The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-06
The LIJs.e PeddIeT.

"Scotchman, XpreSs, Mercury, fusees,
penny a huader-this days Scotctman,
SIR" shouted shriil-pipe4, ragged little
fellow, at the end Of a cold, wet, bitter day
in October, a. We stood at -he door Of the
New Royal, 10 Prince street. while stopping
for day Or two III Edinburgh, a short time
since
"No, We don't want any"
"Fusees, penny hunder, sir; this days
paper, sir-Aalf price, sir-Ony bawbee.s
persisted the young countryman of Adam
Smith.
"Get along don't want any" growled my
travelling companion, Phillips.
They're good fusees, sir penny hun
dern
"Don't smoke"
"They're guide fasees, sir, hunaer and
twenty for a penny, sir" coming round on
my flank.
"No, don't want 'em, nv boy"
The keen, blue face, with It's rel, bare
feet ingrained with dirt, and bundle Of scan
iy rags, looked piteOusiy up st me, moved
off halle, but still lowered round US. Now
when put down my first subscription to the
Ragged School IN Westminster, | took a
mental pledge from myself to encourage Yag-
rant children in the streets no more. Some
how, in this instance, that pledge wouldn't
stand By me, but gave way
"Glve me pen 'orth, young un."
eyes, sir they dlnna smell"
"Ah, | haven't got copper-nothing less
than a shilling 50 never mind, my boy, Pll
buy from you tomorrow"
"Buy them the NIGHT if you please, Pm
very hung-grey, sir"
/ His little cold face, which had lightened
up, now fell-for, from mis- bundle Of papers,
| saw that his sales had been few that day.
4 "Fll gang for change. sir"
swell, I'll try you. There Is a sbilhnE
now be good boy, and bring me the change
\ tomorrow morning to the hotel. Ask for
Mr.. Turner.n
swell, Turner" said Phillips, as we
strolled along Prince street, ''you ,sOa't ex-
pect to see your ragged friend agair, do
/ you?''
81 do"
'rhe boy will dishonOr his |. 0. Z. as as
sure as -"
swell. won't grieve about the money
think can trust the boy"
"Canl Why, you hare trusted him."
swell, We'll see.n
''Yes, good many remarkable things but
Next morning We spent " seeing the lions
On our return to tie inn / Inquired
"Water, did little boy call for me to-
das ?"
" Boy, sir call, sir? No, sir"
"Of course, he didn't" said Phillips
did You really expect to see our young
Arab again ~
"lndeed, did"
Later in the evening a small boy was I'LL
troduced, who wanted % speak with me. Ii,
was duodecimo edition Of the small octave
of the previous day-a shoeless, shirtIess
shrunk, ragged, ~retched, keen witted ATat
of the streets and closes of the city. He wa,
so very small and cold, and chidlke-thoagl
with the same shivering feet and frame, thin
blue-col | face, down which tears had role,
J their weary way-tbat saw at once the chilt
} was not my friend Of the previous night. III,
stood for a few moments diving and ruuniD,
, into the recesses Of his rags. At last b,
said
"Are you the gentleman that BOUGHT fu
sees frae Sandy, yesterday !"
"Yes, my little man."
"Well, here's seven-pence" Counting on
, divers copper ooins). ''Sandy Gamma come
he's no weel q cart run ow'r him the day
aud broken bis legs, and lost his bonnet, an.
his fusees, an your fourpence piece, and hi
knife, and he's no weel. He's no weel ava
and the doc-tor-says he's dee-dee-in
and-and that's q be can gie you noo."
And the poor child, commencing will
sobs, ended in sore ft or crying.
) gave him food, for, though his cup Q
sorrow was full enough, his stomach wa
} empty, as be looked wistfully at the displa,
} on the table,
aAre you Sandy's brother p
SAY, ST."