Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-04-29
sHINE YOUR BOOTS, SIR p


down from nnler the brim of an old felt
hat that had once been white, and a pair |
of soft, large eyes looked up into his.
ttShine your boots, sir p
The man shook his head as he uttered a |
brief "No," and passed on.
But the tender face and soft asking eyes
haunted him. After walking on for half q |
block, trying to forget the face and eyes
of the coy, he stopped, turned round, and |
went back, he hardly knew why.
''Shine your boots, sir ?" 1t was the
same innocent voice, but q little frmer 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" answered
the man, ''but here's the price of shine,
and he reached him ten cents.
Haven't come to that yet" And the
lad drew himself up little proudly. ''l'm
not beggar, but boot black. Just let
me shine them, sir. Won't keep you a
minute"
There was no resisting this appeal. So
the man placed his foot on the boys rest,
and in little while the surface was like
polished ebony.
THANK you" said the little fellow. rs
on finishing the second boot he received
his fee.
|. The m en- walked away, holding in his
mind very distinctly an image of the boy,
that did not fade.
On the next morning, while on his way
to business, he was greeted by the same
lad with
"Shine your boots, sir ?"
And in q voice steadier than the day be-
fore. The little boot black was gaining
confidence in his new calling.
The man stopped, placed his boot on the
boot-rest, and the boy set his brushes to
work in the liyelieSt WaY
"Where do you live, my little man ?"
| The boy brushed on, seeming not to
have heard. AS he finished one boot, and
was about commencing the other, the man
said, changing the form of his question,
"Where ii your home p
this answer, he looked up into the man &
face for an instant, and then let his eyes
fall upon his work.
"No home -
"No, SIR
"Where do you sleep ?"
"Most anywhere that [ can creep in, y
replied the boy, as he brushed away with
all his might Then, as he rose up, he
said, with business air.
"That's good shine sir -
First-rate," answered the man, whose
interest in the boy was increasing. Cant
be beat. And now, what's the charge ?"
"Ten cents, cir.
The ten cents were paid
"Sleep most anywhere that you can
creep in" said the man. What do you
mean by that %
"Well, sir, it's so. Sometimes L get a
bed in cellar, and sometimes in garrett,
just as it happens.
" Do you pay for it p
90, yes, indeed They won't let you
s,eep for nothing" -.
" How much DO you pay for bed ?"
"Sixpence or q shilling, 'cording to
where it il ?"
"Why don't you stay in one place p
asked the man. "Why do you go from
cellar to garret, as you say, just as it hap
pens ?"
Cause, sir, they get drunk. and sweal
and fight so, most everywhere L get IN,
that I don't care to go again and SO
keep moving round. Shine your boots
sir ?"
And, seeing customer, off the boy ran
for he had his living to earn and couldn,
stop 70 talk when there was business Il
do.
The man walked away more than eve
interested in this brave little fellow, fight
ing, at 90 tender an age, the battle o
life.
! A few hours later in the day-it was mid
summer and the air hot and sultry-as thi
man was passing the corner of stree
where an apple-woman had her stand, b
Witnessed a scene that we will describe.
The apple had fallen asleep. Tw
boys-a newsboy and the little boot-blac
just mentioned-were at the stand. IN
newsboy, who was larger and stouter thai
Q the boot black, seeing good chance t
> get apples without paying for them, wa
O Just seiziug two or three Of the largest
when the little boot-black pushed bravel
). in, and the man heard him say:
I "That's stealing, and it can't be done!
+ The newsboy grew red with anger as h
turned fierceiy upon the little fellow, rail-
! ing his fss to strike him; but his vel
n aimed blow did not reach the soft, y
! brayely Indignant face, for nj arn strOnl
. ! er than his caught the descending fist al
l., held it for an instant with u firm grip. /
- The next moment, the Scared uewnbuy hl
o broken away, and was scanpering dow
= the street ii last as his legs could carr
% him.
- That was weil done. ny i,t'le f. How
" exclaimed the man, turning tu TIC ycuI
=. boot bla k "And LOW" iio added, ''y'
"a mu4t come to my store"
- "Wher+, is il sir?" asked the boy.
Not far away" Come" said the ma
as he moved on; and the boy followed hi
They walked for II distance OF two or thr
er blocks, ana then entered store, the e.
Sc tleman moving along through bales II
k. boxes until he reached counting roo
ud at the rear end. Laying off his hat,
IL took a chair; turning to the lad, who n
Nv stood before him "lth cnrlout, wand
I'd ing face-his foot rest containing brnHl
he and blacking. sInug across his shonlde
ad he said.
I'D Take that thing "ff and set it out
as the stt re- or throw it into the stree
ter don't care which," said the u al point
me to the dirty box.
Ills The lad took it off and set it outside
fe. the door, then came back and stood {
the ing at the man earnestly.
nd, "What is your nameY'
the Jimmy Lyon, SIR" answered the
I'M Ks your father Eying?"
nks ''No, sir"
adv Your mother?"
Iys, F'She's dead