Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-03-23
Clear Crit.

BdNC kOb VI SSuto, Sdlu hC, Souit
you let me have geography and wait
a little while for the rest OF the money!"
How eagerly his little eyes looked
for an answer! and how he seemed to
shrink within his ragged clothes when
the man not very kindly told him he
could not The disappointed little fell
low looked up at me, with very poor
attempt at smile, and left the store.
/ followed him and overlook him.
"And what now?n / asked.
TRY another place sir"
"Shall / go, too, and see how you
succeed?"
"Oh, yes. If you like" said he in
surprise.
Four different stores | entered with
him and each time he was refused.
Twill you try again?" L asked.
Eyes, sir, | will try them all or l
should not know whether / could get
one"
We entered the fifth store, and the
little fellow walked up manfully and
told the gentleman just what he want
ed.
"You want the book very much?"
said the proprietor.
Eyes sir, very much"
"Why do you want it SO very, very
much?"
" To study, sir can't go to school,
but / study when l am at home. All
the boys have got one, and they will
get ahead of me. Besides, my father
was sailor, and i want to learn the
places where he used to go?"
docs he go TO those places nowp"
asked the proprietor
"He is dead, >" said the boy softly.
Then he added, after u while, 81 am
going to be sailor, too"
"Are you thought" asked the gentle
man, raising his eyebrows curiously.
"Yes sir, il live"
"Well, my lad, will tell you what
| will do; will let you have new
geography and you may pay the re-
mainder when you can, or | will let you
have one that is not new for fifty cents. "
"Are the leaves all in it, and just
like the others, only not new?'
"Yes, just like the new ones.
ut will DO just as well, then and l
shall have eleven cents left towards
/ buying some other book | am glad
they did not let me have one at any of
the other places.
The bookseller looked up inquiringly.
and / told him what / had seen OF the
little fellow. He was much pleased,
and when he brought the book along
l saw nice, new pencil and some clean
nice white paper init"
Thank you, sir, you are so very
good"
"What is your namep'
civilian Haverly, SIR
"Do you want any more books?" l
now asked bim*e more than ever
can get" he replied, glancing at the
books that filled the shelves.
gave him banknote. ut will buy
some for you" | said.
Tears of Joy stood in his eyes.
'Cau buy what l want with it?'
Eyes, my lad, anything"
"Then l will buy book for mother"
said he, II thank you very much, and
some day l hope l can pay you back. "
He wanted my name, and | gave it
to him. Then left him by the coun-
ter, so happy that | almost envied him
and many years passed before / saw
him again.
Last year l went to Europe on one
of the finest vessels that ever plowed
the waters OF the Atlantic. We had
very beautiful weather until very near
the end of the voyage; then came a
most terrible storm that would have
sunk all on board had IL not been for
the captain. Every spar was laid low,
the rudder was almost useless and q
great leak had shown itself, threaten
ing to fill the ship. The crew were all
were all practical seamen OF the first
class; but after pumping for one whole
night, and the water gaining upon
them, they gave up in despair, and
prepared TO take to the boats, though
they might have known no small boat
could ride such sea. The captain,
who had been below with his charts
now came up; he saw how matters
stood, and, with voice that | heard
distinctly above the roar OF the tenn
pest, ordered every man to his post.
1t was surprising TO see these mer
bow before the strong will OF their
captain, and hurry back to the pumps
The captain then started below to ex
anime the leak. As he passed me
asked him IL there was any hope. DE
looked at me, and then at the other
passengers, who had crowded up to
hear the reply, and said rebukingly;
Eyes, sir, there is hope as long as
one inch of this deck rpmains above