Sketches New and Old

  JOHNNY GREER

  "The church was densely crowded that lovely summer Sabbath," said theSunday-school superintendent, "and all, as their eyes rested upon the smallcoffin, seemed impressed by the poor black boy's fate. Above thestillness the pastor's voice rose, and chained the interest of every earas he told, with many an envied compliment, how that the brave, noble,daring little Johnny Greer, when he saw the drowned body sweeping downtoward the deep part of the river whence the agonized parents never couldhave recovered it in this world, gallantly sprang into the stream, and,at the risk of his life, towed the corpse to shore, and held it fast tillhelp came and secured it. Johnny Greer was sitting just in front of me.A ragged street-boy, with eager eye, turned upon him instantly, and saidin a hoarse whisper,

  "'No; but did you, though?'

  "'Yes.'

  "'Towed the carkiss ashore and saved it yo'self?'

  "'Yes.'

  "'Cracky! What did they give you?'

  "'Nothing.'

  "'W-h-a-t [with intense disgust]! D'you know what I'd 'a' done? I'd 'a'anchored him out in the stream, and said, Five dollars, gents, or youcarn't have yo' nigger.'"