Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1876 — JIM'S "DOUBLE-RIPPER.” [ARTICLE]

JIM'S "DOUBLE-RIPPER.”

Jim sat staring into the Are. with a rather doleful expression on his usually sunny countenance. The room was very quiet. No sound save the solemn tick of the clock on the mantel, and the gentle purring of Susie’s pet kitten, who lay cnddletl up in a soft white ball in the most comfortable easy chair in the room, with the usual selfishness of the brute portion of the creation. Thdre Jim sat for half an hour, never moving a muscle and with the same fixed, gloomy look. How much longer he might have remained so lam nnable to say; but as the clock struck the half-hour the door opened, and in rushed little Jack, his round, chubby face very rosy with the cold and his eyes and mouth running over with fun and happi jess. Dear little Jack! He was the light of that humble home. "Little Sunbeam,” his fond mother called him, and Susie and Jim both agreed in thinking him the dearest and most light-hearted little brother in the world. As I said before, he rushed in, at the end of that gloomy half-hour exclaiming: “ Oh! Jim, ain’t you glad? It snows!” No answer came from Jim; only a restless moving on his stool and a scowl on his brow showing plainly that he heard his brother’s eager question. Jack did not notice the scowl; out, after standing half a minute at the window, tore off his scarf and hat, throwing them both on the floor, and dumped himself down in a rocking-chair, right on top of the poor kitty. A yell from puss caused Jack to give a tremendous Ixiund, and Susie to run iu from the next room, seize her beloved cat and take her off to comfort and pet her. Jack, after a few chuckles at his own carelessness, repeated his question: “I say, Jim, ain’t you glad it snows?” This time Jim deigned a sullen “ No, I ain’t.” Jack’s big eyes opened still bigger as he exclaimed: “And why, Jim ?” Well,” said Jim in a vojee that he seldom used to any one, least of all to Jacky, “ ain’t you a little goose ? What’s the use of snow without a sled; and where’s a fellow to get a sled, when he hasn’t a cent of money in the world?” Jack’s toes erew smaller and his face lost its happy expression. He only said: “Oh! I forgot,” and softly left the room. Now Jim was Jack’s idol. He was simply perfect, in his eyes. Wasn’t he the head boy in his class at school ? Didn’t all the teachers praise him and all the boys like him ? How he could play baseball, and foot-ball, too, for that matter. Hadn’t Jack a right to be proud of his big brother? Then, too, he was always very kind to his littltf brother, shared with him all his pleasures, never thought him in the way, and was so much kinder to him than most big boys are to their little brothers. Above all, since father died and left them pretty poor, how nobly Jim talked about helping mother and Susie when lie was a little older and had learned a little more. Yes, indeed, he was a brother to be proud of; and, as Jack walked slowiy down the street, his small breast heavea with sorrow on Jim’s, account, and "Oh! that I had some money;” was the little boy’s thought.

He dived down into hiis pocket; but alas! one two cent piece was all he could muster. He looked sadly at it; and said, in a half mournful, half laughing tone, “ That wouldn’t buy even a piece of rope, I suppose.” A tall and elegant looking gentleman passed him and walked briskly along. “ Now I know that’s a rich man,” said Jack to himself. As he followed him with his eyes wondering how much money he really had, the gentleman drew his handkerchief out of his side pocket ; and with it came a heavy, black object, that fell unnoticed by him to the ground. It took blit a moment for Jack to reach that round leather purse, ard as he picked it up no wicked thought of keeping it came into the dear little boy’s mind. His was too pure a heart for that. I will not say that he did not press it longingly to his bosom and whisper: “Oh! that I might keep it!” for such was, indeed, the case. The gentleman walked quickly on, and it took a pretty good run on JacK’s part to get up with him; but at last he reached him, panting and out of breath, and thrust the purse into the astonished stranger’s hands, finding just voice enough to say: “I saw you chop it.” The kindhearted gentleman was not only glad to get back his property, but he was touched by the honesty of the brave boy by his He held out his hand kindly to Jack. Jack put his little one timidly into it, and looked up to the genial countenance above him with a smile on his chubby face, which won the heart of the gentleman immediately. “Well, my boy,” he said, “lam very much obliged to you. Ana now what can I do for you?” “ Nothing, sir,” said Jack, timidly. “Nothing?" repeated the gentleman. “Is there nothing, then, that you would like? Speak quick, for lam in a hurry.” Jack’s thoughts instantly returned to the picture he had left at home, and, with a;tremendous effort, that he could never have made for himself, he said: “ If you please sir, I would like a sled.” The gentleman smiled, and said, in a reassuring tone: “That’s right. I like a frank boy. Follow me, my lad.” Jack found it ra her hard for his short, fat legs to keep up with thp’long, limber ones of his companion; bin he had not far to go, for they soon halted before a hardware store, and, as the polite clerk opened the door to admit them, the gentleman once morejtumed and addressed the little boy. “ What kind of a sled shall it be?" said he. “If you please, sir, a doubleripper,” said Jack, with another effort. The clerks and the gentleman, indulged in a slight laugh at Jack’s expense; but he forgot all about that when one of the clerks exlaimed: “We have just the thing you wank It was brought here to be sold this morning.” Ana he immediately produced the lonngest, jollicst “ ouble-ripper” that ever gladdened the eyes of a boy. - It was soon bought and paid for, and Jack left the store, tugging bdiiud him

the precious sled, rope having also been aupplisMl The deck offered to wnd ithome for him, but "No. it might get lost,’’ said Jack; •* I wiH take it myself.” When once more on the pavement, the stranger informed Jack he must leave him. And Jack, forgetting his usual timidity, grasped his hand and said, while tears of Joy awam in his eyes, " Oh, six! I thank you.” “ Not at all, my fine fellow; not at all. It is I who thank you. Only a small part of the money in that puree was paid for your sled.” And then he walked away hastily down the street, and he left behind him the happiest boy in the world, I know. Jack fairly flew home (in spite of his heavy load), and rushed into the house to find Jim. That young gentleman, having recovered his spirits for the time, but still scowling whenever he glanced at the window and saw the newly-fallen snow, was hard at work over his algebra. "Jim! Jim! Please look at what I have got. It’s a present from me to you Jim.” Jim looked, he jumped, he rubbed his eyes, he fairly yelled: “My stare! A * double-ripper!’ ” Then followed the whole story, with mother and Susie and poor abused kittv as extra listeners; and little Jack was the center of a very happy and excited group until all was told.' Jim wss veiy much Overcome when he thought of his little brother’s rare unselfishness in offering to him his own beautiful gift, and first refused to take it. Then, when Jack insisted, he said: We will share it together.” Rut this did not satisfy Jacky, and at length Jim was forced to accept the sled as a present from his dear brother J ack. How the boys enjoyed that sled all winter! It beat every sled on the race course, and every boy in town was happy to have a ride on it. Jack says he has had many happy times in his life; but he never expects to enjoy a day more than he did the one in which the kind gentleman presented him with “ Jim’s Double Ripper.” —Roea A. Murdock, in N. Y. Independent. -

—A fatal accident of a frightful character occurred at a quarter before five o’clock yesterday afternoon at the Curtis Stove Works, on the corner of Main and Anna streets. A few moments before that time Alonzo Neely, a grinder, was seen at work in front of an emory wheel, which was about flve feet in diameter. The workman who saw him left the room, and, returning in a few moments, found that the wheel had, as a result of its rapid revolution, burst, and instantly killed Neely. One piece struck him in the side and tore his body open from the armpit to the elbow, breaking file ribs into fragments and revealing all the internal onrans. The body was a most horrible sight, and hn immense pool of blood had collected around it.— St. Louie Republican. The new tunnel being built under the Thames is intended chiefly for the use of about 8,000 workmen who have to cross at that point, and who are often detained by fog that stops the boats. I( will be an iron tube nine feet in diameter, lighted with gas, thoroughly ventilated, and only for pedestrians. , —A young lady while riding to Lebanon, Pa., the other day, in the stage, noticed a peculiar sensation at her neck, but could not divine the cause. After arriving there she complained to a young lady, who made an examination, and. found a mouse had secreted itself in her dress.