Business, so far as Johnny and Jimmy were concerned, was almost entirely
neglected for two weeks after Katy was carried to the hospital. If they
sold any papers, it was only sufficient to pay Mother Brown for their
board, and nearly all their time was spent in remaining where they could
look at the gloomy walls of the building in which Katy yet remained.
Some of their friends in the newspaper business had attempted to make
sport of them for spending so much of their time simply looking at the
walls of a hospital; but the light in Johnny's eyes had warned them to
stop, and Jimmy had said, quietly, "We stay round here 'cause it would
make Katy feel good if she knew it."
Fully repaid for the long hours of watching by the knowledge that their
being there would please their friend if she could know it, the two
remained day after day, and far into each night, until the time came
when they were actually startled by the news that in another week, if
nothing happened to her, Katy would leave the hospital.
This good news came to them so suddenly that they were almost as
stupefied as they had been when the accident happened; but when they did
fully realize all the happiness contained in that announcement, they
gave vent to their joy in such extravagant antics that the old porter,
who chanced to see them, declared it to be his solemn belief that they
were "a couple of ijuts."
"Now what'll we do to show Katy how glad we are?" asked Johnny, when,
breathless from the severe exercise, they seated themselves on the
curb-stone to talk the matter over. "We've got to do somethin', you
know, an' what shall it be?"
Jimmy rubbed his chin vigorously, as if to call forth his most brilliant
ideas, and after an unusually long pause, replied, "I'll tell you jest
what we'll do: we'll scurry 'round an' get money enough to buy her one
of the stunnin'est dresses we can find, an' we'll carry it up to her the
day before she comes out."
It certainly seemed as if that idea was an inspiration, and Johnny was
so anxious to carry it into execution that he urged his friend along, on
the way down town to purchase a stock of papers, at the most furious
rate of speed.
They were not just certain how much money would be required to carry out
their plan, but when they had gotten together a fund of two dollars and
sixty cents, they were certain they could purchase almost any dress that
was displayed in the shop windows, and have enough left not only to buy
bracelets, but anything else in the jewelry line that they might chance
to fancy.
[Illustration: THE BOYS TRYING TO SELECT A DRESS FOR KATY.]
During one entire forenoon they went from one to another of the largest
stores in the city, peering in at the windows at the ready-made dresses
displayed, and not quite able to make up their minds which to choose.
The greater number of the garments appeared to be too large, while none
of them were quite bright enough in colors to suit them exactly.
"I'll tell you what it is," said Jimmy, after he had rubbed his chin
harder than usual in front of a delicate party dress of pink and white
silk with an enormous train, and had decided that it was not brilliant
enough in color to please them, "we'd better go to Bob Spratt's mother,
an' get her to come out with us to buy it. She'd know best what Katy'd
like."
"I'm afraid that's what we'll have to do," said Johnny, with a sigh,
fully convinced of the hopelessness of their succeeding unaided in their
task. "I don't see how folks get along that have to buy more'n one dress
a year; it must take 'em 'bout all their time pickin' 'em out."
"I s'pose they get kinder used to it, an' know jest what they want,"
said Jimmy, with an air of wisdom; and then, with just a shade of envy
toward those particularly fortunate people who know exactly what to
purchase, the newspaper merchant walked resolutely away from the
party-dress which he was convinced was not beautiful enough for Katy to
wear while selling pins on the street.
Mrs. Spratt was found, according to her way of expressing it, at her old
established place of business, on the corner of Vesey Street, where she
drove a flourishing trade in jackknives, candy, and other such necessary
articles.
Never before had either of them doubted Mrs. Spratt's wisdom and
superior judgment; but when she boldly declared that a silk dress could
not be purchased for two dollars and sixty cents, they began to have
suspicions that she was not the wise woman they had always believed her
to be. Those suspicions became a certainty when she added that even if
they could afford to buy such dresses as they had seen, they would not
be suitable for Katy to wear while plying her trade on the street.
It was not until after they had withdrawn to a convenient distance, and
there discussed the question of Mrs. Spratt's mental condition for fully
ten minutes, that they finally decided to ask her just what she thought
would be suitable for a dress for Katy, and within their means.
Even if Mrs. Spratt was not altogether right in her mind, and even if
she did have ridiculous ideas regarding color, she spoke just as if she
believed what she said when she told the boys that they could buy some
pretty, plain material, sufficient for a dress for Katy, for about a
dollar and a quarter, while with another dollar they could hire Mrs.
Isaacs to make it for them in the latest style.
Several more strictly private consultations between the partners were
necessary before they could make up their minds to trust to Mrs.
Spratt's taste and honesty in buying the dress, and then they placed the
entire matter in her hands, she generously offering to purchase the
goods that very afternoon, providing they would care for her stand while
she was away.
The boys had plenty of time in which to discuss the matter in all its
bearings while Mrs. Spratt was attending to the important business. It
was with deep sorrow that they admitted to each other that if the dress
was to cost two dollars and a quarter, it would be almost impossible
for them to buy any very large bracelets with the remaining thirty-five
cents.
It was a disappointment that caused Jimmy to rub his chin until it was
very red; but he bore up under the sorrow like a philosopher, his active
mind presenting another plan that seemed quite as brilliant as the
first.
"Johnny!" he cried, as he started up suddenly, at great danger of
overturning Mrs. Spratt's rather frail "old established place of
business."
"Wot?" asked Master Davis, moodily, for the impossibility of buying the
bracelets weighed heavily on his mind.
"Why can't we earn a little more money, an' the day Katy comes out of
the hospital, take her somewheres for a good time, jest like reg'lar
folks do?"
"Cricky!" exclaimed Johnny; and by that expressive word Jimmy knew that
he was impressed with the idea.
"I know a feller what carries 'round nuts an' candy on one of the Coney
Island boats, an' jest as likely as not he could fix it for us so we
could go down for half price. How Katy's eyes would stick out when she
got down there! Why, she'd jest roll over in the sand, she'd be so
tickled."
"Then good-by dress," said Johnny, feeling actually relieved that he had
been able to find some fault with Jimmy's plan, for he was almost
jealous of his partner's active brain.
"Well, of course I don't mean that she would really roll over if she had
the dress on," said Jimmy, quickly, conscious that he had colored his
picture a trifle too high, "but I mean she'd feel good enough to do it."
"When could we find that feller on the steamboat?" asked Johnny, anxious
to settle all the details of this very brilliant scheme at once.
"I guess we'd see him if we went down on the pier an' waited till his
boat come in."
"Then we'll go jest as soon as Mrs. Spratt comes back."
Johnny was not hindered very long by the absence of the owner of the
stand, for in a few moments afterward she returned, flushed and heated
by her unusual exertion, but wearing a triumphant look.
"I bought it," she said, as she tried unsuccessfully to fan herself with
one of her largest combs, "an' I thought I'd save time by carryin' it
right over to Mrs. Isaacs. But I brought a piece to show you what it is
like," she added, quickly, as she saw a look of disappointment come over
the boys' faces.
The goods was not exactly what they would have chosen, for it seemed
much too sober in color, and not "shiny enough," as Jimmy said; but it
was a soft, rather thin piece of blue material, which would make a very
becoming dress for "their girl."
"I got it for twelve cents a yard," said Mrs. Spratt, in a tone of
triumph, "an' I made the man throw in as much as ten inches extra, which
will give her a good dress pattern. Then I bought the buttons an' the
trimmings for twenty cents more, an' Mrs. Isaacs will find the thread,
an' make it for a dollar. It'll be as handsome a dress as you could get
anywhere for two dollars an' forty cents, an' a good deal better than
Katy ever had before."
Mrs. Isaacs had promised to have the garment ready the day before Katy
was to come from the hospital, and this most important business having
been attended to, the boys started out in search of their friend the
employé on the Coney Island boat.
The steamer which Ikey Moses graced with his presence and particularly
valuable services was not at the pier when the boys arrived there; but
what did two or three hours of waiting amount to when such an end was to
be gained? Absolutely nothing, so they thought, as they loitered around
the dock until, two hours later, the steamer arrived.
Ikey was on board, and in particularly good humor, having made twenty
cents extra that day on a private speculation in sassafras bark. And
being intrusted with his friends' secret, after he had solemnly crossed
his throat never to divulge it, he made of the question of getting
tickets at half price a very simple matter. In fact, he was quite
certain he could get tickets for nothing, and he promised to use all his
great influence in their behalf, providing they would pay him ten cents
in case he was successful.
As may be imagined, the boys readily agreed to do this, and Johnny even
generously promised that in case Ikey succeeded, they would give him all
their custom on the passage. This latter consideration was not a weighty
one with Master Moses, for, since his employer was the only one who had
eatables to sell on the boat, and since he was the only clerk, the boys
would be obliged to deal with him or go hungry.
All the details having thus been arranged, it only remained for the boys
to work industriously to procure the necessary funds.
Business was not remarkably good during the four days that intervened
before Katy's time in the hospital had expired; but they made enough to
pay Mother Brown for their board, and then have a cash capital of one
dollar on hand.
Ikey had succeeded in getting for them free passes, and they had paid
him the amount agreed upon. The dress had been finished, and on the
evening before Katy was to leave the hospital they carried it up to be
sent in to her, in order, as Jimmy said, "that they might jest knock her
eye out before she was stunned by the idea of the excursion."
"Tell her Jim an' John sent it in to her," said the latter, as he handed
the bundle to the porter, "an' that we want her to be all ready when we
come up here for her at nine o'clock to-morrow mornin'."
"That'll fix her," said Jimmy, triumphantly, as they left the hospital;
and during the remainder of that evening they enjoyed in anticipation
the royal time they were to have next day when they took "their girl" on
her first excursion.
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
[Illustration]
With gun upon his shoulder, Sir Beetle hunting goes,
There is nothing in the larder, for a dreadful wind arose;
It blew their cottage over, and the rain began to beat,
They couldn't find their overshoes, or anything to eat.
But Mrs. Beetle's thankful that after such a storm
She has still a silk umbrella, and a fire to keep her warm.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
Back from the forest we're bringing our sheaves--
Armfuls of posies and bright Autumn leaves;
Happy are we, though the chill wind may blow,
The herald of Winter in garments of snow.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
Oh, what a host of playmates has little Johnny Grey!
He says that Puss and Rover know everything we say;
And that the birds and squirrels always understand;
So he's talking to the beetle that is crawling on his hand.
* * * * *
[Illustration]
Mamma must work the long, long day,
While I have lessons to learn and say;
But Baby Blue Eyes, so bright and gay,
Has nothing to do but laugh and play,
Till the Sand Man works his wonderful charms,
When he goes to sleep in somebody's arms.
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
Many of you will be very glad to hear again from Mrs. Richardson, whose
work among the poor people at Lincolnton has interested you very much.
For the information of new subscribers we will state that this lady has,
for several years, been trying to make the lives of the colored people
around her brighter and happier.
She began by teaching the children of Uncle Pete, her faithful friend
and servant, and once her slave. At present she is giving religious and
other instruction to a great many children and young people, and through
her self-denying efforts a little chapel has been built, where they
worship on Sundays.
The little readers of YOUNG PEOPLE have assisted Mrs. Richardson by
sending books, toys, and cast-off clothing to her for the use of her
protégées: