Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-10-21
MONEY AT INTEREST.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

penny
"No-go along with you never give money
to street beggars."
And Mrs. Parker sat trife more erect, if it
were possible, in her buffalo-cushioned wagon
seat, and grasped her blue cotton umbrella
tighter. Buther husband, Paul Parker, on whose
kindly face the boy turned his gaze, said
See here, boy I've only got a ffy-cent
piece, and its more money than l ought to give
away l shall be here at three o'clock this day
week, opposite this very tavern will you be
here to pay it back to me? Mind, l only lend it
to you and may be I'll be able to find some
work for you by that time"
'' Yes sir" said the boy, gleefully, as he scram-
bled up the side of the wheel I'll be here,
sure"
I" Paul Parker, you're fool ' said the wo-
man, angrily. You scatter your money as
though there was no end to it. Do you suppose
you'll ever see your fifty cents again ?'
81 hope so, wife," said the old man, touch
ing his placid horse gently with the rens, and
urging him into sleepy jog-trot &C should
be sorry to think there wasn't no truth in that
bright-eyed little fellow. Give the world a fair
chance, that's all I've got to say"
The bistering August sunshine was pouring
into little garret room in one of the most
squalid and neglected purlieus of the town,
where brutal looking man sat smoking short
black pipe, and two OF three boys lounged around
half asleep. A hand-organ stood against the
wall, and monkey dressed in soiled red rags
| 4l,o 49,
thumbed tambourine lay by Nno himself,
with tear-stained cheeks and heavy eyeds, was
crouched in a corner, wistfully watching the door
as if resolved to avail himself Of the first chance
that offered itself for escape.
There was wild beauty about the boy, in
! spite of his swarthy cheeks and forlorn uniform
of rags and an attractveness that was hard to
understand. His brow, overshadowed by thick
black locks, was frank and open his eyes were
soft and liquid, and there were both spirit and
gentleness in the we'll outlined mouth. Had
Nno Berlani been the offspring of aristocratic
lineage, he would have been called handsome
but rags and poverty and blows are anything but
beautifying, and Nino had known little else in
his brief and sunless existence.
pipe and laid it down, with viscious sde-long
glance at the boy.
so you'd got fifty cents hid away, you was
goin' to CANNON out of, eh ?'' he demanded.
You young vagabond, I'd like to know what
you mean by it ~
" 1t was mine," sobbed the boy " I earned
it singin under the great folks winders, after
work-hours gave you all earned
in the daytime, did,"
Yours ~ growled the man, savagely land
all you is mine, and if ever catch you at
such trick again, I'll split your head open for
you. Where you going now2 Sit down
again"
"Only out as far as West Landhill tavern"
said Nino, entreatingly, as his eyes marked the
slowly creeping tide of sunshine along the floor,
that formed his only substitute for a clock.
" Well, you won't do no such thing p said
the man, evidently in most contrary and quar-
relsome mood. Go back to your bench again !;
do you hear? You re not goin' to stir out O. this
house before night and not then unless you be-
have yourself"
"Tl be back in ten minutes, sir; indeed,
will"
" Hold your noise l' brutally calculated his
keeper. " 1 tell you, you shan't stir another
peg there, now Dave" to one of the other
boys, "gve us light for this pipe"
Nino, watching his opportunity, as a wild
beast might watch for escape from its cage,
gave forward dart just the man stopped
over 10 rub his match against the sole of his
boot. But he was not quite quick enough his
tyrant seized him rudely by the arm, and slung
him across the floor as if he had been a toy
He fell, his temple striking against the leg of a
bedstead standing in the corner, and lay there
quite ins ensbe.
" Blest if don't think he's done for dad ~
said one of the hitherto impassve spectators Of
the scene, boy Of thirteen, who was generally
dressed as a wandering Bavarian," with tam
BOURNE and bells.
Let him alone, say" snarled the father +;
"I'll teach him lesson"
Just then the bell in the old square tower of
the town clock struck three.
q told you he wouldn't be here, Paul p ex-
utantly exclaimed Mrs. Parker, projecting her
keen gray eyes into every nook and corner around
the dull street in front of the " West Landhill
House of Entertainment for Man and Beast"
" knew it What do you think of your fine,
honest boy?"
Paul Parker's countenance clouded visby.
"I'm sorry for it, wife-sorry from the bot
tom of my heart. l somehow thought he was
different from the common lot of EN-, but then
spose hadn't ought to expect much from lad
brought up in the streets. Well, WELL let's
drive on"