Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-12-19
PoLITENESs THAT PAID.
A LESSON FOR BOYS.

Commercial, Mail, and German
News!' shouted ragged little fellow
one afternoon lately, as :. he rushed
through street car where we had Just
taken,a seats;. Commercial, sirE": ,said
he, towards us, and planting horrible
muddy bare foot upon our newly pol
ished boot. We felt provoked, and
raised hand to push the boy of, but
was too quick for u.s. Starting back,
he he bowed polite wand in the blandes
possible manner said: 'Please excused
me, sir? | am really very sorry. l
couldn't help it-that big gent showed
me. Tell US where your Office is, boss
blacker mornings. ,call and shine EN-
up for you for nothing, sir" We were
so much pleased and struck with the
display Of ready pc iteness, and, despite
the dirt. his pleasant, honest face, that
we gave him card, and told him to
call next morning as he wished. On
the following morning strange boy
entered our Office with backing brush
swung over his shoulder and card in
his hand. Said he, cycling our boots,
BE you the gent as give Tinsey this
ere card e. "W'ho is Tinsy," we asked
'sThe little fellow that sloshed yer boots
in the car last night His mother is
awful sick, and be is got to stay and
mind his little sister He says he is
awful sorry he can't come and give yes
a shine himself, but rinsev and me Of
ten go whacks and Fl shine r'em for
you just the same, -gratis-for-noth-
ing" This helped to confirm the good
opinion we formed of the newsboy, and
SO we asked the boot-blaek to tell
''Tinsey, as he called him, that when it
was convenient for him, he should be
pleased to have him call = Two or three
days aferward ''Tinsey" called, ragged
and barefooted as before He told us
that his father had been dead Two years:
that his mother and two sisters were
very poor, living in rear basement in
lTreek Street and he himself lived in
the Boys Lodging House, in Riving-
ton Street, paying FIVE cents each for
his supper, bed and breakfast. His
earnings averaged from fifty to seventy
five cents per day, and most OF it went
to support his mother, who was very
sickly, and only made a few oents .occa-
sionally selling tinware:-Thisf fact ac-
counts for the cognomen "Tinsey" by
which the boy was known. Consider
ably improved in appearance, we dis
missed the boy, saying that we should
call and see his mother, and make in
quirv about him at his lodging house,
and if reports were favorab we might
give him work in our Office. The poor
boy was overjoyed at this; said he
would like so much to get regular work,
because conductors kicked him off the
cars, and big boys drove him from the
best backing stands.
The Superintendent of the Rivington
Street Lodging House knew 'Tinsey'
well, and spoke very well of him. He
said he was one of the few street boys
who did not use tobacco, swear or stay
out late at night. He always attended
night school and Sunday meetings, and
generally had book from the library.
His affection for his mother and sister
was very great, and when hard pushed
would sell his shoes and best garments
in order to purchase some trifing del
icacies for his sick parent. His mother
said Charlie-for that is ''Tinsey's"
right name-was the best of boys and
the main stay of the family. He slept
at the Rivington Street Lodging House
she said, where he received most of his
education and good advice These in
quiries now satisfied us that ''Tinsey"
deserves helping hand. He is now in
our imp oyment, an active, intelligent,
and trustworthy boy. He is neither bare
footed now nor wears ragged clothes,
but earns competent salary, and lives
with his mother in comfortable home
He isnow on the primary steps of lad
der that leads to influence and independ-
ence, with fair prospect of one d y
standing on the topmost round.-N !.
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