The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-25

from his work.whenever he heard a tri-
umphant shout of: "Lookee, dadl
lookee!" from Sonny and his baseball
nine on the green in front of the shop.
Sonny's mine" consisted of small
Sonny and an imaginary eight.
For Pete smiled at the rough chill
dren of his rougher neighbors. but
Sonny played alone.
When Sonny was six Pete laid down
his tools one morning and called him
from his play.
Then he shut the door of the shop
behind them, and led wondering Sonny
up the street
Pete told the teacher when they got
to the school house that: "Sonny's nav
didn't git no chance, an he never kud
seem ter get uh chance hisself an so he
wanted Sonny ter get uh chance sure.
The teacher looked down at small
Sonny and smiled Sonny listened and
wondered as he looked up at daddy and
the teacher.
At the end of some weeks at the
school house Pete, who sat mending a
child's shoe one day, paused with up
lifted hand as the small owner of the
shoe told him that ''Sonny kud larn
thet air readin' like chain lightnin'.
Sonny did not play with the bits of
red leather now. Night after night
while dad was peggin'," Sonny sat
near with the ''readin' books" that
Pete regarded with such awe.
So the days went on, pegging days
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 us" 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 q little as he
said: "Suthin' cracked in here, daddy.
l 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 kin"
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 a |
sign that was taking a swing in the |
spring breeze while it told the public |
that this was the office of one s. p. |
Gil ilbert, NJ. ID.
There was no one in the office, SO |
Pete sat down patiently to wait.
On the table lay an open telegram.
1t was dated Chicago, and read:
To DIR. 5. p. Gilbert: Come at once
Maurice is dying.
ELIZABETH G. PORTER.
DIR. Gilbert, coming in from one of
MS patients, had picked up the tel
gram. When he had read it he said:
Poor sister! / must go to her"
So he had gone that day to Chicago
When DIR. Gilbert reached his sisters
nome he found that there was no hope
ior the boys life.
Inc cnllQ uleG-
The next day the doctor returned to
his patients.
He found scrawled on his order slate:
Kun ter suny at Pete Peculiars''
The doctor inquired the way anC
vent
Soon he was following Pete through
he shop to the bed in the corner
sonny smiled up at them as he lay with
white face and patient eyes.
SoIIny's smile was so like Pete's
The doctor looked grave when he
heard Pete's story.
After long weeks of patient uncom-
blaming little Sonny and pegging
Pete, the doctor said the child could
,ry to use his leg.
Then Pete smiled more hopefully.
lie began to sit up nights working
way at something made of wood and
Gather.
They were clumsy little crutches that
Pete made for Sonny. But Pete had
aid gently as he smoothed Sonnys hair:
'Daddy'n fix 'em fer ye," and Sonny
lad smiled and waited.
So to Sonny they were all that pair
# crutches could be.
1t was on Christmas eve that Pete
,ut the last touches to them. So the
lext day there was a merry time at
'ete'S, for Sonny and Pete were fond
# ''kelebratin" as they always called
t at Christmas time.
Tho widow said. ssThat,S lost lilo