can't walk"
"Obw exclaimed Johnnie, and his eyes
and mouth both opened wide. His mind
boy who must always sit still, who could
Lhipgs in which boys delight.
'Do you mind il very much?" he asked,
in an awed voice.
Sometimes do," was the answer, "but
I have been very happy for the last few
weeks. You see, we have always lived in
the city and it was just awful in those lcdg-
ngs where We stayed and we were too
poor to get any better. How did long for
the country; the trees and tho green grass,
and the sweet, fresh air. used tc dream
about it at night, and when I woke up
sometimes would cry, l did SO long for
the country. l never said much to mother
about it, though, cause l knew it would
make her unhappy. Bat | think she guess
cd all the time, and one day she told ne
we were gcing down in the country to live.
A nice, kind lady that she sewed for had
gotten her little cottage in the country,
and written to her friends who lived there
about mothers sewing, so we would be as
we'll off as we had been in the city. OH
how happy / was. Ever since we have
been here it's been so nice and warm that
could sit on thl borch all day. I almost
forget it's winter and likely to get cold and
snow or rain apydsy."
He sighed little, and Johnnie felt rather
as he thought OF that great
aud oue desire of his that it might snow.
Just than the gate opened and a pale faced
little woman, in shabby black frock, came
towards them.
"Heres mother" said the boy, and
Johnnie, who was very polite little fellow,
arose, took off his hat, and presented the
note. Mrs. Dean, that was the widows
name, flushed with pleasure as she read it.
"Please tell your mother, ''she said, ''that
will come up to see her this afternoon"
She turned tba with tender look toward
her son.
eCharlie, she went on, laying her hand
lovingly on the soft fair hair, which cluster
ed about his white, b!ue-veiDed forehead,
shave you been entertaining this little boy
niceIy?"
81 don't know, mother" he answered.
II have only been telling him bow ! love
the county and how happy l am sitting
here in the nice warm sunshine. Maybe
he'll come to see me again." with wisrfnl
look at Johnnie.
eyes, can come again." answered
Johnnie, rather awkwardly. He blushed
also. This pale-faced, golden haired boy,
with his sweet, patient smile, and low, gen
tie voice, so different from the rough, loud,
hardy boys who were Johnnie's
l. r