The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-06
JOHNNIE o,CoNNoR.

JOHNNIE O'CONNOR.
You didn't know we had a brother? Well.
we haven't, that is Johnnie O'Connor, from
Boston. Come in and sit down a minute
and I'll tell you about him. You know sis
ter Ellen and I went to Boston with the
Christian Endeavorers, didn't you? We
had a grand time, too. We had been saw
ing for a year. and two or three times we
were afraid we shouldn't be able 20 make
out enough money. but we did. finally.
though We looked pretty shabby all winter
and had to give up the lecture courses.
When Ellen first proposed going I nearly
tainted. go to Boston," said /. I'VE
might as well talk of going to China
But Ellen said the railroad tickets would
be cheap and the board, too. If we man
aged right. and she talked me into it
before 1 knew it. Ellen can usually con-
vince me of anything. she has such a way
with her. When the day came and we
were really off l gave myself up to en-
joying it. for this was our very first trip:
except to Fairview. we had never been
anywhere. not even to Acton or Bethany
Park. We once thought OF Chicago and
the worlds fair, but it looked so foolish
we gave it up. When two women live
alone and sew, sew, sew, from morning
till night. they get sort Of queer. and Ellen
said we'd be as peculiar as old Mrs. Brown
IL we didn't get out Of the track somehow.
You've been East, so there's no use telling
you what we saw on the way and how we
hated to go to sleep for fear of missing
something. We sat up the entire distance
because a sleeper cost so much, but we
were not very tired. and when we got
there, l declare there was so much to see
we didn't know what to look at first.
Neither OF US belong to the Endeavor So
ciety, but when they sang. There's sun
shine in my soul to-day we wished we
could join in. and the way those young
folks took the town was a caution They
seemed to be ~bubbling over. for they sang
everywhere, on the boats. street-cars and
in the Common. / didn't quite see how
they could bring themselves to eat sand
witches AID hard-boiled eggs on the famous
tombs in Mt. Auburn, but Ellen said she
didn't thsnk / could say anything when
had drunk root beer on the steps of
Faneuil Hall. Isn't 1t too bad we have to
eat and drink? We used to buy a plate OF
hot baked beans and some rolls and take
to our room for supper at the end Of the
day. 1t was plenty for US and
cheaper than to GO to a res
taurant, and once 1 said to Ellen.
Fancy walking home with beans and
bread after the view from Bunker Hill
but it tasted good just the
same. / often think how strange 1t is. we
go along SO calmly when such unexpected
things are about to happen We were
looking for Longfellow's home when we
met Johnnie. He was with two or three
other boys. and when we asked him IL we
were on the right street johnnie called
out out .p . ,b9 yop want wan coala g fnd t oa Me; @e
and then he followed US, talking as fast
as he could. He was such a little dot Of
a fellow and looked so dirty and forlorn,
and yet so interesting, somehow, that i
asked him where he lived and he told US
all about himself. The child had not been
why, did You say? Can you always tell
why you care for people? / can't Johnnie
liked me- right away. could tell:
taken my hand. only / did not offer it
because he was so dirty. / ought to have
bee .s ash ann sa ID m Rs thour he II i0U %as p ug az
blue. not many clouds. He stopped to hear
a bird sing, and pulled a daisy and gave 1t
could get us a nice cool drink. Ellen said
he was looking out for a, fee, but he
run in" a few weeks back and before his
time was out his mother meant to move.
50 the old man eouid not .. find then them;
drunk and beatin' mother" Have You
any brothers or sisters?" N just me.
had a brother onct' but the iectric cars
I could talk to her. When 1 told Ellen
she said / was crazy and begged me 10
give the boy a nickel and deave him;
when she saw how in earnest ] was she
ing over il. ] was still determined to have
him she would not say anything. j once
Shc cea;s b Ellsn 4 sef child without sy sayin Sei / wi msrl
rIed. / did not want a husband. but ]
did want a child Of my very own, and
except that I liked him. ! wanted this one.
I could not sleep that night for thinking
of his pretty eyes as he looked at the
was up early ready to hunt Mrs Burns:
Jonnie's mother. Yes. IL does seem odd
she was willing to let us take himIhe is
had-but she is sickly and could not take
care of him; he lived in the streets and
4 saw US. because although Ellen scorns i'm
pulsiveness or any demonstration Of af-
lection. I could see she was almost as
Mrs. BURNS once in q while and tell her
about Johnnie. but I don't think she misses
him much. She is sick and tired to deaf
doesn't seem 10 have any feeling left. NJ
he has not been homesick either, ar
is good as gold-obedient. I mean. b.
oh. the slang. We don't know what n
is talking about half the time, and hf
swears dreadfully: says damn" as easily
H. dU1 q ANLAA -
spshaw." The neighbors are afraid 10 lat
him play with their children and I don't
blame them. but I wouldn't trade him fof
the pick of the whole lot. He will come
out all right, you see IL he doesn't. He
is very happy In his new "togs'' as hs
calls them. l suppose he was never clear
and whole in his life before. He doesn'i
mind washing his face. but II was Sons
trouble TO get him to brush his teeth and
I at last offered him FIVE cents a week 4
! he would do IL: when he forgets / deducr
a penny. which he thinks is too mucf
unless I raise the reward TO Z cents, anc
/ I shall. Ellen says I spoil him and thaI
I he ought TO be whipped once in a while
hut r know better. You ought 10 hay,
? heard him laugh the first time after he haf
, been regularly bathed. his hair cut anC
brushed. his nails trimmed and cleaned
Don't You love to hear a child laugh
! / said. How do you feel. Johnny" Fl.
walked over to the looking glass. turne,
= dude thoughT" and then he laid dowi
4 on the floor and rolled over and over. Hi
2 jrrevererre Is something awful. but wha
else could be expecteds He had never bee
' 10 church or Sunday school in his M
and bad 20 notion what a prayer. was
ended II with. God bless my mother An.
r father. Aunt Ellen and Aunt Martha. an,
: make me a good boy" but when he i
night after he had lone this I said
Johnnie. aren't YOU going to ask God =
a bless Aunt Elem" He looked up with
: little twinkle in his eyes and said. eyes
Z I'll ask Him TO biess her-nit'' WINS
: did I say? l thought that was a good tim
: to keep still. But he Is sweet as ne ca,
. be and he loves me lots. don't you Johnnie