Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-04-29

tormented ct all. and that was when
an envious nessboy began to beat him.
because Ben had cold our all his papers, while
the other boy had not. But angel Pat was at
hand in lsss than no time, and m sde the spite
tui journal bow see such stars that he didn't
dare 10 say boo to Ben after that. That WAS the
last that the bows ever troubled him. He was
little. 20 helpless and harmless, that BY aud By
sspiTIt of pity and gentleness toward him began
70 develop itself. even among the merciless,
OutcaSt neWsbOyS. They came TO be so kind
and chivalrOus toward him that not bow of
them All would 90 near little Ben's beat, not a
boy of them would take q customer from him
am glad to write that of them. They were
glad TO remember 1t, TOO, after that happened
which did happen.
SO Ter months that weak little bov earne SUD-
Per tor himself and his mother. People were
very Kind to him mOstly. Ladies and gentle
men bought papers of the pretty golden haired
child, even when they did not want them. Car
drivers often SACKED mp little when they saw
hum coming, 80 that he might climb on safely
and even the big policeman used 10 watch
him carefully across the street. Little Ben
learned more OF the big world than he
ever thought was TO be known; more than
was good for a child TO know, perhaps He used
to look st the fine carriages and wonder whether
re could ever sell papers enough 70 buy car.
rage. He wen iered what he would do when he
was NAN. lie would not be a newspaper edi-
tor he thought. because editors were ALWAYS SO
cross, and IN such hurry, and didn't seem to
have much money, he noticed Nav be be
would be street-car driver. He liked thar
better. Or may be he you'd even have to 20
and be a Legislature, and would have 10 be
hsuied about in a hack and be gaped at. he
would rot like that at all. On the whole be
thOnght he would be a milkman, he told his
mother, because milkman could ride all dsy
IN a wagon, and seemed ~ get more money than
any one else. And little Ben learned some bad
words and rough ways from the other boys too
But be never said the bad words before his
month; never. And he always gave her every
penny OF his little earnings, not even keeping
enough to buy pOcket knife with tFo blsdes
though ne wanted 1t more than anything else in
the world.
Al last terrible thing happened. Ibsrdlv
know how to write il down, Tor when 90 I,
write Of that my hand shakes and the tears
come IN spite of me, and s0mehow I seem to h.
Writing " one who was very near kin to me.
one afternoon little Ben went ont merrily to
sell bis papers, his slender, delicate hand. ana
pale face very clean. and his long, bright curls
shining In the sun. HIS mother watched him
out OF sight from her window, just "a always
That was the last time she ever curled little
Ben's long bright hair, the last time she was
ever to watch her darling from the window
Poor little Benz
He has sold three papers, and the little fellow
Climbed into street car and sold another. He
meant TO step of at the crossing, but the child
was very little, very weak, and missed his foot
ing, and fell under the car. In an instant the
heavy wheel rolled over him-and poor little Ben
never sold any more papers Never, never more!
They stopped the car and picked up the small.
crushed body in a moment. little feeble
trembling life vet quivered within him. and he
opened his blue eyes family and begged them
EitcOurjy 10 SEM tOr MS mother. Thew knew
the child and went instantly. But the faint.
tiny spark of life glmmered feebly and went
quietly out before the stricken mother came.
And with the cold hand of death stiffening his
white eyelids and dmming his great blue eyes
little hero Ben murmured with his last weak
breath, the words mipg'ing brokenly with death
gaps
"Tell nv mother-I've sold four papers-and-
the MONEYS iD-my pocket"
crowd Of men and women. most of them
With tears in their eyes, saw the long bright
eurls, all draggled and dusty, poor little slim
hands, broken at the wrist, one Of them hanging
quite dead and lfeless-a heart-brokeu woman
moaniDg and crying, and clasping wildly to her
breast the crushed, shspeless thing which had
been golden haired little Ben
-CincipETfi COlupsr-ily.