The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-10-21
A PROFOUND SECRET.
What John Did With the Money He Made
Out of His Garden.


what are you going to do with the
money from your garden this year,
John?"
Mrs. Leslie had just taken an iron
from the stove and was holding it to
her cheek to test its temperature. She
looked at her little boy, who was start
ing out with his bat for game OF base
ball.
''That is secret, mother" said John,
in mysterious voice, coming back into
the room, "that l am not going to tell
anyone, even you, until the summer is
over" and John ran out and gave a
peculiar boyish yell to some OF his
friends.
His mother smiled to herself John
had saved up his money for two sum-
mers in order to buy himself Il row.
boat, and had talked so much about it
that his family was quite sick OF the
subject by the time the boct was
bought; but this year it was to be diff.
ferent. He intended to keep his inten
ton with regard to the disposal of his
money profound secret.
He was bright boy, whose parents
lived in the village OF Sandwich, on the
beautiful Detroit river, nearly oppoS l.
the city of that name. Attaohe&. :,
their house was large garden olchlfd,
the former of which was Johns especial
care. All the vegetables which We're
not required by the family belonged to
him, and from this source he realized
all his pocket money. This stimulated
his ambition and he was besides natur-
ally very active.
Every morning John would work for
about an hour in my garden as he
proudly called it. In one corner was a
patch of potatoes, in another corn, and,
in their season, he had cabbage, cauli-
flower, beets, tomatoes, onions let
tuce, radishes, etc. 1t was his pride to
keep his garden perfectly free from
weeds and the ground well hoed up
around his plants.
John and the captain of the ferryboat
that stopped at Sandwich were great
friends. The former sometimes pre-
scented the captain with basket of
nice, ripe tomatoes or some Of the first
green corn of the season, in return fol-
which he was allowed to ride on the
ferryboat as often as he wished.
One summer, two little cousins, Alice
and May Leslie, were visiting at his
home. John asked them to accompany
him for ride on the ferry boat, think.
ing the captain would have no objec'
tons. They were enjoying themselves
on the deck, when the captain came uf
to the little boy, and, in a stern voice
demanded: "Nvhere is your farce
John, astonished at this unusual sever
ity, looked up aud said, timidly: won't
tomatoes do?' at this the good cap
tain burst into hearty laugh, which
was very rcassuring to the poor little
boy
Little Cora Leslie. Johns sister. was
about seven years old, but had never
been able to walk, on account of some
spinal trouble. She was an intelligent
child, of great beauty and had re
markably sweet disposition. She was
the pet of the family and it was Johns
delight to give her any pleasure in his
power. He would often wheel her Out
in the baby carriage, which was now
almost too small for even her frai
| body. She took a great interest in hi.
garden and he had made for her little
summer-house of lattice-work, with {
grapevine climbing over it. Into thi:
he would wheel her and she would 81
there watching him at his work.
Even to Cora John did not tell hi.
secret, although she tried hard to Goa,
it from him and even cried when h,
would not tell her. John was obliged
to console her by promising to take hel
over to Detroit on the ferry boat, which
was the great delight of her life. Sh'
was pet of the captains, who woul,
tell her stories and carry her all Owe
the boat.
There was only one person who knew
Johns secret besides himself. Thi'
was the captain, whose advice he ha,
asked in regard to the purchase he in
tended to make.
Allthat summer the little boy worke,
faithfully, and as it happened to be
very good season he earned more none,
than usual, At last fall came and Johl
announced one Saturday morning a
breakfast that the great secret woul'
be disclosed that day.
81 am going over to Detroit and tn
captain is going with me to friend o
his to pick out what l am going Z