St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-04-23

ed but little unsteady. The man glanc-
cd down from under the brm of an old
felt hat that had once been white. and
and pair OF soft, large eyes looked up
INTO his.
''Nhime your boots, sir ,"
The man shook his head, as he utter
ed a 5rict NO." and passed on.
But the fender face and soft. asking
eyes haunted him. After walking on
tor halt Il block, trying to forget the face
and eyes of the boy, he stopped. turned
around and went back, he hardly knew
why.
''Nhinc your boots, sir ?'' 1t was the
same innocent voice. but a little firmer in
tone. He looked down at the bare feet
and worn old clothes. and feeling of
pity touched his heart
Not this morning, my lad," answer
eel the man, ''but here's the price of a
slime and reached him ten cents.
"Ilaven't come TO that yet" And
the lad drew himself up Il little proudly.
I'm not 4 hcg@ar, but bootblack. Just
let me shine en-, sir. Won't keep YOU Il
minute"
iere was no resisting this appeal. so
the naH placed his boot on the boys foot
rc~t, and in Il little while ii, surface was
like polished ebony.
"Ihank you :" said the little fellow as
on finishing the second boot, he received
his Ice.
The man walked away, holding in hi,
mind very distinctly. an image of the
boy hat did not fade.
On the next morning, willie ON his
way 10 business, he was greeted by the
same lad with
''Nhlnc your boots. sir p"
And in 4 voice ~tcadicr than on the
day before. The little bootblack was
gaining confidence in hi, new calling.
ihe man stopped. placed hi, boot on
thr i"otrc>i, and the boy set his brushes
: 10 work in the livclie>t way.
'WMcre do You live, lay little man -
The boy brushed on. seeming not to
have heard A. lie finished one boot.
and was about commencing the other.
the man said. changing the form OF the
question,
''Whcre J. your home -
"ilay.4't Ut any A. the boy made
.h.- answer. he looked up into the man,
.'cr Tor Hu instant. and 'hcn let his eyes
iaIi upon hi> work. What large, soft.
beautiful ryc- they We're
NO home %"
NO, >'r.
'Whcrc do You sleep ,"
Most anywher, that can creep in"
replied the boy, a. he brushed away with
tII his might Then a. he rose up he
-"'', ,''i'i' - "''"'.'rr~ ar
nat " Good shine. sir,
''fir>t rate. answered the man, whose
interest IN the boy w"e increasing. "Can't |
He beaten Now, what's the charge -
eh cents, Nr
i"c ton cents were paid. ''Nlerp /
most anywhere that You can creep in 30
~."! the ia;In, IL Ire stood lookin" at the
boy : !acr, - strangely unlike the faces
OF thosr with whom hi- lot had been /
'.t-g. Nv nat do ynn mean bv that -
Nv ell, -ir. IT. 80. Sometime, | ret q
bed IN a cellar. and sometimes in a garret
.'u~t ~ 1t happrn-.'
"Do YOU pay ior it go
'oA yes indeed, They won't let you
-.c'p Tor nothing
N'iiow much do you pay for Il bed '''
'~lNp'n-e or 4 shilling, 'cor'ling TO
where II L.
w ny don't You stay in one place p
asked the man. Nv hy do You 20 from
cellar 10 @mrrt, rs You say, just a7 it
happens
au>'. sir, they get drunk, and
swear. and ii@bt - most everywhere |
get IN that don't care 10 20 again and
- keep moving round. Shine your
boots. SIR -
And seeing customer. oft the boy ran
Tor he h"d lis living to earn, a'd couldn't
stop to taIh when there was business TO
DO.
he man walked away more than ever
interested IN this brave little fellow fight
IN at ;" tender an age the battle of life
IA child Bayard, IN the midst OF enc
mes, yet "wltIiout tear and without re
pr"aci.
y lew hours later III the day-It was
midsummer ana the a'r not anu suitry-
;' inns man was passing the corner OF
street where ''h apple-woman had her
saint lie Witnessed '''e scene til''' we VIII
describe
he "PPie-woman hi'd fallen asleep.
Two hoys-a hewSboy AM the little
boothiack Just mentioned d-were at the
stand. Inc he"Sooy' VINO was @oou
drai Larger ana H'outer than the boot
black, SeeIn- GOOD chance to get apples