Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-11-20

BY LOUISA NJ. ALCoTT.


BY LOUISA NJ. ALcoTT.
Hurrying to catch certain car at a certain
corner, late one stormy night, was suddenly
arrested by the sight of queer-lookng bundle
lying III doorway.
BLESS my heartl it's child! o John. I'm
afraid he's lrozenl' l exclaimed TO my brother,
as we both bent over the bundle.
Such little fellow as he was, in the big rag
ged coat; such tired baby face under the fuzzy
cap; such purple little hand, still holding fast
a few papers; such pathetic sight altogether
was the boy, lying on the stone step. with the
snow drifting over him, that 1t was impossible
to go by.
HE is sleep; but he'll freeze if left so long.
Here, wake up, my boy, and 20 home as fast as
you can" cried John, with gentle shake and a
very gentle voice. for the memory OF a dear lad
safely tucked up at home made him lathefly
kind to the small vaga Ond
The moment he was touched the boy tumbled
up, and beio he was half awake began his
usual cry with an eve to business.
"Paper, sir? Herald Transcript Last"
a great cape swallowed up the "last edition."
and he stood blinking at US like a very chilly
young owl,
'1'Il buy EN- all, if you'll go home, my little
chap; it's high time you were abed," said John,
whisking the damp papers into one pocket and
his purse out of another as he spoke.
IAN of en- why, there's SKIP Croaked the
boy, for be was hoarse as raven.
"NeYer mind, | can kindle a fire with 'em
Put that in your pocket and trot home as fast
as possible"
"Where do you live?" asked, picking up the
fifty cents that fell from the little fingers, too
benumbed to holdit.
"Mills Court out of Hanover Cold, amt
itP said the boy blowing his purple hands, aud
hopping feebly from one leg to the other TO take
the Stiffness out.
"He can't 20 all that way in the storm-sueh
mite, and SO used up with the cold and sleep
john"
"Of course he can't; we'll put him in a car, -
began John, when the boy wheeZed out!
HNoi Tve got to wait for Sam. Hon be along
as soon as the theatres done. He said he would,
and so Pm waitin'."
"Who is Sam?' asked,
"He'S the teller lives with. / amt got any
folks, and he takes care O. me-"
"Nice care, indeed; leaving a baby like you
to wait Tor him here such night as it is"
said Grossly,
"Oh he's good to me, Sam is; though he does
knock me around sometimes when | amt spGy.
The biz ieers shove me back, you see, and |
gets cold and can't sing out loud, so don't sell
my papers, and has to work EN- off late"
clear the child talk. One would think he
was sixteen instead of six l said half laugh.
ing.
''Pm most ten, Hil-ain't that onerP' cried
the hoy, as gust of sleet slapped him in the
ldCGJ anu NHGu Ht pcGpGu ID see II OlIl was
coming. "Hoo! the lights is out Why the
plays done and the folks gone, and Sans for
got me-"
1t was very evident Sam had forgotten his
little protege, and strong desire TO shake Sam
possessed me.
'No use waitin any longer; and now my
papers is sold, | amt afraid TO 20 home" said
the boy, stepping down like a little old man
with his rheumatism and preparing to lrudge
away through the storm.
"Stop bit, my little Casabianaca; car will
be along in fifteen minutes, and while waiting
you can warm yourself over there" said John,
with the purple hand IN his.
"My name is Jack Hill, not Cassv Banks,
please Sir" said the little party with dignity.
Have you had your supper, MIR, Hill ?" asked
John, laughing.
81 had some peanuts and two sucks of joe
orange, but it warn't very film" he said
gravely.
"a should think not Here, one stew: and be
quick please" cried John as we sat down IN a
warm corner Of the couiectioner's opposite
While little Jack shoveed in the hot OYSTERS
with his eyes shutting up now and then in spite
of himself, we looked mt him, and thought OF
little ROSY face at home, safe in bis warm nest,
with mother love watching over him. Noddlng
toward the ragged, grimy, fOrlorn looking
creature, dropping asleep over his supper like a
tired baby, ! said:
"Can you imagine our Freddy, out alone at
this hour trying to work off his papers, be-
cause afraid TO 20 home I'LL he has?"
"Pd rather not Try" answered brother John
wiukIng hard as he stroked the little head be-
side him, which, by the way, looked very like a
ragged yellow door mat. | think brother John
winked hard but | can't be sure, for know
did, and for a minute there seemed TO be a
dozen newsboys dancing before my eyes.
"Ihere goes our car, and it's the last" said
John, looking at me.
"Let it 60, but don't leave the boy" and |
frowned at John for limiting such thing.
"Here is his car, Now, my lad, bolt your
last oyster and come Oh"
"Good night, ma'am! Thankee, STRIP croaked
the grateful little voice, as the child was caught
up in johns strong hands and set down on the
car step.
With a word to the conductor and a small
business transaction, we left Jack cOiled M in
a corner, to finish his nap as TRANQUILITY as if it
wasn't midnight and a knocking round" might
not await him at his journeys end.
We didn't mind the storm much as we
plodded home, and when told the story 10
rOsy-iace next day his interest quite recon.
ciled me to the shifts and sneezes of a bad cold.
"lf saw that poor little boy, Aunt Weedy, I'd
love him iotsE said Freddy, with world of
pity in his beautiful child eyes.
And believing that others, also, would be
kind to little Jack and such as he, | tell the
story
When busy fathers hurry home at night.
hope they'll buy their papers Of the small bows
who get showed off" the feeble ones, VINO grow
hoarse and can't "sing out;" the shabby ones.
who evidently have only lo:gellul Sans to care
for them; and the hungry looking ones, who
don't get what is "fllin' =" For love OF the lit
tie sons aud daughters safe al home say a Kind
word, buy a paper, even if you don't want il :
and never pass by, leaving them TO sleep forgot.
ten IN the streets at midnight, with no pillow
but stone, no cOyerlld but the pitiess snow
and not even tender hearted robin to drop
leaves over them" -NeuyS Museum.
A VALUABLE iNvENTGoN.-Wh the horse
disease was prevailing in New York city the fire
commissioners procured from the Amoskeag
manufacturing company, on trial, recently in.
vented self prOpelling steam lire engine. This
improved apparatus mas already satisfactorily
propelled itself 10 several fires LIS motive
power is that by which its pumps are worked
and IL is applied by dIscOnnecting from the
pump gear the rod which connects that gear
with the steam chest, and attaching the same
rod to one oil the rear wheels. THIS action ac.
complished by means OF simple lever applies
to the wheel rotating power equal to the con.
bined strength OF i've horses, and sufficient to
propel the engine at high rate Of speed. As
horses are not needed, pole is dispensed with,
aud its place Is supplied by steering appara.
tus, operated by mau sitting in tue drivers
seat The tires OF tue rear wheels are Of UNUSUAL
thickness, and supplied with heavy steel CO.'S,
which take firm hold Of the ground or pave.
ment. In other respects the engine IS similar
to those drawn by horses, and, on reaching a
burning building, is quickly made ready for
throwing wafer by realtaching the rod to the
pump gear
Il has been thoroughly tested, and II has been
found to be capable Of propelling itself over un.
even surfaces, up and down hill, through mud