The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-29
The Man with the wooden Lee.

me Man with the wooden Leg.
1t was Saturday morning, and a fine
lot of snow had fallen during the night
two facts which, taken altogether,
suited Danny exactly, and very soon
after breakfast he took his sled out for
a grand good time. But when he
reached the gate he stood still in sur
prise. Such queer tracks there were
in the fresh snoBi There was the
print of mans foot-a big one, too
and then where there should have
been another like it, was just a round
hole. and so on down the street went
these peculiar tracks. Danny looked
at them few moments; then followed
them along the walk, turned a corner
with them, and so kept on until they
led him right up to the porch of Mr..
Johnson's grocery store. They were
not on the porch itself, because Mr..
Johnson's clerk had swept the snow
off, but it was quite clear that the
maker Of the tracks had gone into the
store, and since there were none &C.
ing away from it. that he was in there
yet Danny hesitated- He wanted to
go in, but those prints in the SHOW
gave him a queer feeling, somehow.
While he was thinking about it. the
store door opened and a man came out
"a large man with a CHEEKY face. He
wore an old blue overcoat, with cape,
and his arms were full of packages
All this. however. Danny scarcely saw
at first His eyes, which were always
big. but just now were bigger than
usual, were fixed on the mans legs, for
one of them, below the knee. was not
a real leg at all, but something made
of wood, fastened in place by straps;
and Danny saw at once that this was
what had made these holes in the
snow Well, little chap" the man
said in a big, CHEEKY voice, after a few
moments in which, while Danny was
looking at his wooden les, he was look
ing at Danny. Never see one before.
eh?" "N-no, sir" replied Danny.
somewhat embarrassed. and afraid he
may have been rude. Please excuse
me-" "Oh, certainly. Look at it all
you like" replied the man, stumpiag
along of the porch. while the little
/ boy watched him curiously- Just then
one Of the packages fell to the ground
/ Danny at once sprang forward aad
| picked it up. let me draw EN- all
1 for you on my sled," he exclaimed.
eagerly. Il can Just as well as net
live your way" You do, Ell? How
I do you know which way / livs?" in
quired Danny's new acquaintance, now
/ quite curious himself Because IL
saw the tracks go by our house. and /
wondered what made 'em, so I came
to see' The man vita the wooden
leg laughed big laugh, and CHEEKY.
like his face and voice. Well, welll"
he exclaimed. as he arranged his pack
ages on the sled That's it, Ell? Yes,
thank you; III be glad to have you
haul this stuff for nae. my man. You
see, we only moved here yesterday,
aud 1 had to skirmish round early
this morning for provisions. haven't
got much acquainted in this town yet,
out if you're fair sample of the folks
think they must be a pretty nice,
obliging sort" Danny looked pleased
and they started for home. Il suppose
you are wondering how l came to have
leg of this kind, the man continued
We'll, there isn't time for the whole
story now. so I'll only tell you that ]
lost the mate to this One"-sIapping
the whole leg-''in the battle OF An
tietam, many long year ago" 'oh
did your" exclaimed Danny, full of in
terest. And will you tell me all about
it some day, If you please?~ Il dom
know" the man replied, seriously
War is terrible thing. my boy: but
I'll tell you something about it, if YOU
will come to see me. can carry the
things now. Thank you for your
help, my little friend" "Oh, car
take them clear home, just as well as
not" said Danny, and presently hS
had his load at the door of the tiny
house-a small house for such bis
man, he thought to himself. The bis
man and Danny became great chums
and although the old soldier with this
wooden leg and the CHEEKY face anG
voice soon had very many friends in
his new home, not one of them al
held warmer place in his heart thar
the little boy whose acquaintance he
made that snowy Saturday morning
c. A. P.