River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-11

Laddie frightened. and then began
choosing among the cheaper ones, until
he remembered tina. even twenty-five
cents was large amount when ones
entire fortune consisted of three cop
perS He suddenly looked mp. and said:
"A fellow couldn't earn twenty-five
cents between now and tomorrow,
could he?"
''Why. dare say he might. by try
[ ing hard, answered the clerk. cheer
fully. There's quite a bit to be
earned sometimes by carrying peoples
/ satchels from the station"
So. quite hopefully our little man
I sped away again, wishing he could be-
/ gin to hunt for work at ouce-but re-
Numbering the soap for Hannah, he
hurried to the store and bought -. and
ran home with it as fast as he could.
Then, as he was about TO start off once
more, mamma called to him from the
sofa where she was lying and said:
''Laddie. dear. will you Just rub my
/ head for few minutes?'
/ Now this was very hard, for it was
already four o'clock, aud he did want
to get down to the Western station by
/ the time the $50 express came in. so as
to carry somebody's satcheL But he
couldn't tell his mamma this, so he
/ bravely put aside his impatience. and
I began 10 rub the poor head so hard and
/ fast that soon the pretty HAIR was all
in tumble.
Gently = darling - gently" said
mamma, in her patient way; and Lad
| die, feeling a little ashamed. began to
rub more slowly.
Say. mamma" he asked-unable to
keep the subject quite out of sight;
| did you ever have a valentine?"
/ But Immediately he was sorry he
had asked that question, for mammals
thin hand went up to her eyes, with
the quick, panied movement she always
made when he asked about papa; but
she answered, quite calmly: Yes,
dear. when | was young l received a
good many. and once a very beautiful
one
Then she was quiet for such a long
/ time that Laddie concluded she must
have fallen asleep; SO he tip-toed out
of the room, and, Selling mis- cap and
muller, fairly ran in the direction of
the Western station. As he neared the
[ place. he saw that the train had al
ready come in. for numbers of people
were hurrying toward .town-in car
riages, or on foot Very few of the
latter, however, appeared to have much
to carry. and at first there seemed no
chance of getting job But soon he
saw big, good -natured looking fellow.
carrying a small valise-so he accosted
him eagerly:
Don't You v.ant me 70 carry your
baggage. sir. please"
The man looked down at the bit of
humanity before him-and then at his
alise; then he laughed long and loud,
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 hep 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:
'.wnl You please let me carry this
biggest satchel? I'll do it cheap"
This man did not laugh-at least. not
aloud-and Laddie felt encouraged,
though the satchel looked rather
formidable.
We'll, well, youngster." said the
stranger, you don't look as though
you could manage such : heavy load,
but you ma take this smaller bundle,
if you can carry it as far as the Gen.
trail hotel, for I'm in good deal of a
hurry"
more for the big satchel?" he asked
I've got lots of Oiceps; just feelr'
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
much2"
well. that's rather queer sum, but
l think I can stand it. Why don't you
make it an even quarter, thought
Then Laddie told all about his vsen-
tine plan, and the three cents already
in his pocket, and the pretty card at
the book store which could be bought
Tor a 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 l can remember, and 1 don't