The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-23


jest try to get little rest.
Mr.. Keene, meanwhile, went back
to the crowd, which still surrounded
the dead horse Climbing to the seat
Of the wagon he stood up on it, and
said, briefly and to the point:
"Now look here, gentlemen. This
miserable old outfit, wuth1ess as il
seems, was everything in the world
it's owner had to make a living with
and he's an old soldier, with si1
children, and I read in the paper thai
his wife died a few weeks back. He's
tin peddler Maybe. some of you've
seen i'm round in the country neal
here"
"I know him." said the proprietor
of the tinware store, before which the
cart stood. "He bought goods of me
sometimes" :"
"And he always paid for 'em, too
I'll warrant. John Shores honest i
he is poor and not the smartest mar
on earth. Well, he's lying flat on his
back at home with a broken leg, anC
this girl is his oldest child, and she's
had the grit to take his place On the
cart and go out peddling, and yor
see what she's come to, gentlemen"
He pointed to the inanimate body
Of poor old Ned as he spoke, and
then went on:
"Now the point is, how's she 60
ing to get home with her cart OF
how's she going to keep up the busi-
ness and save these children and he1
father from starvation? That's ou1
business, gentlemen. It's my business
to the extent Of a ten dollar bill"
He took a crisp ten dollar note
from his pocket and held it up, as
he added: "Who else is interested tc
the same extent, or more or less, as
the case may be? Speak out quick!
The crowd grew larger, and the
loquaciOus and eccentric but warm
hearted Mr.. Keene waxed more anC
more eloquent. Every one knew anc
respected him, and many Of the mer
present responded literally to his
appeals on Lucy's behalf
The poor girl knew nothing about
what was going on around the cor.
ner Tired and nervous she sat in he1
cool, pretty room, indulging i'll a gooc
cry over her misfortune. But by anC
by Mr.. Keene came home to tea smil-
ing and CHEEKY.
"NOw don't you worry, my child
he said, heartily. "Y6u'n come out al
right yet. Bless you, I expect to see
you driving your coach and four yet
I do, indeed" But he told her no
thing Of the movement he had beer
making for her relief. She was ur
early the next morning. At the
breakfast table she said:
"Now, Mr.. Keene, I've thought il
all over and the only thing I car
think of is for me to hire horse tc
make the rest of the trip with. Dc
you know where I can get one"
Eyes, I do" he replied, promptly
"You sit here by the dining room
window few minutes and Til bring
one round for you to look att
Half an hour later he drove up to
the gate with a trim-1ooking horse
hltched to neat, new wagon, shin
ing in it's coat of green and red anc
yellow paint. 1t was regular ped
dler's wagon, very convenient anC
we'll made, that had been on sale as
secondhand cart, it's former owner
having died few weeks before. Il
was as. good as new-a very fortu-
nate purchase for poor Lucy. The
harness on the horse was new and
shining, and wien Lucy went out in
wide-eyed wonder she saw that the
wagon was full of bright new tinware
"The tin stuff is the special pres
ent Of a queer old fellow in this
town that some people call mean and
stingY, because he's SO saving anc