The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-31

away, ana ElOat over 1t.
And mind, he didn't do this because
ne was willing to be economical. No,
indeed He wanted just as many things
as the other boys and even more. But
he calculated on getting them from his
relatives and friends, and he used to
cry and lament and coax and carry on
AM eg till people got him what he
wanted so that they should have peace.
I'VE must stop this kind of thing"
his father said over and over again.
At last it was decided that Ned should
have no more things of any kind unless
he paid for them himself. This was a
week after Christmas, when he had been
remembered by everybody with beauti-
ful gifts, while he himself, though he
had more than ten dollars saved up,
had not bought a single solitary present
for any one, even his parents.
About the time that Ned's parents had
reached this decision he was walking
along the street. dragging his broken
sled behind him. It was a beauty OF a
bOb-sled that had been given to him for
Christmas by his uncle. That morning,
in coasting down HILL it had struck
stone and one of the runners had be
come weakened through the breaking Of
a bolt.
His uncle met him and asked what
was the matter. When Ned explained 1t
the uncle said:
That can be repaired easily for a
dollar. Herel III give you two dollars
for q. New Years present"
Ned stuck the two dollars into his
pockets and as soon as his uncle had
disappeared, he said to himself:
I hate to spend a dollar for fixing
the sled Now, I think 1 can fix that
myself I'll go into the tool house and
try. Then I'll be ahead of Uncle Ned
And his eyes glistened as he thought
of adding two dollars to his secret
hoard.
could find no bolt big enough We'll
thought he. "a bolt won't cost much
and I've got two dollars.
He started to the hardware store for
a bolt but on the way the thought of
spending even a Jew pennies out Of
the pretty new two dollar bill was too
much for shirn. So he went back and
paved over the old nails and screws
in the tool-house tfh lie found some
that looked as II. they might fit.
5 None of them fitted exactly, but by
this time Ned had become determined
to save all of the two collars. So, all.
though all his skill was not enough toii
make a good job with the poor stuff he
found, he tinkered away till at last the
runner seemed fairly hrm-at least Ned
convinced himself that it was, although, /
to tell the truth, he did not dare pull at
it too much.
Then he hurried upstairs to the attic
The hill where the boys of the village !
coasted was a very stee~ one, with sew I
eraI bad turns on it. The run was a /
very long one, and by the time the bobs /
got near the bottom they were whiz- /
zing at an amazing rate of sDeed.
When Ned got there. more than Is I
boys were fishing down and climbing up 4
to do it over again. He FASTENED to the I
crest of the hill. threw himself on his /
bob and went spinning. All was well /
till he reached a sharp curve half way
down. Here IL was necessary to turn |
the hobs quickly.
Ned was going extra fast The mo- /
ment he threw his weight to one side |
the runner snapped off and he went |
hurting over the ice. 7-t~ae other hobs /
were coming down behind him, and be- |
fore they could veer they were on top |
Of him.
The whole business went down the
rest of the hill in a snarl, and when the /
mass of sleds and boys was olsen
tangled, Ned was a wreck His face /
was slashed and cut. his arms and legs !
were black and blue and his ribs were /
so sore that he could hardly breathe.
He was helped home and had to stay |
in bed for more than a week, with a /
great deal of pain.
While he lay there he resolved that
he would try to cure himself of his /
misery habits; but perhaps he might
have changed his mind after he got
well if something had not happened to /
help his good resolution along.
When he got so that he could go /
around the house, he went upstairs to /