The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-09-02

THE TRUE GENTLEMAN.

tleman"
Aunt Susan gazed with a smile Of
loving delight as Johnny buttoned the
last button of his new suit.
Turn round, Johnny, SO can see
how 1t fits"
eyes, it fits real good" she went on,
the smile growing deeper. "Plaits
down the back"
"Sailor collar" put in Johnny.
Knee pants just the right length"
"And four pockets!'
Johnny thrust his hands first in the
two in the jacket, then in the two in
the trousers.
Vest sets as slick! The first bought
en- clothes you ever had, Johnny. Yes,
anybody'd take you for real little
gentleman"
Johnny looked proud, and felt SO.
errands for Aunt Susan, seen boys
whom he took for gentlemen. They
were the ones who lived in fine houses,
and had on nice suits for every day,
and never went barefoot. Johnny's
heart swelled at the thought that
really no one could tell the difference
between him and these boys.
His shoes were not quite so new as
the rest of his suit, but he had blacked
them so carefully that they looked
very well. Aunt Susan was right.
Anyone would take him for a gentle
man.
Now don't forget anything" said
Aunt Susan.
S1, %,,r ,oI o1, fN,
look, and then put pocketbook in one
hand and basket in the other. John
ny took another Peep in the small mir
ror on the wall, wishing it were larger,
before stepping out to watch for the
horse-car by which he went into the
town. Aunt Susan's small cottage was
on the outskirts.
The car in which he presently took
his seat was not well filed; indeed, the
cars rarely were so far out. On one
side sat lady with soft gray hair, and
face so sweet and kind that Johnny
felt glad when she smiled at him. Near
her was another woman, older, and not
SO nicely dressed; and with her was a
young woman who might be taken for
her daughter. Both of them had their
arms full of parcels.
On the other side of the car was a
woman with baby bright-eyed,
chattering, fidgety little thing, who
kept his mother on the alert holding
him in place: The only other person
in the car was boy of about Johnny's
age. And at this boy Johnny looked
with great disdain.
His freckled face was clean and
CHEEKY, and his hair smooth; but his
clothes were patched with just such
patches as were always very soon put
on the knees of Johnny's everyday
clothes, made for him by Aunt Susan's
busy. careful hands He wore faded
calico shirt, which Johnny at once con-
cluded was not made at a store, and his
feet were bare.
AS the car drew nearer town, it filled
up, and the woman with the baby was
crowded close to Johnny. The rrest-
less little rogue began to amuse itself
by pulling at Johnnys basket, then
laid it's hand, little sticky with gin
gerbread, on the shoulder of Johnny's
new jacket.
Johnny shook off the hand, and did
not smile. Baby did not appear to
realize that Johnny was gentleman;
for it again put out the small, chubby
hand, this time grasping the sailor col
lar. Johnny jerked himself free, and
looked for sympathy at the sweetfaced
lady.
"Be still"
The baby's mother gave its hand a
slap. The pretty lips drew themselves
into a pitiful pout, while tears gathered
in the bright eyes.
"Poor little fellow!'
1t came in soft voice from the bare.
foot boy, who sat on the other side. He
took off his hat-a very poor one, John
ny noticed-and baby was soon laugh
ing merrily as he played bo-peep
with it, only stopping for moment
when the young woman with the many
bundles dropped one Of them. He
sprang to pick up the parcel.
"Oh," he said, "it's broke!"
Sure enough, the paper bag had given
way, and let out number of flower
roots and bulbs. The boy quickly
picked them up and busted himself
trying to get them into shape.
"I've got string in my pocket" he
said. "Here," turning to Johnny, ''you
hold 'em while tie EN-"
But Johnny pretended not to hear
The roots were freshly dug and had a
great deal of damp earth about them.
Gentlemen always keep their hands
clean.
The young woman managed to get a
hand free, with the help of which the
barefoot boy tied up the roots in the
torn paper bag.
"Im very thankful to you," said the
woman. ~ get out here. Good-by,
mother. I'll be home early"
The boy carried her largest bundle
to the car door, and touched his shab-
by hat as he handed it out to her. The
car went on, and moment later the
old woman started up in dismay.
'See!" she cried, pointing after her
daughter. "She's dropped her purse;
she don't know it, and she's gone on
without it!'
She called to her daughter. but the
car made so much noise that her voice
could not be heard.
Don't you fret; I'll catch herr
Quick as n fash the shabby boy had
sprung off the car, and was making his
bare feet do swift work in moving him
towards the spot where lay the purse.
In another flash he had picked it up,
bounded after the young woman, and
placed 1t in her hands.
There IL M falling vvhether ho could