Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-09-08

now. I know little boys always like
pie"
''Thank you, Nj. Hanson, believe
I WILL" and after literally helping him
self, the young rascal squa tied on the
floor
Say, Mr.. Hansom," said Jamie, WHIP
Ing away all traces of the repast, why
don't you be my paw; you're just the
kind of man / like"
The little mans face frightened, but
he shook his head sadly.
Its no use, sonny, l have been try
ing it for more than ten years. Why,
boy, you don't know what an awful
task it is to ask a woman to become
your wife. 1 lie awake at night think
Ing about it It seems easy until you
try. l have said over and over to my
self, I'll not be a fool; I'll tell Martha
your mother) that 1 love her, but just
as soon as 1 see her everything gets
jumbled up in my brain and l can't say
a word-your mother is a wonderful
woman, Jamie, a wonderful woman
| l."
ooh, yes, mas a sumner, but why
don't you get your bluff in I'd
what would you do" interrupted
the shoemaker, eagerly.
"Well-well, if 1 was you, I'd say:
Look here, Mrs Jackson, if your look
ing for a good husband, you'd better
take me afore anyone else gets me-
l think that would fetch ma But l
have to go now"
Left to himself the shoemaker pom
dered over the boys advice. Then a
! look of determination Overspread his
countenance: TN do it; yes, 1 will"
Hastily the little man arose, brushed
his hair jerked on his coat as if afraid
his courage would ooze away, and ran
across the street, arriving at the wild
ow's house hot and out Of breath. Sur
prised at such unusual action on the
part of her dilatory lover, Mrs. Jack
son met him at the door
"0h, Silas, what on earth is the mat
ter!' she asked, in alarm.
There is a great deal the matter,
Martha. l have come to say some
thing very important to you-that IT,
here his courage faltered. Il have
been wondering about Jamie-that is
| thought perhaps he"
Ee was interrupted by shrill
scream from the object Of his great
solicitude.
Ma, ma-oh, dear me, ouch" The
cry was full of distress.
What is it," cried the mother, in
alarm. Tell me, Silas, what has hap
pened to jamie
Il am sure l don't know. L"
"Oh tell me, Silas; tell me-"
ooh, ma, ma" The cries were near
er now. The boy came rushing into
the room with both hands to his head.
Ma, l put fly n my ear to hear it
buzz and 1 can't get it out. Ouch. Mr..
Hanson run for the Doctor
I'll run, Jimmie, yes
An hour later when quiet had been
restored in the widows household,
Sias went home muttering to himself:
Il almost did it that time. Yes, it was
a pretty close call"
a week later trouble cast it's shadow
rested, charged with striking an officer
Of the law, and had spent the night
in jail The distracted mother was
notified to appear in court and answer
for her sons conduct. Of course Mr..
Hanson was there. Justice Of the
n IL i l.
of the prisoners daring act in striking
a policeman. There could be no ex,
cuse; it was a plain case Of incorrigi-
bility, and IS the boy had given the
officers on that beat trouble on previous
occasions, it was thought best to send
the boy to the reform school.
"Can you give any excuse for your
conduct" the judge asked.
81 didn't intend to hit the cop-I
mean the policeman; 1 was just trying
to balance the broom handle on the
end of my nose-(and I'd done it, too,
if he'd a kept out Of the way, but he
came along just in time to get Inland
it wasn't my fault"
The judges eyes twilkled, but he
had 10 mercy.
The reform school is the place for
you, you need a mans guidance; your
mother is a widow"
The mother was panic stricken and,
contrary to her habit, began to cry.
Silas watched the tears streaming
down the face Of his beloved, then he
forgot the court, the crowd, the pris-
oner, and happily, himself and called
out:
Your honor, let the boy off this
time for there will be a man to look
after him and YOU may marry his
mother and myself in the morning"
Then the little man glanced triumph
antly at the widow and murmured to
himself: at was a close CALL but I |
made it that time."-The Housewife.
The Monkey and the Nut.
An extraordinary instance Of animal
intelligence has recently been recorded |