South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-07-07
BY ALICE ROBBINS.

y UH'iCu III eafthen Que. His peculiar vo-
cation was to make wheel Of himself, by
which he annoyed unprotected women aud
children. He would tumble over and over
the entire length of the street, bobbing his
head aud holding out his hand for pen
MES between every Somcrsault
Poor Tip! he got more kicks and bruis.
es than pennies. Not that the ladies'
gentle hearts--eyor repulscd him with rude
ness, but the policemen did.
To them, poor little Tip, with his shock
of untidy hair, his fearful eyes, and active
legs, was simply n nuisance, and must be
put down. As to his being human bit
OF flesh and blood | don't suppose such an
idea ever came into their heads. 1t was
their duty to keep him down or up for he
contrived to be on his head half of his life.
and was a great trial to them
Now Tip was not an Ugly wizon-faced,
mcager, starved-looking boy, at all Meth
or was he very cunning or very vicious,
that | could see. lie bad eyes large, dark,
aud really beautiful, fricged with heavy
silkcn lashcs a fair skin, where you could
sec It for the dirt, aud pretty features
never met the little torment but found
myself wondering how he would look dress
ed in Knickerbockcrs, his curly hair care
fully combcd out, aud his face thoroughly
washed
Que day he appeared at my window,
crying as usual. He was a voritablc little
crocodile. had never spoken to him
but now, obcying sudden impulse, | had
! him called in
what is the matter with you, my boy 2
| asked
I'm hungry he said, whimpering.
Then why don't you buy some bread E?
You've more than one penny in your peck
ct ! touched the ragged jacket with the
paper-foder | held in my hands, and the
coppors jnglcd. lie looked up scared ;
but, seeing me smil", took courage.
'What is your name 2 asked
Tip Toodles, was the rejoinder
No, but your other name. The child
rem suppose, call you that
4 hain't no other name he made reply
WAS that your fathers namcY
4 haint got no fathur.'
wei, is your mothers name ToodIcs?'
no. she's Matte was the answer.
Are you really hungry, Tip ?
Mot very be stammcrcd
/ boy ?
q gives it to nay mother, he replied,
looking down, while his child's face juru-
Cd
And do you never spend it p
He shook his head
Would you ike n new suit of clothes
and do you think your mother would lot
you 90 to school 2
q Dunno he answered looking down
! 1rl .sfTr f,r 4,
! wei, Tip, if you will wash your face
nicely, will Give you good breakfast
Ills eyes frightened as he looked up. ]
led him to the bathroom. gave hm plenty
of soap and water, and When the child came
out should not have known him
Gle Is a regular beauty said Katy,
stcalthily, as she sat out some break fast for
him on the kitchen table.
After be had eaten all he wanted. | nut
on my bonnet and Waterproof, rs the dly
looked threatening, and told the how to
lead mo to his home We wcro soon there.
in tho very heart Of crowded, misshapcn
court in tic very top ROOM Of a horribly
vile tenement house. There found the
woman be called his mother
She was old and haggarl. when VIC
went in, she was on Der knees tryino 10
'Iow n few damp chips into a fame. some
stale bread lay in slices on tie broken
hearth, 30 tho midst Of scattered ashes.
suppose she intended to top6t it, The wo-
man herself was not bad looking, but her
dress was odiously foul with dirt There
were only broken chair, q pan of coals,
and heap Of rags in the room. No table.
no beds nothing Of comforts. Even the
N.ru I
keep tho pure air out
d have brought homo your boy I said
chccriuIly aS the woman arose
I'm sorry haven't a cheer flr yc,' She
said politely and az Tor TIP, Why he amt
my boy, YOU know, Of course
But you take care Of him
laws no, Miss, ho takes care On bis.
self, and helps me q little, by tumblinc.
'Aro hIs parents living, then, aud whose
child IS he
You asks INC moro nor 7 can answer,
was her reply, as she wiped her hands ou
her ragged gown. Old Tom Green, him
that was a tinker, had bin a couple of
years and they do say bcroabouts as how
Tip was stole
Then you don't know as Tip is his right
namop
Bless yc- Miss, no indeed That's what
wo calls him hcroabouts He's good
cbtld as young ones 90 but ! reckon, if
you ask Granny Loot, who lives in tho
basement, she'll tell you somcthin' about
him. TIP, take the lady down to Granny
Loot. You'l have to hollcr some .
Tho boy went Immediately DOVE tho
stairs, aud Tipping a piece Of money into
the womau's baud, ] followed him.