The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-03-24
Hiehe Of all Lavenins P0ve-u Govt Report Aug III 1852
R@1!a!:!!! g! Bss'es Bsxass7
ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
AN UNMENDED POCKET. AND A
MlS-ADvENTURE

say Bcss. VIII You memo my pocket'
4 Which pocket jerked out Bess, not III
ing her eyes from the delicious story 81
was reading.
My vest pocket.
You don't hsve TO put things in IT,
Put do. like to put things 10 it.
| Well, go away nov. iii do it this sfte
/ noon.
I'm going sway to Hsckettstown; lathe
wants me to 90 TO see Mr. Brown for hin
| never bad long journey on the trai
alone before. shsn't be home till dark.
HIN. assented Bess, lott again 10 th
delicious story.
Lulu worked 10 the factory and va
hurryipg of with her lunch, Sophie VS.
learning dressmsking and must be In he
seat among the girls at seven o'clock. Ro
gave 3 quick. imploring gsnce towsr'
them. but both were too seli'sbsorbed /,
notice IT. Bsss. the youngest OF the girls
and two years older than Rob. had risel
early aud cooked q good breakfast for th
working people, and now. while her faith
or WAS putting on his overcost and th'
girls gigsliDg and hurryipg of, she stol
ten minutes for the story. After the break
fast dishes were washed and the sleeping
rooms in order she had 10 walk q mile t.
the hospital in order to.take the paper snt
8 jar OF blackberry jam to Aunt Elmira
who was homesick and depended upon he
visits. 1t was true, she might read th'
story to Aunt EImira. but then she hat
snatched half OF it and how could sh,
waltz And wasn't Rob always teasing fol
something? She essed her copscienc,
with this thought as she stepped lightly
about the kitchen. He was rot like othel
boys, quite. since be fell and parslyzsd
his right arm. He was slow about every
thenp. and mother had minded dying and
leaving him more than any OF the others
But be was off for days vacation from
the store aud he would have good time
and tonight she would mend his pocket
Isn't it time for Rob to come homei
asked Lulu at the supper table.
Yes replied her father, high time.
cautioned him about everything, and be
seemed to understand. 1t will make man
Of him to be sent of by himself and
hadn't time to see Brown myself he will
do the errsnd all right. But n issed him
in the store. He is slow. but he is careful
and my customers trust him.
At that very moment Rob was out under
the stars walking home from Hacketts
town. He did his errand, got fifteen
cent dinner. and then ran half a mile to
the railway station for fear of losing bis
tram. His ticket was all right. But where
was ii2 He had bought the return ticket as
his father explained, and the conductor
had torn it off and he had put it in bis
vest pocket, i,uning it down to make it
safe. and had not thought Of it since. In
the pocket with the holel
With the terrible consciousness that
something might have happened, aud the
OF the solitary five cents
left from bis dinner. be pushed his thumb
and finger into his vest pocket, Out they
came thumb and finger there was noth'
ing iu the pocket but the hole. And
how far was Hackettstown
from Brooklyn? II bad not taken very
long TO come but to walk all those miles!
Could be get home tonight? His father
was a long way of, aud nobody ever
helped him but his father. There was
1otbipg to do but to start and go--on. on.
Do. One day be had wal ied twenty miles,
but this distance WAS twice twenty, and
more, perhaps FIVE times twenty; and be
nust be home tonight; be bad bis father
10 help. and the coal to bring up for Bess
Tears swelled in his heart, grew bigger
md choked him. He was only fifteen yes
Ierday, and be bad been mothers boy so
ong. II was two O'Clock now, . big clock
,omev here struck into heavy storkes. and
upper would be ready at seven. and he
n ust be there. He knew the wsy; be
would go the way the railrosd went. Then
10 walked on and on, the way the railroad
vent, and be was tired, and it WAS grow
ng dark, aud be would have been hungry
,ut that bis throat was always full OF some
hing. 1t grew dark and darker. aud
would have been very dark but for the
iiars and the trains and the lights and the
'tores; 1t was dark, snd be was nowhere
,ear Brooklyn. II mus, be pine o'clock,
,r ten O'Clock; perhaps be must sleep
'omew here and start fresh 10 the morning.
He would turn II into the couDtry
, here there we're barns aud hay for his bed
md COVE to keep him company. The stars
nsde him lonely. aud the lights were
,olna out 10 the houses, and be did not
meet any people. There we're houses
.noush, but they DIDN'T seem to have any
,aru.. He might curl up Cd somebody's
,ioop and put bis bead on the mat, but
hen. somebody would zee bin. Away
ont IN the eountry Was better. Tuere
xould be no policeman 10 send him on. or
10 ssk bin questions.
The streets were dsrs - be tarued swsy
ron the railroad. The bouses more scat
Iered, snd there were barns here aud there.
.ull be vas sirAid Of bsrus. Somebody
might be around aud wsrn bin of aud
call hin tramp. Another hour, and
.noiher. be vent 90. The stsfIish, wss