Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-12-26

HiHu, oI sOHnetHlHg OF Otuer might
happen. He mended up the old fence
that the hungry prisoner might not,
tramp-like, take to the road again il
occasion offered, and went whistling
home to his work.
December was half gone and, as the
weather sill kept reasonably mild,
Jonathan had managed to Craze out a
bare living with the help of whatever
scraps Davy could manage to smuggle
him from his own small allowance.
Hello, Jon'than. ole Teller. Still
alive an kickin', amt ye? Good fer
you! Did We think I had plum forgot
ten We? All, We rascal! Ye ben at yer
old tricks agen | see, PAWN up
things. Blest if We haven't paved up
a regular garden bed-the soil as fine
as powder Gee It's queer dusty
looking land down here; looks like
ashes or somethin'."
How are you David? Is that Jona-
than? How is he getting along? Is
he as mild as he looks YETI" called
familiar voice from the road, and
David, looking up, saw the minister at
the fence.
"Howdy, Parson? Yep this is iona
than-what's left of him. Won't you
come in an see him? He's leetle
thin jest now, but don't you think
he'll stan 1t still spring? Yer see
mainland David told the whole
story Yer don't think / ought to
turn him loose do yer? Cause he'll
wander off an | won't ever see him
no more" He ended anxiously, for
the minister was feeling Jonathan's
numerous ribs and looking very seri-
GUS
well, Wen let him stay here
awhile longer, anyway. Davy." he
said at last, smiling cheerily at the
boy; II tell you have more hay than
I'll use this winter for my horse, and
there's a big lot of straw don't want
at ALL You borrow Captain Smiths
rack tomorrow and come up to my
house after it. With a stack to gnaw
at and to shelter him a little think
Jonathanll do. You see he has not
been used to luxury. But I'm afraid
he has been pretty hungry lately. You
see how bare the ground is, and his
paving shows he thought it time to
protest vigorously. Why, this is
strange looking soil, isn't it? Did
you ever notice it Looks like slate
pencil dust almost, only grittier. l
would like to take a little of this
home with me If you don't care, Day.
i'd. You see, am something OF geo.
logist. You ought to be far enough
along in school to know what that is.
That's right; don't let the work knock
out study altogether. You'll get your
chance some day. my boy. DO your
best every day and you are bound to
be ready for it when 1t does come"
Christmas was only two days off.
and after supper David sat at the
kitchen table, whiting out some rude
toys foe his little sisters, whom he
had bribed to go early to bed. Mrs.
Sawyer was ''reddin' up" the supper
things and talking at the same time.
"Twon't be much of a Christmas,
Davy, I'm afeared," she said 1--WE
ain't nothing to spare, but wen man.
age somehow, an tank God we amt
none of us sick or nothin'. I'll beat
up cake an kill chicken, an laws,
We'll git along. Lots o. folks worse
off'n we be. But Lordyl how l would
like to git We all what ye want for
once. Yer're good boy, Davy, an
some day mebbe things will pick up
fer us-Come inw as knock sounded
on the door. well IL 1t amt the par
son! Come right up to the fire"
Well, Mrs. Sawyer. how are you