Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-02-13

shaking so that poor Laddie felt as
though an earthquake were convulsing
the pavement beneath him. At last
the man found breath to say:
"Well, little fellow, don't see as
need much help with this thin bleful of
baggage, but that man who has just
passed has lot to carry; maybe he'll
hire you"
Before the sentence was finished, off
darted the boy, so fast that he overlook
the heavily laden traveller and fairly
tangled himself in the long overcoat,
as he said:
"Will you please let me carry this
biggest satchelp I'll do it cheap"
This man did not laugh-at least not
aloud-and Laddie felt encouraged,
though the satchel looked rather
formidable.
"Well, well, youngster," said the
stranger, you don't look as though
you could manage such heavy load
but you may take this smaller bundle,
if you can carry it as far as the Gem
trail hotel. for I'm in good deal of a
hurry"
Laddic hesitated. "Would you pay
more for the big satchel?" he asked
1--WE got lots of biceps; just feelv'
| This time the new man did laugh,
and said, pleasantly: mo, carry the
small one and I'll pay you whatever
you ask"
Whatever you ask!" Could it be pos
sible? Then he could get the whole
sum at once! But no. perhaps this
would seem too much to pay. 'Twould
do no harm to ask, however, SO he
said, taking the bundle and trudging
bravely along:
"Would twenty-five cents be too
much?"
"Well, that's rather a queer sum, but
think can stand it. Why don't you
make it an even quarter, though?"
Then Laddie told all about his valen-
tine plan, and the three cents already
in his pocket, and the pretty card at
the book store which could be bought
for quarter. The gentleman was
very much interested, and watched his
little companion closely, as he went
on. AT last, when Laddie stopped to
take breath, he said:
"Why don't you ask your papa for
the money!"
"Cause papa isn't here; he never was
here since can remember, and 1 don't
know if he's dead or not, but mamma
always cries when she tells about him. "
The gentleman stopped suddenly.
and, looking eagerly into Laddies up.
turned face, asked one more question:
"What is your name?"
"Mamma calls me Laddie, but my
real name is Lawrence Raymond; that
| was papa's name"
Down went the load of bundles on
the pavement, and Laddie found him.
self clasped close in the strong arms OF
his new friend. He didn't quite under.
stand it, nor why the stranger almost
sobbed, as he said: my baby. my
baby" He hardly liked that, and So
strengthening himself up as tall as he
could, he said, sturdily: Pm seven!
"Yes, yes, little man." laughed the
gentleman, "but you used to be my
baby, and I have come back to you.
Now, let's hurry to mamma as fast a.
we can"
"Without the valentine?" said Lad
die, wistfully, hardly, realizing the
truth, as yet.
"We'll get her one tomorrow, dear
the finest one in town; but now. show
me the way home, and tell me all abou
her."
So they hurried toward the humble
house, Laddie telling about mamma.
troubles as well as he knew how ant
listening to bits of papa's strange sto
ry, which sounded almost as wonder
full as Robinson Crusoe. At last they
reached the door and Laddie rushed in
crying, excitedly:
Mamma, it's come back-the valen
tine - papa - twenty-five cents - oh
dear!'
Mamma gave start and a Joyful
cry: then, suddenly, Laddie found him
self once more warmly embraced, this
time, however, in two pairs of arms
instead of one, and he felt queer to see
both mamma and the newly-found
papa crying over him.
But the queer feeling gave place to {
most happy one, when, after awhile
he saw mamma sitting at the table
with bright look he had never seer
on her face before, and heard her sa,
to papa:
"Laddie has brought me the bes
valentine I ever received" - Myrtl
Koon Clergyman, in Detroit Free
Press