The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1872-12-04
ALnssoN ron boYs.

Commercial, Hail and German
Ne,rs," shouted ragged little fellow
one afternoon lately, as he rushed
through street car in which we had
taken a seat. Commercial, sirY said
he, turning toward us and planting q
horrible-muddy bare foot fat upon
our neyly-polished boot. We felt
provoked, and raised band to push
the boy off, but he was too quick for us.
Starting back he bowed profoundly,
and in the blandest possible manner
said: "Please excusse me, sirl I'm
really Cery sorry; / couldn't help it
that big gent showed me. Tell us
where your office is, boss. / blacken
mornings s-call and slime 'em for
nothin' sir" We were so much pleased
and struck with this display of ready
politeness, and, despite his dirt, his
pleasant, honest face, that we gave
him a card, and told him to call next
morning as he wished. On the follow
ing morning a strange boy entered
our office with blacking-box slung
over his shoulder and our card in his
hand. Said he, eyeing our boots, "Be
you the gent as give 'rinsey' this ere
card ?" "Who is Tinsey ?" we asked.
"The fellow that sloshed yer boots in
the car last night. His mothers aw-
ful sick, and he's got to stay and mind
his little sister. He says he's sorry he
couldn't come and give yes a shine
hisself, but 'Tinsey' and me often 90
whacks, and I'll shine 'em for You
just the same, flee gratis. for nothin."
This helped to confirm the good opin.
ion we had formed of the newsboy,
and so we asked the boot-black to tell
"Tinsey," as he called him, that when
it was convenient for him, we should
be pleased to have him call. Two or
three days afterward, "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 a rear
basement, in Goerck street, and he
lived at the Boys Lodging House iu
Riyington street, paying five cents
each for his supper, bed and break
fast. His earnings averaged from iif-
ty to seventy-hve cents Il day, and
most of it went to support his mother,
who was very sickly, and only made a
few cents occasionally peddling tin
ware. This fact accounts for the cog
nomen "Tinsey," by which the boy
was known. Considerably improved
in appearance, we dismissed the boy,
saying that we should call and see his
mother, and make inquiry regarding
him at his lodging house, and if re-
ports were favorable 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, be-
cause the conductors kicked him off
the cars, and big boys drove him from
the best blacking stands.
The Superintendent Of the Riying-
ton Street Lodging House knew Tin
sey' well, and spoke very highly 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 Sun
day meetings, and generally had q
book from the library. His affection
for his mother and sisters was very
great, and when he was hard pushed
he would sell his shoes and best gar
ments in order to purchase trining de-
licacies for his sick parent. His moth
er said Charley-for that is "Tinsey's"
right name-was the best of boys, and
the mainstay of the family, He slept
at the Rivington Street Lodging
House, she said, where he had receiv,
ed most Of his education and much
good advice. These inquiries salts
fed US that "linsey" deserved help
ing hand. He is now in our employ
ment, an active, intelligent, trustwor
thy boy. He is neither barefooted
now, nor wears ragged clothes, but
earns a competent salary and lives
with his mother in comfortable home.
He is now on the primary steps of
ladder that leads to influence and indie
pendence, with fair prospect of one
day standing on the topmost round.