M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1855-03-16
THE POPCORN PEDDLER.
BY MRS. II. y. N. BROWN.

"Pop. corn! pop'cornl Will you hare
some pop corn, madam9 will you buy
some popcorn, sirl" anl a little fellow
all "tatteted and torn," made his way
through The crowd at an Eastern depot.
"How do you sell pop corn. my little
(riend2" interrosated Mr.. Bpcy.
Three cents pint, sir."
"Whose child are you7"
"Nobody's child, sir. Will you have
a pint of cUrn2"
"Have you no parents or relatives to
care for youi You seem sadly Ia need
Of friend2"
1--we relatives rich as the Ro,hchilds,
but Pm so rough and ragged. they don'I
want me with their children. Will you
have another pint Of corn. sirP"
Here's your change, Mister."
"No matter for the change"
al only want the pay for the corn.
and throwing down the change, Franz
Gleason was away in search OF anolhe
customer.
THAT boy will make HIS way thtougl
the world" said Mr. Bracy; addressing
himself TO Mf. Ridded, a moustschet
creature at his side. "He is neither
fool nor knave; and mistake, il som,
day his Rothchilds relations are no
claiming the relationship"
1t may be-" replied the dandifed Is
quire Nightou, but, as the boy says, b,
is now too rough and ragged to associ
ate with genteel peoples children; ant
then ones own relatives, too, they can
not be turned off like strangers chill
dren."
"Why should he be turned o(rl lie
them bush him up, smooth the angular
ties aud educate him; and then thei
children will be benefited rather that
contaminated by the poor relation"
Your reasoning, sir is very we'll; bu
| have seldom seen boy like that ben
Gifted by genteel society. They do no
appreciated favors and soon give assur
ance that"
81 tell you, sir, that boy will 60 VI
like a sky.roCket, while the childrel
that you call gentell people, will loo
up TO him with establishment; but the
can never race like him--gilded chain
are weighty."
The whistle from the engine, and th
rattle OF wheels, sent the two gentleme
to their seats, and our hero to his base
ment in the suburbs Of the city, TO re
pleni sh his stock for the arrival of tn
next train of cars.
Frank Gleason was not homeless, no
friendless, nor pennyless. With hi
bag of pennies he lelt that Cesar nigh
well envy his store of wealth. The 81
families, that occupied each a room il
the building with him, were his warn
friends; and many favor did he receiv
from a Iarge-hearted daughter of Erin
who occupied lie next cellar; anu the
he miser, who owned the little moo
Frank occupied, was his friends
Frank thought; Tor he seldom exacte
advance rent money. and never charged
interest il the bi II ran month.
Franks ten by twelve room was no
furnished in the most approved style
but his table, with three legs, his dill
apidated chair, and bed stead, made of
dry goods box, were enough for him.
What more coald he reasonably sskY-
His wardrobe had seen better times, bu
then it was evident ii had a variety q
owners in its palmy days. His ankle
and pants were strangers; his vest mil gh
have belonged TO his father, and hi
coat 10 Joseph, judging BY its colors.-
But what cared he as long as be wa
their present lawful proprietor, wit
The prospect of giving them their tim
before Christmas? His stock ia trad
consisted o! only a barrel OF pot
corn. yet Solomon in all his glory wa
less content.
Franks was glorious inheritance
an inheritance market.changes aud baE
failures did not reach. His fortune wa
invested in fine mental and physica
organization.
Years went by, and Frank was th
prince of popcorn PeddleJo. From hi
establishment bevy Of forlorn lookin
boys wen; forth to try their fortunes al
peddlers. With Ihe advice and exam
pie of their predecessor no. few be
came useful 10 themselves ana 10 thei
poverty stricken mothers.
Franks leisure hours were given to
few second hand books and della pidate
slate. With these, and few month
instruction from Mr.. Fruse. he becam,
a proficient in the English branches.
Time, that wonder orker, has lei
his foot prints all over the world sine
we first heard the cry pop cofn!" fror
Fnrak Gleason.
Nj. Bracy. the friend to the unfortun
ate has been "galhered to his fathers;
but his kind deeds and gentle word
have fallen upon humanity like de'
upon the withered plant. John Neigh
ton is a bankrupt; his sons proAigsis
his daughters fashionable and foolish
looking up with envy aud down wit