The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-21


tured TO say: Pardon me for intrudin1
on your conversation, doctor. but think
know just the place for that boy. Uncle
Josiah Crafts on Three Mile HIil' would
be glad to take him"
And would he be kind 10 him? jamie
Is such delicate, sensitive boy" the
young lady asked
Kind? That man Is the essence Of
kindness, just my idea of a true Christian.
and his wife is just like him. was
brought up on the farm adjoining his, and
il would take hours for me to tell YOU
all the good that man and his wife have
done. They had ninety fresh air children
there last season, took six OF them at
time and gave them the pleasantest fort
right they ever had In their lives,
know"
And so II came about that Jamie Brown
went to Uncle Josiah Crafts for winter
fresh air outing.
There" said Mrs. Crafts, i've finished
these mittens just In time for that city
boy TO put on. I've knit twenty-five pairs
Of mittens this winter. just catching up
work at odd times, too. and half OF the
time | did not know whose hands | was
knitting them for. but somehow a pair of
cold hands seemed to be ready TO 90 into
them" and the siver-haired woman
idh-Heu fntf!lil at the tHOueHt'
There was no coasting place SO fine as
this same hill on which Uncle Josiah lived.
After school the boys all brought their
sleds and had lots of fun. When they were
cold or hungry. they knew where they
would be welcomed. and crowded into
Uncle .iosiah's warm kitchen. where his
wife was sure 20 bring doughnuts. seed
cookies or fresh ginger snaps out or that
wonderful pantry of hers.
"Now. boys" sid Uncle Josiah. as he
was getting ready TO go 20 the depot for
Jamie Brown, II am going to bring lit
tie cash boy here from the city to stay
until he gets strong and well. and | want
You to be very kind TO him. and do all
you can TO make his visit pleasant
The boys all spoke together. "Wen be
sure IA do that" they were so glad TO
be able TO do something FOR this little cash
boy. They had been with the the good Old
man so much. that they had taken some
OF his Christian spirit into their hearts.
and their lives were Influenced by 1t.
II is wonderful how much good even one
good. pure life in "A community does
When the boys found that jamie had no
sled TO coast down hill with, they SAID
thew would chip in and buy one for
him. and 50 they did. OF course they
would all have been willing TO have had
him ride on their seds. but they all Knew
that every boy likes to have sled OF ms
own.
Jami, did rot know anything about
ccasting. When the snow came IN the cry
the policemen ordered the sidewaiks
cleared at once SO IT was shovelled on
The Il lldren all felt so sorry to Gee II
60. but the rulos had to be obeyed, ana
the childrens preferences were NOT con
sidered at all. All this Jamie toln the
BOYS. end they were glad they dld NOT
live I'm horrid city, where me officers
would not allow the boys to nave any Jun
I'm the snow. 49,.
jamie Brown was delighted with his
new sled and did not for a moment thlnk
no could not steer Just as well as the Other
hnvs. one boy volunteered 20 ride behInd
him although. as he said, he expected TO
get a tumble. and OF course he ala before
ne cot to the bottom of the hill. jamie
was almost buried i'm the snow wheh
the sled turned off the road, ana the
bows. knowing he was delicate and not
used 10 such plunges, thought best TO
e, up to Uncle josiah Ciafts' and brush
of his cloth IS and have him get warm.
And this is the way Uncle Josiah talked
to them:
$50 many fellows think as jamie did,
that they can steer straight and true;
understand how to manage, and over they
go. 1t Is a great thing TO steer ones
way well through the world. There are a
great many who come TO grief because
they rely on their own strength ana
wisdom. and do not ask any help from a
Higher rover to guide them. 1 hope all
OF you boys will begin at the top OF the
| hill and go straight and evenly down.
| To do this you Will have to look Well
faff fns
some folks in the world who put obstruc-
tions in a boys way on purpose to see
him 20 over / have aeen boys who start ID
all right at the top, went well for time,
but who grew careless and did not look
about them, and ran against snags and
Tags and were soon tumbled OFF at the
side Of the road. Some people lend heip-
ing hand 10 get these boys up on the
straight road again. but others stand by
and laugh. or treat them with perfect
Indifference. Now, boys. whel ever you see
a poor fellow down, steered Off from the
right course. stop and help him up no
matter how he got his tumble, help him M
again and give him words OF encourage
ment. There are plenty OF road spoilers,
boys, who will throw you out OF your
straight steering. II they can. Bad habits
too, my boys, soon wreck lfei they be-
gin in cobwebs and end I'm iron chains
But I've talked enough on the subject OF
steering. Mary Ann, Mary Amir
The smIing-faced little woman came
| out of the pantry with her hands full OF
doughnut rings. rolled in powdered sugar.
| She knew what her husband called her
for.
That night, after supper, Uncle Josiah
| told jamie all about the time he was In
the war he knew boys liked 10 hear such
stories Then he told Jamie that thet
| two must be comrades together now.
I'VE want TO get some of the city people
| out here in the country: there are too
many of them there" And when jamie
said he did 50 wish he could live all the
rest of his life i'm the country. and told
| how often his mother had wished that
some way would open for her to live
among the hills again, as she used ia
when she was little girl Uncle Josiah
said give me your hand. jamie. You and
] are comrades forever hereafter, you
shall live right here With me-
But motherv
"She shall come. too. for my wife Is
not as strong and spry as she used to be.
and we need a good woman such as l
have been told your dear mother Is, to
come and help her"
How did it all turn outl IL proved TO be
a mutual benefit 10 the country dwellers
and the city dwellers. And you Will hear
Mrs. Crafts telling her neighbors that
the coming OF the Browns vas Cod
send" to her. and you Will also near the
weary city worker respond, with a CHEEKY
tone Of voice, Surely the good Lord did
send Jamie and me to this beautiful nome,
where we have plenty Of food and fire
and Kind friends" jamie can steer DOWN
.yrbree Mile Hill" ~ straight "a any II