St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-10-04
KEEPING BACK A PART.

llOW.
Don't you see that coal on the side
waikiki and Jim pointed down the street
to place where ton of coal had lust
been deposited That's in front of Mrs.
Lange's house, and we can 90 and offer
to put it in for quarter"
But likely the man hmseIfis going to
put it in"
80, no, he isn't! Can't you see that he
is getting ready togo away? Come, let's
hurry" and Jim rushed down the street,
followed quickly by his companion.
They paused to take breath in front of
Mrs. Lange's door, and then i'm ventured
inside of the house with his offer.
"Why, yes" said that lady pleasantly.
"I'll be glad to have you put it in.
thought the man himself would do it,
but | see he's gone off"
&c. armed with shovels and pals, the
boys set to work to get in the ton ofcoal.
1t was hard work for such little fellows;
they had to carry the coal around to the
back of the house where the coal shed
was, but they went at it bravely, and
before long the pile on the sidewalk had
grown considerably smaller.
Once Ted looked up and said:
Say, Jim, that quarter won't divide
even"
mo more it won't" was the reply.
Twelve for you, and twelve for me-"
Ted went on; "but what about the other
cent?"
81 don't know" Jim said thoughtfully
1--WE can't divide cent, and it don't be-
long to one any more than to the other"
There's your baby suggested Ted.
YES, but there's yours, too, and they
both can't have it, and giving it to one
more than to the other wouldn't be even"
Il say, Jim" Ted suddenly exclaimed,
as if new and bright idea had occurred
to him, there's the old blind man, cor.
uCI Ol MduHdllall avenue.
That's so" assented Jim, "and he's
both of ourn. He don't belong to me
any more than to you, nor to you any
more than to me. We both kinder own
him-don't WEI"
Eyes, we both helped him to pick up
his money the day he lipped-didn't WEI"
"Of course; so he'll have the extra
cent"
Having arranged that important mat
ter, the two little fellows went to work
again with such will that inside of an
hour the coal had entirely disappeared
from the sidewalk.
Now we're DONE" cried Jim, trium-
phantly.
Eyes, we're done" echoed Ted.
But had they finished? Down in the
gutter was lying at least half pail Of
coal, and Jim asked himself this question
as he happened to glance at it.
Ted came along, and saw, too. Look
lug at Jim he read his thoughts, and said !:
80, pshawl let's don't bother about
that little bit; we're both too tired"
There's the dust on the sidewalk,
too" remarked Jim, slowly, 1.-THE putter
in always cleans that off,"
But we're not regular putter-ins,"
argued Ted, as he Strengthened up to
rest his aching back.
But Jim stared at the gutter, and did
not reply.
Whats the natter What are you
thinking OFF" asked Ted.
"Why, was thinking about that story
that we heard down to the mission
school-that one about the man and wo-
man who was struck dead for lying"
MAS and Sophia?" asked Ted,
"Annias and Sapphira," corrected Jim,
who was two years older than his COM
panion, and could more easily remember
hard names. Eyes, that's them"
well, what have we to do with them?
We amt lying, nor we amt keeping any
body's money back--are we?'
mo, but"-and Jim looked as il he
scarcely knew how to express what he
meant.
"But what?" said Ted, with wonder
ing eyes.
"You see, it's just like this" Jim went
on, thoughtfully, that man down to
mission-school said it was the same
if you kept back any thing, even some of
the work you ought to do, and we're go
ing to be paid for this, Ted, and it amt
done"
"Wel, then let's take up the coal"
and Ted started for the shovel.
"AIl right, and I'll get the broom to
sweep the sidewalk. It's better that
way-aint it, Ted?'
And Ted gave wise little nod by way
of reply Central Presbyterian.
FOR JOHNNY'S MOTHER.