Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-28

| Guy what chance has we u1s agln d
swell, replied jim bitterly.
Hour after hour the boys discussed the
problem in frightened whispers, startin g
ut each sound from below, expecting to
near any moment the heavy tread of the
cop upon the stairs.
| Then the greasy old pocketbook was
/ quilted out from under Jim's head aud the
precious contents counted and re counted
in locked a little paler and the black
rings under his eyes were deeper when
| they put it back, and Ted crept TO bed
and lay shaking by his side far into the
night.
Mr.. Farnum was III with bad attack
OF soIt, and the great house Was silent
| as the grave.
! Ali the morning little figure had
| lodged about the front door. 1t was very
cold, and the wind had whistled through
his torn shirt.
Eve times he had rung the bell and
b. gg' piteously to see some one 'belong
IL to the family" and each time had beer
,ent harsfly away.
Still he presevered clasping a little
package closely in half-frozan hands.
| Finally the )achplap. who had driven up,
heard biz story and offered good natured-
| ~ to help him.
Il guess Thomas thought you'd come to
beg" he said. 'Aud he knows the
masters death on beggars. I'll get in
the house and open the door for you, and
then you cut in and wait in the passage
Ill the purse comes, she tell the old gent
about it.
The scheme worke d well, and Ted drew
long breath of wonder to find himself In
such a grand place.
, The nurse passed through the hall as
he stood overawed and heaitating.
| Ted started forward, putting Up bis
i AaA6 TO claim her attention.
I've brought the FIVE dollars back" he
cried; me and Jim won't take it. >
'Why?" she asked, stopping.
"'Cause he called me p thief, indig-
mandy.
'Ab, yes, wait here moment And
she went quickly up stairs with a tray of
dainty food.
1t was some time before the nurse re-
turned.
Mr.. Farnum was sitting before the fire
in big arm chair. He looked old and sick
and miserable.
II must beg pardon" he commenced,
as Ted stood awkwardly before him, fo1
my harsh words the other day. The
sexton found the bill that | had lost in
tie church just afterwards. | am truly
sorry for what said. Did you
mind it much?" looking at him curl
ouslv.
/ led met the glance boldly.
Il knowed I hadn't done it, he an
5wered, but | minded for jim y
The moisture gathered in Mr.. Farnum s
i eyes.
My boy" he said, 'you have opened
| my eyes to new worid-one in which the
! laws of God are practised, not sneered at,
and in which unselfshness, strange to say,
is really the rule of life do you under
stand n,e?"
mo, sir" said Ted, slowly, I'll
don't know much about God 'ceptin' he s
good, and lives in heaven, an don't like
lyin' and cheatin' and cussin': ! ain
never been teached.
eve will teach each other, said Mr..
! Farnum, "for | must learn all over again
if I'm not too old' he said sadly.
I'm ten an Jim's twelve,' replied
Ted Jim kin read splendid, there ain t
nothin be don't get outer papers, about
murders and SIGH. Guy! it's fine
Mr. Farnum smiled.
"Do you ever go to church," he asked
Christmas times | does, and when
there's flowers and grand siugin'."
'Ah, that reminds me, D." said Mr.. Far
mum, Il have an Grand for you to do, at
| ter you hove washed your face and changed
your clothes Shocking at the holes
through which the wind had played at
hide and seek, the grimy face and shock of
light hair that seemed to have grown out
Of the crown of his bat.
why, it amt Sunday!' exclaimed Ted,
in surprise.
mo, but | do not like dirt on week
| days, either, besides, it's part of Sc
cret, which | will tell you when you come
back. | hope you will take it'-his
voice tremble little-"I am lonely old
man with no one to care for, or who cares
tor me- need Jim, too, TO work and
plan for-but go now, Mrs. Black is wait
ing"
| 1t was a long time before Ted came
! back, but be had had so far to go. He
was tired and hungry, and thought in dis
may of the long walk home from Fif-
| tieth street. He wondered if the secret
was worth it. The butler grinned as he
opened the door. "Wa In, youngster,
won't drive yer off this time. Here he is,
Mrs. Black
Come right up, Ted she called from
the stairs, and then she led him up an
! other flight, into a large airy room. Ted
jumped. There was something In the bed.
! be saw il move-what was it? Then he
heard a smothered laugh and a IA
miiiar face peeped out from under the
covers.
at amt Jim!' he screamed, in round
eyed establishment.
81 come in a kerridge,' cried Jim,
IAN two horse prancin'. I've eat grapes
an an orange i saved some for you,
Ted. We're goin' ter live here. The
doctor an that lady's goin' ter look arteI
my back-an' you're going to take care
of the horses just like you allus wanted
to.
Ted looked at the nurse in utter be-
wilderment.
cit amt trde2" he said. 81 guess In
dreamin.'
Yes, it is" she answered. 'It was
the secret Mr. Farnum had 70 tell you;
do you think it is nice one?"
Wont 1.-THE splendid for jump" was
the fervent answer, and light broke over
the boys face at the sudden realization
of what it meant.
But will you like it?' she persisted.
20 my yes, won't I!' throwing up his
cap with a shout of joy. 'Hosses! and
things to eat? Why, Il!-I'll wash my
face in cold water twice fer Mister Far
mum, eff he wants me to!"--Juia Conovel
, in The Churchman.
On the inland waterways, which tray
erse the worlds fair ground from one enc
to another, there will be plying three