St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-24
Selected Stnrn.
ACK,S WOOD-PILE.
"Mother, l think | shall draw the

Since the death of his father Jack
had been the chief support OF his
mother aud his Two little brothers.
They lived at least four miles from
tbe village, and not a neighbor
within a mile OF them, and were
Il not for the whistle Of the locomo-
five as the train passed through the
cut below their house, the place
would have been lonesome indeed.
lack was very proud OF his wood.
nile. 1t had cost him many weeks
n( hard work, for he had cut and
sawed every stick oil it himself, and
upon it depended the winters supply
of food and clothing for the little
family. II have a cord more than
mother thinks there is" he whis-
pered to his brothers, land with the
money | get from that mean to buy
all sorts of things-apples and ras-
ins-and maybe mamma will make
us some mince pies for Christmas"
The next day Jack started with
his first load OF wood, his head full
of plans for extra comforts for his
mother and brothers. When he
drew up in front OF the little store
in which the country folks traded
their corn, wheat and other produce
for groceries and dry goods, the
owner was standing at the door.
mo, don't want any wood" he
said in answer TO Jacks question.
bought a piece of woodland last
summer, and have cut my W wood
and supplied every one around here.
No, | don't want any chickens either;
but | will take what you have at
three cents a pound"
No wood wanted Poor lack
could hardly keep back the tears;
the scarf for his mother, the mittens
for the boys, hannels and other ne
cessities were all gone in a minute.
Three cents a pound for chickens!
1t would pay better to eat them at
that price. However he parted with
a few to get some things his mother
could not very well do without, and
then turned his mules homeward.
Jack did not unload the wood
when he reached home but left it
standing. Snow had been falling
for some time, and as the boy walked
home after putting his mules in the
stable, TIE ground was quite white.
In a few words Jack told his mother
OF his failure o sell the wood, and
then seated himself by the fire, rest
ing his face on his hands.
Il don't know what we are going
to do" he said after a while, in a
ton that spoke more than his
words.
Nor |, Jack" said his mother,
] putting her arm tenderly around
him but my dear, we are not ex-
peclcd to know. 1t is only our
Lord who knows. We must wait
and trust"
But we do not sit down and
trust. We do our best and when we
have done that all we can do is to
trust. Those are almost the last
words your dear father said to me.
He saw what was coming but he
felt that God who feeds the young
ravlnS, would not forget Us. Have
faith and hope, Jack, my boy; have
faith and hope
The snow fell thick and fast
through the night, and the following
morning Jack could hardly make his
way to the stable to feed the COW
and mules. When he did succeed in
getting there he met a sight that
surprised him. In the railroad cut
stood a long train OF cars half buried
IN the snow. A number of men were
trying to clear the track to the en-
glne, while Others were passing Jacks
load OF wood into the cars.
'Halloo!" cried the man who
was directing the workmen: do
you know whose wood this is p"
1T is mine" replied Jack.
well. if you have any more |
want tall you have. Can you
bring it here?"
AS soon as l can dig it out of the
snow"
My brakemen will help you," said
the man, who was the conductor of
the train.
1--WE are in a bad fix. We have
been here all night, and are
likely to be here all day. My pas
Sengers must not freeze. Bring all
the wood you can"
Jack hurried to giveth mules their
breakfast, and while the mules were
eating he ran to tell his mother of
the good news.
Did | not tell you to have faith
and hope?" said his mother. Our
dear Lord eve forgets those who
trust in him."
Jack worked like a hero that morn.
my and when he carried the first
armiul of wood into the car, what a
shout of welcome he received from
the halt frozen passengers!
See here" said the conductor,
when the fires were started, edo you
know where we a get something
TO eat ?"
I'VE have plenty of chickens and
potatoes and corn meal, and my
mother "a cook them answered
Jack.
And we will help if she will let
us said three ladies.
Jacks mother and the lady pas