The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-01-31
7 \ - \ = ~ ! * h ~
pIs;ILLUsIo NED


2 . n q 1t M, 2 ~
y y - . 10 y $ee ~
Though q penny ID d very small
tpieee soi money. one must take; into
| consideration the fact that the boy
who held IL hi his light little fist
also was very small. ~ XIX "a;
In fact BobbySstll belonged In the
class under i've years 81 age, and
every one knows TINT III is pennies
which are bestowed grandly, BY par.
lents on The, helpless individuals below
five. When one is getting on toward
ten nickels begin to be losthcomins.
! and after that only d parent With
superb and shlde.bound allousncss
would dare hand out anything loss
than dimes to his bcEsechlng on,
spring. III ls!s i i.',.4
To Bobby that penny was d ,wons en-
$ful Trims. It really was, the first one
he actually remembered owning, with
the exciting knowledge that 1T had
purchasing power. There were dim
5recollecnons OF pennies In his baby
hands. which his fingers had closed
around because 1t was easier 10 curl
them up than to straishtcn them out,
but those pennies always; had been
led ono by one into tho yswRiag Jaws
of an iron bux that clicked syerracious.
vat the touch of a ;levcr{and eDgulf.
ed the coin Instantly and absolutely,
thereby terminating ,i:s associatioh
with himself. #,
He had taken not oven 4 :languid
interest IN those pennies, This Que
even felt different warm and ting
ling. i, s}a
When You 30 for a walk today
his father had said, .yon can buy
something with this pcrny!'i$ Nh;
Bobby sat In tho sun n;the, lowest
step o. the nat building, where he
was under the eye Of his mother sew.
ing IN the bay window above. There
were nervous sparrows chipping on
the curb and little shoots or green
grass were struggling up beyond. the
sidewalk. Farther down tho street
around the corner wore two delightful
little shops which danced before his
vision deliriously. One OF them had
candy for sale, besides unnecessary
things like magazines, and in the win,
dow Ct the other were some fetching
rubber: balls. no was trying to H..
cidesYhich he preferred. Candy was
delightful while II LASTED, but When
It. was gone It was zone. AS forl:a
rubber ball that wonid last. forever,
and the brick wall was a splendid sur.
face to bounce it3assinst. He rested
his chin in one hand while he frownetl
over the situation. Financial rcspon.
sibilities certainly opened up avenues
81 care and worry! \. Il (. z. q; Il.
There was "a sound OF ,whistlins
around the corner and presently an
other boy came In sight With d hon,
skip ind lump. He was three orr four
years older than Bobby and his Shat
was over ono earSand his face bore %
keen. twinhling: expression that made
Sone reali2e at once, II one CHANGED to
be under Ave that the newcomer was
q wonderfully important. experienced
person. 81
Hello" said. the boy, stopping and
surveying Bobby with his hands In his
pockets. ! 81: ,3 K 4 5ji3
Bobby was embarrassed at this con,
:descension. He stroye, TO think OF
something suitably great to say IN re- re-
ply. Then his, eye Frightened and his
round cheeks turned redder. Eve 1got
a penny!H he announced proudly.
"Shpcks!1 said the boy. .sYu1
don't say! Let's see5it!o
IA The fat fist Enclosed, showing the
COPPER disk lying on It's pink surface,
I'm. going 70 buy something" It's
owner added, q little .breathlessly. II
Hun said the boy, sitting down
sociably beside Bobby. .Yuh can't
get much with a penny. Ynh Jconll
get more fer two Il, &.
Il haven't got two said Bobby ap.
ologetically. He felt crushed beneath
the scorn in the boys eye-hc trealiz-
ed the ,abjcctness ofSpoverty for. tho,
first time, Ii & Is. IS. (
The boy leaned closer. Say" he.
said, '.ynh can get another. Yuh so
up ind tell yer mother You want M,
other penny-7and Ill hold this one
while you're gone ~ 4;
Bobby scrambled to his feet cxcit.
iedly and handed over the coin. Tho
world certainly was a delightful place,
for; there was In It nice boys who went
out fof their way, to be kind. to one!
He was in such q hurry that he did
not look back as he elattered up the;
stairs. He burst In on mis- mother
breathlessly with his request.
But the penny father gave you? ~
she. questioned, puzzled .$,, !;9!t
"The7the boy is. holding 1t foirr. me, y
Bobby explained. Downstairs" Il
Bobby's mother glanced from tho
window and bit her Zip, smiled a III.
tie and then sighed as she looked back
to the small, trusting face. Without
a word she got him the penny, then