Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-10-26

| school building was IN names. She
fastened to the burning house. The
roof fell in as she neared it, and two
firemen carried some one out on a
shutter. 1t was Caleb. He had heard
the fire alarm and hastened to save
the exhibition work. He was taken
to hospital, and Miss Wolcott staid
by his side. At last he opened his
eyes and smiled
II saved some of them," he said.
Then he lapsed again into uncon.
sciousness.
Caleb's bravery awakened the in
terest of the schoolboys, and they
spent their spare time by his cot AS
he grew better their bright minds be-
gan to evolve plans for him.
| Father said he would take him
into our house as though he were his
son, if we couldn't do any better,
said Harold. "But I think by the
way he said it that he expects us to do
better-I mean to think of something
BETTER"
well, there's his mother and broth
ers and sisters" said another.
perhaps they could do better if they
nad O chance.
''Let's go aud see 'em, "said Lester,
and they started off at once.
The boys staid but a moment in
the poor little home
"Gee!' said Harold, as they started
toward home, "Barefooted in March"
'And there wasn't thing in the
cupboard" said another.
tST at,c ool- Mice yUo1oo4& - oan,o
and help us fix them up" said Lester,
'I'm not very good at washing dirty
little kids faces. What do the rest of
you say?"
II wish that we could do it all our
selves, said Harold thoughtfully.
"Harold has a scheme" said Les
ter.
eyes, have and I want to talk to
father about it,
Harold spoke to his father that
evening.
''You see, father, "he said; 'I think
that the right way to help people is to
help them to help themselves.
The man smiled down very indul-
gently at the earnest lad.
'What had you thought of, my
son?"
''Well, hardly know, but 1 have
wondered if they could not do some
thing to pay the rent on our cottage.
There are three acres of land there
and those boys could raise chickens
and vegetables.
'That is quite grown-up plan for
such little lad. Talk it over with
the rest of the boys and see what they
can suggest"
A meeting was held in the school
room the next evening. The boys
suggested and discussed until the
room was almost dark.
"What does Caleb's mother do?"
asked one boy.
"She makes vests, 'said pale little
fellow in the corner.
"Gone from home all day, I sup
pose" said Harold.
eyes"
"Our housekeeper says it's worth
dollar week to keep my clothes
mended," said Lester. "What do
you fellows say to hiring Caleb's
we think OF something better?"
1t was agreed to by all the boys,
and the big family was transferred to
the pretty suburban cottage.
''Say, Caleb's mother can't saw
wood, "said one of the boys some days
later.
swell, We can," said Harold.
"And that garden must be plowed,"
said another.
"lll work at home for James and
he will bring the plow and do first
class job at that. He said he would"
said Lester.
Caleb slowly recovered from the
fever which was the result of the fire.
The boys did not have much time to
give to him, but their mothers and
sisters and Miss Wolcott did. There
were walks to repair, pump to mend
shed to be converted into hen
house, and the garden to make. The
schoolboys and Caleb's brothers did
the work.
James lent his plow aud his expert
ence to the lads, and there never was
thriftier garden than the one which
greeted Calebs delighted eyes when
he "came home" from the hospital one
May morning. And his mother stood
in the door-his mother-her hair
neatly combed, dainty white apron
over her pretty dress, and hint
of the roses of long ago in her toll
worn cheeks.
The next summer Caleb told the
boys that he and his brothers were
making enough to live upon.
"And pay the rent, too?" said Les
ter.
"Yes, and pay the rent, too. You
can give your mending to help some
one else, now. Advocate.