Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-05-05
The Reward Of
Mrs. McCIoskey
BY A. T. ATcIIISoN.

hearty breakfast, his mother, who
had provided for the occasion a new
laid egg, standing by while he was
disposing of 1t, accompanied by slices
of buttered toast, and declaring "tht
by amt attn enough to feed
chicken"
The by" enjoyed the experience
Of being coddIed-as what boy would
not?-and did not hasten his repast
When It could be protracted no long
er he wiped his mouth on the back Of
his hand, stretched himself, and crush
ing his almost brimless hat over his
tangled hair, started off down street
his mother standing in the door, witt
her hand over hereyes, proudly watch
ing him.
He had not passed out of her sigh
when little Rose Murray, whom hi
had rescued from drowning, attiree
as usual in dainty befrilled garments
espied him, and at once flew to NEE
him.
The big boy gasped for breath wher
he felt the touch of the soft fingers
and glanced down sheepishly from
his coarse blue jeans to her dainty
garments. But Rose felt perfectly al
ease, and was evidently proud Of &C
companying her hero down stree.
when you was drownded my mamma
said you was wonderful boy" she
said "There will never be such an
other boy in the village" she said.
"An' my papa, he said, when you
was drownded, he wouldn't a beer
s'prised to see you in parli'ment-that
to the house afore this, an you had
Just the stuff in you for that. An the
schoolmaster, whenyou was drownded
said there was a CLINT in your eye
which meant somethin' and the dust
wouldn't stick to your heels at schoo
when you liked.
"And the Sunday school teacher
when you was drownded, said he coulC
not keep from takin' more than com
mon interest in you, you was so brighe
An when you was drownded, Mrs
McShane said she loved you like hel
own son. An all the women said YOU
was a favorite of theirs, when yor
was drownded. An all the little girls
cried when you was drownded. ISM
it nice to be drownded an have people
love your"
"Yes," replied McCloskey's boy
dreamily, and after he had left Rose
he thus addressed himself:
$50 they were afther thinkin' ! wu'
good fur somethin' whin they tho't
wus drownded
"Well, it would be cryin' shame t.
disappoint 'em ALL" he said, when h
had recovered breath. "Tll hay' to sex
what l kin do"
Il told you So" said the schoolmas
ter wagging his head, when 1t be
came an established fact that McClos
keys boy was "goin' ahead of EN-
ALI at the village school.
mo more than we expected,
averred the united head of the Murray
family.
Eye needn't "a told us that cried
chorus of villagers delighted will
their own astuteness.
After 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
boy set off for higher institution Of
learning.
The day he started, II he had beer
some great potentate taking his leave
the village could not have shown 9
livelier interest. Mrs. Murray sat II
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 tht
schoolhouse. shading his eyes with
one hand and swinging the other over
his head The men came out of theil
shops and shouted CHEEKY word and
Mrs. Brady, Mrs. McShane and the
other women made some excuse to gel
down to the train.
One summer early in May the trair
drew into the usually quiet depot.
AS tall young man stepped out oil
car cheer after cheer rent the air
and a dozen hands were reached out
to clasp his. but the oh gray school
master got the first shake.
The brass band struck up "The
Maple Leaf Forever" and process
sion, headed by the schooimaster and
the young man, marched of up the
main street.
what is this all about?" asked q
stranger.
"The new mimber-McCl oskey's
boy replied Mrs. Brady, who, be
cause of her exuberantly excited in
terest. was the one accosted.