The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-05-06
Habit is q curious thing.

Tor Them.
Habit is curious thing.
Mr. Wall got i'll the habit of going to his window
every morning to watch his dog and the paper
boy He would wait patiently until the boy would
come, the dog bring up his paper, and then watch
them as long as they were in sight. lie noticed
that the dog actually assisted in delivering the pa
pers. He would lake paper in his mouth, run
acros, the street, and leave it at the right house
This habit of watching the boy and dog grew
upon him, just as any other would. At night he
longed for the break of day. There was something
fascinating in this love Of the dog for the stranger
boy.
In the spring of ls-, Mr.. Wall was called to
New York. He expected to be gone week.
The morning that he started, he went to his
window as usual and took farewell look at the
little paper-boy.
When he arrived in New York. he sound that it
would take him at least three weeks TO attend to
his affairs At the end of that time he started for
home. He had made up his mind if the boy was
what be believed him to be, to either take him TO
his store and give him mercantile education' or
adopt and educate him as his SON.
When he reached home, he found Turk lying
out on the front step. 1t didn't seem like the same
dog which he had only few weeks before.
Turk did not raise his head on the approach of his
mister but merely gave slight wag of the tail in
answer to the .affectionate greeting, "Poor old
boy"
nWilliam. what is the matter with Turk" asked
Mr.. Wall Of servant.
"Deed, dunno, Mass'r John; he done bin
cwne on that way for morn week Missls
thunk him bin pizend; but l doesn't think SO.
cause lie dun died long go if lie had. Nobody
don't dislike de dog 'cepin' some of dem po' white
trash what comes rouu' yah begging; sometimes
he won't let IN on de lot.
..Well you must try and do something for him;
I wouldn't lose him for anything in the world l."
Mr.. Wall then went to his store, and remained
until late in the afternoon. lie thought of Potsy
several times during the day. AS he had been up
nil the previous night. he retired early. He got
up the next morning and went to the window IN
tending 10 speak TO the papcr-boy. lie waited
some time, and, at last, an old negro man came
along with the papers.
"Boy." he called to him.
"Yes, sah" answered the negro briskly, and at
the same lime rolling his eyes up at the window
care you the paper. carrier ?"
"Yes, sah is" Very emphatic on the word
..is''
..well, where is the little white boy who has
been carrying them for some time"
81 spec you means Potsy Blue You see, mass'r
got sick IN CUB i'm de job O. totin' vile
couldn't ten TO de bisnis. Use bin bout now some
ten days or fortni't You see, moss'r, tuck down
wild dc fever, an' war sick wild dat gOu OH eight
weeks an wen war bout gtlin' well o dat, l
tuck down wild dc ager. l shuck, an shuck, an
shuck till de shuckin' got nose 'dicalous, an
like to shuck nose to def. And den l got de
rumtiz, an tween the fever, ager, an runl'tiz,
bout gwne an' CUB up de gose, nm Il
"Hold OH, boy l AM sorry for your sickness,
and glad that you are we'll again, but want to
know something about this boy. What do you call
him ?"
"IIe name Potsy Blue Moss'r. war jes' gwine
to tole you bout dat same boy wen you stopt me.
You see, dat Ibis out on Fouth street, near de
grabeyad, 'scuse me fur sayin' faint no good place
to lib nuther Las fall. tuck sick an laid in de
bed bout Il week. fo' de ole CONAN 'seuted TO sen
fur dc doctor. Wen lie did come, he tolc Inc had
de fever, an right bad, too. So told de ole
CONAN she better git Potsy, de boy wat you a1ed
bout, to 20 an tote de papers round vile Use
SICK So she went an got i'm, an dat's de way he
cum to be totin em. Well, lse sick longer en- l
spec'ed, an' Potsy KEEP on totin' till bout fort
nj, go, an bin out eber since"
II see," thought Mr.. Wall, there is no use try
ing to find out anything from this stupid negro.
He has but one idea-that lie has been sick. If
ask about the boy will have to hear it all over
again-'fevcr, 'agcr,' rum'tz,' and probably what
medicine he took, and the effect of each dose in
cluded. There is one thing certain L must find
that boy ] feel greater interest in him now than
ever before"
boy" he said, speaking TO the negro, "do you
know where my store isl"
eyes, sab cous does Moss'r John Wallis sto'
down Oh"
"Wcll, wish-but, never mind can't you come
around here tonight want TO see you, but
haven't time now Come to that door and ring the
bell Mr.. Wall pointed TO the door Of his Office
or, rather, sitting-room
"All right, moss'r; III be dar."
The ''boy'' went on his journey, humfnng fa-
vorite Southern melody, no doubt thinking Of a
bright silver half dollar which he expected TO gel
from "Moss'r John WALL"
Mr.. Wall got ready for his breakfast and the du-
ties of the day.
In the evening, after tea, Mr.. Wall sat quietly in
his Office, smoking cigar. This sitling-room, or
Office was built on the west side of the house. the
front door opening on the front street. Mr.. Wall