The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-11


puhlican's daughter at boardin' school, b
can afford to pay for what his own childrsl
i get in the shape OF Iearing, which isn't mucl
generally, But ragged school once did M
4 good turn, and shan't easily forget Il.
No. i wasn't in that way. tho dare %,
! may have done, now aud again, many ~
odd job for 'em- suppose, now, when 20,
came to the bu,iness, syou vas bound to :
reg'lar master, paid your footing. worked Il
good shop, and learnt the trade in the usii
al manner. It wasn't 50 with.me, | can tel
you.
l. We'll, don't mind-that is, 10 you bu,
sbouId't care 70 tell it'to everybody, ai-
though, for that matter, there's no disgracs
In NY part Of the story. -r,
Lvasn't above eleven years old when
was brought up to L0pdop By ny mother.
All knew Of my father was that be died
years before. can't bear eyen-now, though
jt's one-and- twenty years ago. to think ol
the trials and miseries Of our first week 10
London. We had left . clean little village
Just eight daSs.-vhy, never rightly knew
bat there was some dreadful reason, for my
poor mother mas me promise, as she lay on
her dying bed in St. Barthslomsw's Hospi-
tai, that ia never 20 back, which ] never
will Idon't think We had sixpence when
We reached London, and know We hadn't
friend in the world. II was on the four
teenth of November, and we had been tramp
ing it up since the sixth. We passed the
first two nights in the workhouse, and the
other-well, never mind, we spent them 10 q
worse place, where my mother caught fe-
yer. A few days after she was carried II
the hospital, and on the Sunday following
without copper IN my pocket, and with
| heavier heart than ever hope TO have again
left the big building in Smithfeid desti
tute orphan. | hope few have ever felt as
did then. hadn't had . morsel to eat thai
day, for started from . low lodging -hooss
in ClerkenEell early in the morning TO 90 tc
the hospital, and waited outside 10 the eek
fox tua hours, being shy, you know, and no
liking to gofs- When they had told me my
poor mother was dead which they did kindly
like, they offered me 1ome food !; but l felt q
ii il would choke me, ar "A / refused it.
Well, as ] was sayinks9 Il Ass ~ .suna -
shsep-pens in Smitbfield, and sat down 81 !
\ sort Of post, near to some young chaps a.
was talking and smoking. You can't thihi
iwhat a sensation it 10 to feel alone. aRd Il
have no place to 20 to. knew it vas M
use to 20 back to my lodging, as tkky tolt
me in the mszning they didn't want to Sc,
me any mere, unless sould pay f1f'my bed
Awl.td was two penaaA night ara sisssay
owed 'em six pence. So sat thinking and
crying, not knowing what TO DO. Presently
the lads behind me began 20 toss for half
pence, two or three Of tine youpger ones
|, standing some distance oG 40 watch for the
police. As soeh as he came in sight one Of
fem would whistle and the game was steprret
till Le passed. 1t happened that one OF th
coppers rolled along up to my feet. and or,
of the biggest Of the lads followed it, and
seeing me crying asked me what 4 wa,
/ blubberin' at. -ae e1ftf
"fm hungry says T..
I "Well," says ne, "you watch at that cor
ner for the happy, and III give you /
brown 8 E
of scanpered, as yoa may suppose, AMI
! fairly earned what he promised. When ths
game was over, of course | wanted to b,
7 paid and they dfdnsr seem inclined to dul
up, for the fellow that engaged me had 'osg
and the other only laughed when trietr !.
explain the bargain. 0ce Of 'em, however
bit kinder looking than the rest as Thought
proposed that the winner should pay ne
which be did, and then my friend, for cal
tell you at once look upon him AZ such
asked me where lived. siz 4A4.
saint got no home,', said L. Then b
turns round and whispers 70 one Of tn
others, tall, lean, hony-iooking chap, viii
. hairy cap. Who ~ called captain, sns
who poncee broke one of the command a
mehts ,eteTy time he spoke. Well, to max
i 1Iorg story short, the captain took me home
which was in one Of the streets long sine
pulled downsup agin where the uudergroun,
lSailway now Is.
For four days lived with the captain an.
bis friends; there were three Of 'em, beside
II two women 1t was fonr-roomed house
and s;ep; in the front parIor on the floor
along with another lad several years oldc
than myself OD the Thursday evening b
| told me he should want me to do Job earl.
in the morning. vas glad to hear that, 10
I 7 had done nothing FOR my board and lodg
4 ing. such a. it was, but run q ft9 errand1
4 asked my bedfelloy. what kind of work
was gong 70 do, but be .onlyg said. al
right. you'll seer Somehow or other
4 couidnst get to sleep that night, wtst wit
4 thinking of my mother lying dssd Il he hoI
4 pital, and wondering what wsss - bsopne I
me. Imust . tossed about Bit knog
for Jack-that was the name Of the lad
sIept vith--sw0fe swful oaths at me, "a
Threatened 10 aurn me eat n I didn,t let Nh
rest. | inssrd the ehusch e1seks strike he<
after hour ) the ticking q a. old paseh clee
in the corner, apd the dFinPlng q We fsA
OF the leads just outside didn't 20 3<he -
I tuite. thoukh soGe solks ~ t1syTe -
xss things tsnze. ys.aarey "a e mn