Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-01-08
THE LITTLE PEDDLER.

SCoTCHMAN, Xpress, Mercury, fusees
penny hunder-this days Scotchman,
sir ?" shouted ll-piped ragged little
fellow, at the end of cold, wet, bitter
day in October, as we stood at the door of
the New Royal, in Prince street, while
stopping for day or two in Edinburgh,
short time since.
"No, we don't want any"
"Fusees, penny q hunder, sir this days
paper, sir-half price sir-only bawbee." ="
persisted the young countryman of Adam
Smith
"Get along want any," growled
my travelling companion, Phillips.
They're good fusees, sir ; penny hun
Don't smoke" -....... .
They're guide fusees, sir, hunder and
twenty for penny, sir" coming round on
my flank.
mo don't want 'em, my boy"
The keen, blue face, with its red, bare
feet ingrained with dirt, and bundle of
scanty rags, looked piteously up at me,
moved off little, but still hovered round
us. Now, when I put down my first sub,
scription to the Ragged School in West.
minister, took a mental pledge from my
selfto encourage vagrant children in the
streets no more. Somehow, in this in
stance, that pledge wouldn't stand by me,
but gave way.
"Give me a penn'orth, young un."
"Yes, sir they dinna smell"
"Ah, haven't got nothing
less than shilling; so never mind, my
boy, I'll buy from you tomorrow"
"Buy them the NIGHT if you please, I'm
very hung grey, sir"
His little cold face, which had lightened
up, now fell--for, from his bundle of pa
pers, saw his sales had been few that
day.
"I1l gang for change sir"
"Well, I'll try you. There is shilling;
now be a good boy, and bring me the
change tomorrow morning to the hotel
Ask for Mr Turner"
"As sure's death, sir, I'll bring the
change the morn," was the promise of
the boy before he vanished with the shll
ling.
"Well, Turner" said Phillips, as we
strolled along Prince street, "you don't
expect to see your ragged friend again, do
your
"I do"
"The boy will dishonor his I, o. U. as
sure as"
"Well. won't grieve about the money
think can trust the boy.
"CanY Why, you haze trusted him"
"Well, We'll see"
Yes, q good many remarkable things
but not young Brimston and your money"
Next morning we spent in seeing the
lions. On our return = the inn 1 in
Quired-
"Waiter, did little boy call for me to-
day
"Boy, sir Y--call, sirg No, sir"
"Of course, he didn't" said Phillips
" Did You really expect to see our young
Arab agains"
Indeed, did"
Later in the evening small boy was in
treduced, who wanted to speak with me-
He was duodecimo edition of the small
octave of the previous day-a shoeless,
shirtless, shrunk, ragged, wretched, keen
witted Arab of the streets and closes of
the city. He was so very small, and cold,
and childlike-though with the same shiy-
ering feet and frame, thin, blue, cold face,
down which tears had worn their weary
channel-that saw at once the child was
not my friend Of the previous night. He
stood for few moments diving and run.
ing into the Fecesses of his rags. AT last
he said
"Are you the gentleman that BOUGHT
fusees frae Sandy, yesterday
AYES, my little man."
"Well, here's ssven-pence Counting
out divers copper coinsl Sandy Gamma
come; he's no weel; cart run ow'r him
the Gay, and brokon his legs, and lost his
bonnet, and his fusees, and your fourpehce
piece, aud his 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 a be
can gie you moo"
And the poor child, commencing with
sobs, ended in \ sore tit of crying.
gave him food, for, though his cup of
sorrow was full enough, his stomach was
empty, as he looked wistfully at the dis.
play on the tea.tsble.
Are you Sandy's brother ?"
"Ay, sir"
And the foodgAtes of his heart again
opened.
Where do you hye' Are your father
and mother alive'H
We bide in Blaekfriar's Wynd, in the |
Coogate. My mither's dead, and fathers
ava, and we bide whiles wi our gudemith |
er, sobbing bitterly.
Where did this accident happen
Near the college, sir"
Calling cab, we were speedily set down !
In Blaoktfiar's Wyne. had never pene,
trated the wretched places OF these ancient /
cities by day and here ! entered one by |
night, and almost alone, Preceded by my