Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-01
The Reward of
Mrs. McCloskey
By A. T. ATCHlSON.

McCloskey's boy rose early and NJ"
hearty breakfast. his mother. who
had provided fol the occasion Il new.
laid egg, standing by while he was
disposing of it, accompanied by slices
OF bu,tered Toast. and declaring the
by amt attn enough to feed a
chicken
The by" enjoyed the experience
of heing cOddled-as what boy would
not and did not hasten his repas'.
When II could be- prctraCted no long
er he wiped his mouth on the back "i
his hand. stretched himself. and crush
ing his almost brimless hat over his
tangled hair. started OF down street,
his mother standing In the door. with
her hand over hereres, proudly watch
ing him.
He had not passed out OF her sight
when little Rose Murray, whom he
had rescued from drowning. attired
as usual in dainty befrilicd garments.
cSpied him. and al once few 10 meet
him.
The big boy saSped for breath when
he felt III" touch of the soft fingers.
and glanced down sheepishly from
his coarse blue jeans to her daint!
garments But Rose felt perfectly at
ease. and was evidently proud OF &C
complaining her hero down street.
When you was drowndcd my mamma
said You was wonderful boy" she
said There will never BE- snch an
other boy in the village" she said
An my papa. he said. when YOU
s'prised to see YOU in parli mcnt-that
lrishmen have gone from the cabin
TO the house afore this. an you had
just the stun In YOU for that. An the
schoolmaster. when you was drowndeh.
said there was a CLINT in Your eye.
which meant somethin' and the dust
wouldn't stick to your heels al school
when YOU liked.
And the Sunday school teacher.
when You was drownded. said he could
not keep from takin' more than com
mon interest in you you was so bright.
An when yon was drOwnded. Mrs.
McShane said she loved You like her
own son. An all the women said YOU
vas a favorite OF theirs. when you
was drownded An all the little girls
cried when you was drownded. Isn't
it nice to be drownded an have people
love You"
eyes, replied McCloskey's boy.
dreamily. and after he had LETT Rose
he thus addressed himself:
So they were afther thinkin' I wus
good fur somethin' whin they tho't |
wus dr0wndcd.
Well. it would be IA cryin shame to
disappoint EN- all" he said. when he
had recovered breath. I'm hay to sec
what kin do"
81 told you So said the schOOlmas-
ter. wagging his head. when II be-
came an established fact that McClOs-
keys boy was "goin ahead OF en-
all at the village school.
NO more than We expected.
ayerred the united head Of the Murray
family
We needn't "a told us that" cried
a chorus of villagers delighted with
their own astuteness.
After a while McCloskey's boy got
to where the village school could car
ry him no further. and the schOolmas-
ter grew deeply concerned as to the
lads future.
What occurred during the summer
did not become known to everyone.
but in the early part Of October the
hoy set OF for a higher institution OF
learning.
The day he started, If he had been
some great potentate taking his leave.
the village could not have shown a
livelier interest. Mrs. Murray sat in
her bay window. and waved her hand
kerchief as he passed. The school
master gave an extra recess to the
children. and stood in the door Of the
schoolhouse. shading his eyes with
one hand and swinging the other over
his head. The men came out of their
shops and shouted CHEEKY word and
Mrs Brady. Mrs. McShane and the
other women made some excuse to get
down to the train.
One summer early In MAY the train
drew into the usually quiet depot.
As tall young man stepped out OF
a car cheer 'sf,erscheer rent the air.
and a dozen hands were reached out
10 clasp his. but the old gray school
master got the first shake.
The brass hand struck M The
Mamie Leaf Forever" and process
sion headed HI the srhoolmastrr and
the Young man marched Oh up the
main street.
What is this all about" asked a
stranger.
The now Observation-Disclosures
hoy" replied Mrs Brady. who. no
cause Of her exubcrantly cycitcd In.