Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-11-26
Charles Thanksgiving


~ NE year ago, Charlie had come to
II II the city to make his fortune. He
~ was fond of farming and farm
stock; but they We're slow means 10
wealth. He would 90 to the city for the
fortune, and would then come back and
purchase the best farm in the vicinity,
and have fine horses and big meadow,
! and-envous neighbors.
He was standing on a street corner,
with hands thrust deep down into his
pockets, and wearing the same clothes
he had brought from home. But the
clothes were soiled and worn threadbare
| and shiny, and the shoes were unblacked.
, and the hat lacking part of its brim; and
loag ago he had discarded such extras
as collars and cuffs. The fingers OF one
hand played idly with his two last half
dollars, both of which were owed for
the poor little room he rented on one Of
the back streets; and the other fingers
touched several pawn tickets, which he
had no expectation of redeeming. In
deed, he was won Iering duly if there
were anything else In his trunk which
could be pawned. lie had had no break
fast, and there was no prospect for i
dinner-and this was Thanksgiving.
A few yards away, a street boy was
sitting on dry goods box, swinging
his bare feet industriously to the tune
he was whistling But his eyes were
fixed on the listless figure Of his neigh
| Dor.
Say, country" he called, suddenly,
"what you thinkin' OFF,
Charlie flushed, hut did not answer.
Come, don't make an owl O. YOUR
SELF, the boy went on; there's nothn'
in this world to fret over. Look here
swinging his legs upon the box: no
clothes TO spare, an what there is amt
much for cold weather; an my jackets
lost an arm, an my shirt most o. one
shoulder; an furthermore" pausing to in
dulge in another bar of the street dirty
he was whistling 81 amt had no break
fast. an only cold pertater for supper
last night; an still l amt no split milk
to cry over His legs swung back into
space and beat lively accompaniment
to the conclusion of the tune. Then he
looked at Charlie.
Now, what's broke with you?" he de-
manded. "You amt stalled, an you've
got shoes on your feet"
But l can't eat my Shoes" Charlie
l have left are to pay for my room. And
and what's worse, I'm out of a job.
'Twasn't much-sweeping out ofices--but
It meant a room and something to cat"
The street boy stopped drumming and
looked at him with more interest.
Its sort O. bad" he acknowledged;
can you bein' from the country an know
In nothin' makes it worse. What'd you
come for?"
"Why. to get rich, OF course" Charlie
answered. "what does any one come to
the city forf'
HUH" derisively, IAN here I've been
lookin' ahead to goin' into the country
to get rich. Say, do you have fellers like
me. an like that crowd on the sidewalk,
up in your country?
Charlie looked at him, and then at
the half-dozen disreputable men who
were smoking in front of a saloon OPP
posite. and the two or three women sort
ing over an ash barrel. and the squaiid.
dirty-faced children playing and fighting
along the gutter. and answered. with an
expression Of disgust:
NO, indeed"
81 thought So Then the country's the
richest an best place" He look at
Charlie little enyiously.