The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-09-25
Change of Fortune to a Newsboy

A few weeks ago the Superintendent of
the lodging house, (noI at No. 40 Park
place, Mr. o Conner who is 80 we'll know n
by the street boys, as having his boots
biaCkod By lad, 7hcn, rs he was about TO
pay, a well dressed young man who had
been watching tie operation, put his hand
forward and paid the boy. Mr. O Conner
demonstrated, when the young man said !:
II suppose you don't know me sir?" The
Superintendent looked at him curiously,
but not making him out. What! Don't
you remember Bob, the Fulton street
boot~black % He then recalled him-a
most ragged, v9gabond little urching, who,
with his brother, a certain Tom, were
inveterate ''bummers,' sleeping every
where in boxes or cellars, buying policy
tickets" and gambling till their last pen
nies were. gone, but bright, active hard
working lit.e fellow. Many a season
with them had the faithful Superintendent
hal, trying to get them to be regular at
tendants at the clearinghouse Shoot, to
give up their bad habits and become lodg-
ers in their own hotel" lie had at last
succeeded, and finally induced them to join
one OF the emmigration parties Of the
Children's Aid Society at Illinois.
But Bob, how is this q sad the Su-
pcrintendent, what are you doing In New
York, and so well dressed p
By this time quite a number Of the street
boys had gathered around and listened ca
gerly.
"Wh by. you see, sir. lived With Mr.
for two years. and then he gave me wages
and some land, and kept saving and max
ing good hits in business, and now am do
ing pretty well. I've come on, sir" (in a
whisper,) Ito get my sisters out you
know one on EN- is in the Refuge and the
other is all about. My mother has been
out here some time. I've got her good
home" And then turning to the knot ot
ragged boys Here, you bummers DONE
none of We know me, Bob, as was boot.
black on Fulton street? What are We doing?
Loafing and backing boots for few ce t.
around the streets here, and then pitchin.
your pennies all away Look at me. | wa,
as ragged as any on We once and rigelrI
hummer, aiore | went to the lodge and the
kind ginJleman in Clinton Hall sent me of
to Illinois. Now I've got forty acres Of
first-rate land, and six cows and a horse,
and a house of my own Taat's what
comes Of gon' out West And there :
Tom, who used to De such vagabond hi,
master gave him a heifer, and now he S got
$4,000 worth of good stock Amt thai
better than bummiuc. you lazy street rats
Eh?'
Mr.. O'Connor then took him to the lode
ing house, and found that all this and much
more had happened in five years The
young man felt very grateful for the kind
n ess which had started the two homeless.
boys thus in life, and he had now come to
the city to see if he could not get one o.
his sisters from the house of Refuge, anC
rescue the other from the beginning of ;
street life in the city. The Superintendent
| forwarded his application to the Trustees 0
the House of Refuge, and it proved sue
cesstul, and be had the satisfaction of tax
| ing home bis sisters with him to his new
home in the West. Such is one out o
thousands of similar little histories Oh tht
record of the Newsboys Lodging house. :
| NeS0 York Times