The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-06-13
JIM'S SHOES.

YOU III De late.
| 1t was ten minutes to nine, and
daddy was ready. He always left his
small son at school as he went TO
the office In the morning.
But Jim didn't hurry up. He held
buttom-hook in one hand, a shoe
| In the other, and he didn't look at all
pleased-in fact, he looked quite
cross.
What's wrong, JIM" asked dad
dy, cycling the sad little figure.
Shoes" said Jim, gloomingly.
Daddy picked up the fellow to the
one Jim held. Very nice Shoes" he
said. Aren't they, soony?"
/ Girls shoes." said Jim, in dis
gust.
"Oh, no, they're not, JIM" said
daddy. They're boys shoes; of
course they are. Don't you remem-
Der, when we bought them, the man
! in the shop said they were little
/ boy's.'?"
I'm not a little boy said Jim.
"Baby's little. I'm not. Boys have
shoes with laces in them that cross
over at the top on knobs. 1 want
shoes like that"
But who's going to wear these,
Jim?"
Baby" said Jim. "Mummie says
she's growing fast
1T will be a long time before these
shoes will fit her, Jim. No, no, SON.
! But still Jim didn't hurry.
''They-they called me grille at
school," he said-daddy understood
then-'and l don't want to wear
them; they're horrid!"
would you like to go without
any," suggested daddy. That's the
only other thing l can think of, Jim. p"
NO" said Jim, course not.
want boys shoes"
/ Il haven't any money for them -
said daddy.
| Jim began to cry.
Daddy went to the foot of the
stairs and called out, "Mummie, have
you got baby up there?"
/ Yes, dear" came the answer, "of
course l have. I'm just coming
down.
shes not crying, is she?"
/ mo, bless her heart. She's smil-
ing" said mummie, as, with baby
in her arms, she came out on the
landing and began to come down the
stairs.
Il thought l heard some one cry
ing" said daddy. "It must have
been a mistake"
at must have been,' said mum
mie, cheerfully. Jim doesn't cry,
do you, little soldier?'
Jim looked up from the hearth-rug
where he was sitting struggling with
the button-hook. Perhaps it was the
effort of bending that had given him
a red face. His little face certainly
was read.
mo, mummie,' he said, I'm not
crying" He jumped up. I'm ready,
daddy" he announced.
''Shoe's all done up?" asked dad
dy.
YES" said Jim. And he kissed
mummie and baby-so did daddy
and off the two went.
That evening mummie read to Jim
about Elisha, the prophet, who car
ried on the work of his master, Eli
jah. Jim liked to hear about it; how
the old man had come to the youne
one and thrown his cloak over him
while he was busy at work on the
farm, and how Elisha had left his
home, and his mother and father
and followed the prophet.
Mummie told. him, too, about Eli
sha and the rude boys who had nc
respect for Gods servant, and who
called out, go up, thou bald head.'
to the man of God" Elisha did no,
mind their hooking, jeering words
himself, but he was a man of God
and he had to check the boys; and
then, because of their naughtiness
and bad behavior, a terrible thing
happened to them.
Jim listened.
why did htey say that to Elisha
and laugh at him." he asked.
Because he was a good man.
said mummie.
Are good people always laughed
att" asked Jim.
Nearly always some time or 9th.
err" said mummie.
81 don't like being laughed at
said Jim. 81 don't like it at all, mum.
mie."
Nobody likes it, sonny. But We
can be very brave when we're laugh.
ed at. That's what We must be-"
Flows it brave?" asked Jim
, looking puzzled. "'Tisn't like win
ming a victory"
"Oh. yes, it is, Jim. There are
lots of different ways of winning
, victories. you know. And one o,
the hardest things for many people
If1 do 80 30 B1nr %61sr