Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-09-27
A HAM SANDWICH.
BY MARY sELDEN MCoBB.


BY MARY sELDEN MCOBB.
''The worst of it is you must give up
your schoolin', Johnny" M
The little mother paused for a mo-
ment and looked up from the shirt
which she was making. II was the
last of dozen. II she could but finish
1t tonight she would receive three dol
lars. II the work were not done, to-
morrow being Sunday, the small folk
would go hungry. So the busy fingers
drove the needle nervously as she re-
repeated her plant.
Tho worst is your givin' up schoolin',
Johnny. Now the fathers dead and
gone, there's only me and you to earn
food for six mouths, boy. And you
was such fine scholar! II by work
ing my hands to the bone could keep
you to school. I'd do it. But there,
Johnny, the children's appetites is
hearty, and wages is so poor!"
Don't you mind. mother" said the
boy; and he put his arm lovingly
around the slender shoulders "You
don't think I'd leave you to support
the family alone, do your Yesterday,
at fathers funeral, says to myself:
Brace up, ]. Ham, says l. You're
tho head Of this firm now says |.
Schooling may go to the dogs, says 1.
So don't you mind, mother"
But j. Ham himself minded" he
withdrew into an adjoining coal closet,
and wiped suspicious moisture from
his eyes When he came out again he
clapped into the stove worn book,
Twenty Selected Declarations"
II couldn't abide seeing that lying
round, and me just going to learn
'Spartacus to the Roman Enjoys
was sure to take the prize for declama-
ton. I'll keep my 'rithmetic; can
cipher at home. Great Scott"
John pulled himself together with a
jerk.
I'm going out this instant moment to
hunt up a job, mother" he said, cheer
lily. mind now, You Billy and Mag
gle and Katy and Sonny-boy, behave
yourselves while Pm gone"
This exhortation to the small fry
was spoken as "head of the firm" Ii
John must take the place of father to
his brothers and sisters his authority
should be recognized. Billy was duly
impressed, but Maggie gave pert lit
tie flounce.
when Nelly Sullivan's, big brother
wants her to behave, he gives her a
molasses corn-ball," she remarked,
jecringly. As John had not penny
he could offer no bride.
There were no ''jobsp waiting on
any corner of the city. All day John
sought employment and came home
tagged. But as the shirts still lacked
many stitches he fell to and helped his
mother sew, and that very neatly.
All the next week he was on his feet,
but gained only rebuffs. He was not
stEong enough to SHOVEL coal, nor yet
to help an exprcssman who lifted
heavy boxes.
No "boys" were needed in the tele-
graph Offices, and the manager OF the
horse railroad invited him to call again
at the end Of Ave years, when he might
be old enough to act as conductor on a
street car.
Heartsick and weary, John still kept
stiff upper lip before his mother.
Just you hold onr' he said, conf
IDENTIFY; IN fetch it soon, and then
you sha'n't sew another stitch for
pay"
Another week, and still no ''job. y
Such big world 1t seemed, and yet SO
crowded with people. Busy men filed
the streets; busy boys, too, for that
matter. One would say every place
was supplied.
Once and again John met some of his
schoolmates
Whats become Of you, Ham?" they
would ask; and John would laugh and
answer:
"Oh, l amt going to school any
more. I've got all the book learning /
want"
But the laugh changed to sigh as
he turned the corner and went into a
store to see If a cash boy were needed.
You're too old, he was told.
''Fifteen!" unused John, bitterly.
''roo old and too young, too short and
too tall too strong and too weak.
Neither hay nor grass. Hard linesr'
The lines grew even harder. More
than once John made believe that he
was not hungry, so that Billy and
Maggie might have the more dinner.
But lit is long lane that has nc
turn" At last there came an evening
when John requested, briskly:
Breakfast at six thirty, sharp,
mother. Tomorrow I'm man o
business"
But when Mrs. Ham inquired the ma
ture Of this future occupation John
shook his head.
ITS all right. It's square and hon.
est" he answered; and that was all he
could be made to say.
He looked very sober when his moth
er's back was turned, but whenever he
caught .her eye he b came promptly
hilarious. In the light the little
woman started up, thinking she heard
her boy groan. But, no. 1t was only a
cough; SO sac lay down again and fell
asleep.
Every morning John sailed forth;
every evening he returned as the clock
struck five. He was always very tired
at tea time, but as he put seventy-five
cents each day into the family purse
Mrs. Ham ceased to ask questions.
As for any ARITHMETIC study, that
was impossible. Once John brought