Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-06
A NARROW ESCAPE.
MIR. Johnson Was Not Killed by His
Terrible Fall.

MIR. Johnson Was Not Killed by His
Terrible Fall.
1t seemed certain that AIr. Johnson
had suffered severely. He had fallen
from the third story while engaged in
cleaning windows. The evening paper
said it was feared that he was injured
Internally, and whenlittle George Wash
ington Johnson went up the alley that
evening whistling cheerfully, as his
wont was, and Mrs. Mayberry called
to him from her kitchen window, she
was Mortified to learn the full extent OF
the calamity.
"Yes'm." said George, with ANNA
ton, pa he done broke his back"
The whistle was resumed as the little
negro replaced his cap and went on,
but Mrs. Mayberry excused his insen-
sibility on the ground of his youth.
Mr.. Johnson, the janitor of the "Leav-
enworth," was good husband and
father, as well as a sober. hard-work-
ing man, and it made Mrs. Mayberry
sad that he should die before his chill
dren were able to appreciate him. And
what would the mother and the six
boys and girls do without him? Mrs.
Mayberry began to plan neighboT-
hood subscription to pay the funeral
expenses, at least, and perhaps give the
family start toward independence.
1t was still early In the following
fl,.o auf1 Oh "a
the kitchen TO receive the elaborate
courtesies of Ida Sophronia johnson,
aged u years.
'Pa sent me, Mis- Mayberry," Ida
Sophronia explained. Gould you please
let him have some picture-papers or old
magazines to look at? He says it's
terrible to have to lay still and smell
carbide acid"
Mrs. Mayberry hastily made up an
attractive package. How S your faith
err this morning. she asked.
81 dunno but his arms bfoke-too,"
Ida Sophronia responded. thoughtfulIy.
when was at de hospital dis mornin'
dey'd strapped up shelf thing cross
his bed, so t he wouldn't have to hold
anything in his hand"
At that moment visitors from dis
lance arrived, and Mrs. Mayberry had
to forego the many questions she want
ed to ask. The guests, in fact, crowded
the Johnsons completely out of her
mind for twenty-four hours, so that
she felt spasm Of self-reproach when
one of her own children mentioned the
injured man next day.
"Mr. Johnson came home from the
hospital in a hack" the boy told her.
"He said they starved him there"
''Poor man. breathed Mrs. Mayber-
ry, pityingly. Il suppose he felt that
he'd rather die at home. l must see
what can do for them tomorrow"
So on the morrow she loaded a bas-
ket with things good to eat, and situa-
BILE for an invalid. and started for the
'Leavenworth," two blocks distant,
in the basement of which the Janitor
and his family lived. She dreaded to
go, fearing almost that she might walk
in upon a funeral service. Her appre-
hension was needless, however. Half
way between her home and the apart
ment house she met Mr.. Johnson him.
self, walking almost as jauntily as
usual.
Mrs. Mayberry dropped her basket
"why, Mr.. Johnson she cried. II
heard you were almost killed.
Johnson took or his cap. Yes. ma'am,
thank ye. ma'am. All was mos killed"
he said. "Ah got shook up powahful
Jes' missed iron fence. too. All reck-
on If Aid hit dat 1t would "a busted
me scandlous. But All didn't hit II, no
ma'am. All done lit on nah haid In
de yahd."