Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-05-27
HE FOUND A FRIEND.

COOkNb n Il 1SklIANl.
A thinly-clad young man was walk
ing along a city street one winter
morning, eating peanuts from Ave
cent sack In his coat pocket. In lieu
of breakfast, when he saw num-
Der OF boys trying to attract the at
tention Of flock Of hungry pigeons
Sin the street by tossing cracker
crumbs at them. He stopped and
Joined in the fun by Smelling some of
his peanuts, breaking the kernels into
small pieces, and throwing them on
the pavement near the birds.
Recognizing new benefactor. they
focked round him. eagerly picking up
his offerings. but keeping an eye on
him meanwhile. prepared for instant
fight in the event OF his becoming too
familiar. Long experience had taught
them to be suspicious Of strangers.
says Youths Companion. 81
Scooping down and holding
tempting morsel between his fingers.
he called the birds gently.
At first they shrank back, but pres
emily an old bird. having first inspect
ed him critically with one eye, and
then with the other. stepped forward
gingerly, plucked the tit-bit from his
fingers and darted away. Not finding
the experience so very terrible, the
old bird soon came back, and was re-
warded with another choice bit OF
peanut. The other pigeons speedily
followed the example.
That's more than they'd do for any
Of u.s." said one of the boys.
The young man gave the pigeons
about half his stock OF peanuts, and
then Strengthened up.
That's all can spare you this
time" he said, starting away.
- A middIe-aged1 man who had been
watching the performance with con-
siderable interest tapped him on the
shoulder.
Young man." he said, ARE you
: looking for work?"
Am II" was the response. i've
been tramping over this town for a
week. hunting job"
what can you do?"
I'm a sort OF jack of all trades. l
can carpenter little, run an engine,
repair bicycles and
Can you take care of horses?"
Can II" said the young man, his
face lighting up. Il was raised on a
farm"
well. come along with me. need
,coachman, and I'm not afraid to
trust my thoroughbreds with you. I'll
take the recommendation the birds
Lave just given you. Will you work
for me for $50 month and board till
you find something better?"
Would he? Well!
The young man is now his middle
aged employers trusted man OF all
work, with wage to correspond, and
the pigeons have never had occasion
to retract their recommendation.
THE LITTLE SMITHS ALPHABET.
When the little Smith was about
three years and half old she was
sent to school. She went little
younger than other children because
she had a sister two years older to
look after her.
She wore her first little hoop skirt
with three hoops in 1t, and It gave
her much trouble when she tried to
[ sit down. She also wore her new
green and red checked shawi-a
scratchy little thing and not at all
pretty, but of her own choosing. When
the rest Of the family tried in vain to
persuade her that there were prettier
ones Papa Smith said, I'VE told her to
take her pick. so we must let her
keep it,
She was happy child that frst day
In school and started of on the a.b-c's
with relish. She looked with surprise
upon a little girl who had dropped
into seat by the door, and would not
leave It, but spent the whole morning
crying to go homea
She quite won the teachers heart
by the way she learned her. letters.
Every day she would go home with a
new supply in her head. They were
arranged in her book in fours. All
her life long she saw them that way.
She particularly liked the great
round 'Oy because that stood for her
first name. On the last row Of fours
she came to grief.
This is o." said the teacher.
Me" said little Smith with laugh.