The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-12
iscelIany.



certain corner, late one stormy night, was
suddenly arrested by the sight OF queer
looking bundle lying in Il doorway.
BLESS my heart its Il child o John IN
afraid he's frozen = / exclaimed to nv
brother as we both bent over the bundle.
Such little fellow as he was, in the big
ragged coat; such tired baby face. npder
the fuzzy cap; such a purple, little hand. still
holding fast few papers; so pathetic sight
altogether, was the boy lying on the stone
step, with the snow drifting over him,-that
it was impossible TO 50 ly.
be is asleep; but he'll freeze, if lett 80.
long, Here, wake up my boz; and go home
as last as You cam cried John with a gentle
shake, and very gentle voice; for the mem
Org Of dear little lad, safely tucked up at
home, made him fatherly kind to the little
vagabond.
The moment he was toNched, the boy tum-
bed up, and, before he was half awake,
began his usual cry with an eye to bust
ness.
paper, Sir?" Herald Transkipr'-
"last--a great gap swallowed up the
"last edition." and he stood blinking at us like
very chilly young owl.
'Ill buy 'em all, if you'll go home, my little
chap; it's high time you were abed," said
John, whisking the damp papers into one
pocket, aad his purse Gut OF another, as he
spoke.
"AIl OF 'em?-Why there's SKIP croaked
the boy, for he was as hoarse as ravefs
"Never mind, L can kindle fire with em.
Put that in your pocket, and trot home, my
man, as fast as possible"
Where do you iive?p | asked picking up
the fifty cents that tell from the little fingers
foo benumbsd to hold it.
Mills Court; out OF Hanover. Cold, amt
it" said The boy, blowing en- his purple
hands, and hopping feebly from one leg to
the other to take the stiffness out.
He can't so all that way in this storm
such mite, and SO used up with cold and
sleep, John"
'Of course, he can't; we'll put him in a
cal" began John; when the boy wheezed
OUT
No; I've got ter wait fer Sam. He'll be
along as soon as the theatres done. He said
he would; and SO I'm waiting"
WHO is Sam ?" | asked.
''He's the teller L lives with. I amt got
any folks, and he takes care o me-"
"Nice care, indeed; leaving baby like YOU,
TO wait for him here, such a night as this"
/ said Grossly.
Oh he's good TO me, Sam is; though he
dces knock me round sometimes, when l ant
spy. The big fellows shoves me buck, you
see; and get cold, and can't sing out loud;
SO can't sell my Papers, and has to work 'em
eff late"
''Hear the child talk! One would think
he was sixteen, instead of six" / seid half
laughing.
Sim most ten. Hi!-ain't that oner?"
cried the hoy, as gust of sleet slapped him
in the face, when he peeped to see if Sam was
coming. "Hullo! the lights is out! Why the
plays done, and the folks gone and Sans
forgot me-"
1t was very evident that Sam had forgotten
his little protege; and a strong desire to
shake Sam possessed me.
IN use waitin any longer; and now my
papers is sold, amt afraid to go home,n said
the boy, stepping down, like a little old man
with the rheumatism and prepared to trudge
away through the stolm.
stop bit, my little Cassabianca; car
Will be along in fifteen minutes; and while
waiting you can warm yourself over there"
said John, with the purple hand in his.
IN y names Jack Hill, not Classy Banks,
please sir" said the little party, with dig
n ity
Have you had your supper Mr.. Hills ?" ask
ed John laughing.
81 had some peanuts, and two sucks of
Joe's orange; but it wasn't very film" he
said gravely
Il should think not. Here one stew:
and be quick, please" cried John, as we sat
down IN warm corner OF the confectioner's
opposite.
While little Jack shovelled in hot oysters.
with his eyes shutting up now and then, in
spite OF himselt-We looked at him, and
thought again Of little Rosy-face at home,
safe in his warm nest with mother-love
watching over him. Nodding toward the
ragged, grimy, forlorn little creature-drop-
ping asleep over his supper like tired baby,
l said
"Can you imagine our Freddy, out alone
at this hour trying to work Off his papers.
because afraid to go home till he has ?5
ia rather not try" answered brother
John, winking hard, as he stroked the little |
head beside him, which, by the by, locked |
very like ragged yellow door-mat. / think
brother John winked hard, hut L can't be
sure, tor l know l did; and for minute
there seemed to be a dozen little neysboys
dancing before my eyes.
There goes our car; and it's the last" said
John, looking at me.
LET il go, but don't leave the boy;p and l |
drowned at John, for limiting such a thing.
Here is his car. Now nv lad. bolt YOUR
last oyster, and come on"
Good night, ma'am! Thankee, STRIP croak- !
ed the grateful little voice, as the chill was
caught up in Johns strong hands, and set
down on the car-step.
with a word to the conductor and a small |
business transaction. we LETT Jack coiIed up |
IN corner, to finish his nap as TRANQUILITY as |
II 1t as mt midnight, and a knocking round" |
might not await him at his journeys end.
We did not mind the storm much, as we |
plodded home and when l told the story to |
Rosy-iace, next day, his interest quite recon |
cilea ne to the snids and sneezes of bad |
cold.
If saw that poor little boy, Aunt Weedy,
ia love him lots~ said Freddy, with world
OF pity in his beautiful chd's eyes.
And, believing that others also would be |
KIND TO little Jack, and such as he, tell the |
story.
When busy fathers hurry home at night, |
hope they viii buy their papers of the small |
boys, who get "shoved back;p the feeble ones,
who grow hoarse, and cannot ''sing ;" the
shabby ones, who, evidently, have only for
Setiul Sans to care for them; and the hun
gry-looklng ones who do not get what is |
filling"
For love OF the little sons and daughters |
safe at home, say kind word, buy a paper. !!
evcn il You don't want it; and never pass by |
leaving them 10 sleep forgotten in the streets |
a. midnight, with no pillow but a stone. no
coverd but the pitiless snow, and not even a
tender-hearted robin to drop leaves over
them.-Merry's Museum.
SUMNER SoLD-Smner and soap are
brought into comical connection in a story
that IS going the rounds. A soap peddler.
calling himself PtoG Gardner was intro
duced to the Senator by James 4. Fields.
Sumner supposed he had the honor of adj
dressing one OF the faculty OF Drowa Univer-
sty." No" responded the modest peddler.
81 am Prof Gardner, the celebrated soan