Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-01-21
Bobby Gray's Grange.


1t was damp, drissly night, aud Bobby
Gray was going home with heavy heart.
Bobby was newsboy, and might a. we'll
describe him before commence this story.
l don't think he was over nine years old.
and his clothes we're so patched that YOU
couldn't tell what they were made out of
originally, and he wasn't the least bit good
looking, but in spite of all that, everybody
liked. Bobby, he was always 80 bright and
cheerful, and had such honest blue eyes.
OF course, then, you all want to know
what made him feel SO dcspondcnt on the
particular night have mentioned. The
fact was, he hadn't sold more than half a
dozen papers, and his mother was sick
and couldn't work, and the doctor had
said she needed wine and nourishiug food,
and there wasn't anything to eat at home,
and, surely, that was enough to discourage
stouter and older heart than Bobby's.
There was never boy more devoted 10
his mother, andit frightened him nearly 70
death when she was taken i'll, and some-
how, the sight Of her white and patient
face made the big Jumps rise in his throat
until he was nearly suffocated. I don't
think he would have felt SO bad if they
hadn't been so poor and he could have
done more to make his mother comforta-
bic f; but Mrs. Gray was fragile little
woman, even when she was well, and al
though she took in washing and Bobby
sold papers, they could just "keep the
wolf from the door," and that was all.
Now that she was sick, and there was only
Bobby to depend upon, it was hard enough
to get along.
"If were only a man." said Bobby to
himself, in sage sort Of way, as he plodded
along the muddy streets, "I'd make heaps
Of money driving dray or a baggage
wagon or something of the kind. And oh
wouldn't it be jolly! And I'd buy mother
splendid new silk dress, and lots and
lots of good things, jelly, and wine, and
chicken broth, aud oranges, aud everything
else she wanted; and I'd never let her
wash single rag of clothes again. She'd
get we'll in hurry, then, I tell you, for
the doctor said she would. But, oh dear |!
it'll be ever and ever so long before I'm o
man, and don't know what I'm going to
do, for can't make enough selling papers
to keep mother and mo from starving
If thought boot-blacking paid any bet
ter, I'd 80 into the business, but I don't
believe it does. 1 did so hope that I
could take mother homo something nice
to cat to night, for she hasn't tasted bit
of anything since yesterday morning, and
| don't wonder at it, either, considering
the dry bread and sloppy tea that was all
VIC had. Let me see, I've only got fifteen
cents, and didn't have any dinner to-
day; but Tdon't care for that-Tm we'll
and mother isn't. I'd like to spend that
fifteen cents for something nicer than tea
and crackers but that's the best can do.
If Ia only made ten cents more. | could
have bought such a nice yellow orange,
and I'm sure mother would have relished
that"
Just as Bobby was thinking this. he
reached the corner of q street where there
was fruit-stand kept by an old woman I;
and oh didn't it make his mouth water
to see the red-cheeked apples and big
clusters Of grapes, and boxes Of fgs, and
piles Of nuts, and smooth golden oranges !
lie couldn't help stopping for a moment
TO deliberate whether il wouldn't be beat,
after all, to LET the tea and crackers 60,
and spend his fifteen cents for grapes and
oranges? But then, what il his mother
should want something substantial for
supper? There wasn't . grain Of tea in
the cupboard, nor the tiuicst piece Of
bread, for he had eaten the last bic of Il
that very morning. No, no, il voulda't
answer to spend 6fieen eeas for snythiss
else exccp, tea and crackers. Bobby felt
sure, though, that his mother would esjoy
an orange, her mouth vas 20 parched with
fever, aad it did seem hard that he hadn't
enough money 10 buy one He had .
good mind to beg one Of the old woman,
only be sas too proud for that, aad then.
too. he remembered what the boys had
said about her being . regular old oises.
Pess Bssbyi he wiped his eyes viii he
ccsrss sleeve Of his jacket asd vss tara
ing away. vhca . crowd ef people cane
rushing BY, Fire Ere ]" And Bobby
never knew sffsrvard exactly Aov is hap
pessd. bet wicked shosghS eans isas his
head, and seisiss - ossaes in The eoefs-
sion that essued, be rsa dOvu ths street
With al his nigh. He fsls SIRE sAss -
one nv hin; and yet he eeslas's help
faseyisg that the crowd behisd we're all
the while crying. "Ssop, thief! ssop.
theft" And when, At last, breashles and
exhausted, he came 70 q staad-stili, the
orange in his pocket appeared heavier
than lead.
And now he began to realize what he
had done, and il seemed to him as il he
could never look his mother in the face
again, and he shuddered all over When be
thought Of that ugly word "thierr' At
6rst he resolved 70 have il cut. and give
his mother the orange, and tell her that
he had bought il With his ovn money.
But how could he meet the earnest glance
Of her truthful eyes, and not betrsy him.
sclfy He had never told fslsshccd ia
his life, and he had been 80 psosd Of the
way in which she relied upon whatever he
said. Somehow Bobby sarsak from tell