American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-18

IT'S the fairest thing l ever found,
And there are fairies H EHaE' Corporal
"BLACK YOUR BOOTS!"
BY "sQUID SCOTCH"
Mr.. MANN1NG's big wagon, with white
cover and red wheels, rumbled over the
stones into Jersey City. Bounce and Bet,
the great bay horses, with fat, shining
sides and long, flowing names and tails,
SHE'D this way and that, pricked up their
ears at the street cars, and stamped and
snorted at the engines; but MIR. Manning's
kind voice kept them in check; his
whoa! bays" Hey! there Steady,
my good fellows" treasured them. The
ferry they did not like at all their noses
were high in air shifting. their eyes star
ing wildly at the strange, shimmering
sheet Of water before them: but they only
needed their master at their head, power
full as they were, to keep them quiet.
Mr., Manning's wagon looked like an
emirrant's. but it was only covered for
marketing purposes. ii you could have
peeped inside, you would have seen Jars
of S .eet butter, baskets of eggs. and boxes
of the whitest honey, nice enough for the
daintiest table in the CITY. Over the stone
pavements, through the busy, noisy
mammoth grocery store, the great wagon
rolled on its way. That gentleman came
out of his office and greeted his brother
with sincere cordially What though the
farmers hands were rough and brown,
his clothes coarse and worn, his hat a
palm-leaf and his boots 'stogies," he was
ever, inch man. The wagon was I'M
loaded, and the horses were driven to a
livery stable for food and rest. Mr.. Man.
Id hat RI
but a conversation at his brothers dinner
table changed his mind. In the course of
their chit-chat he remarked:
"Neighbor Watson's DO upd hoy IA
away the other day. It's the way with
these charity children. I've no faith in
'em; you can't keep EN-; it's no use try
ing"
"You must not condemn them all by a
few; many have done well and made Use
full men and women. Indeed was going
to suggest to you, as l have done before,
ing.
ooh. I know your hobby, Thomas"
laughed the farmer, "but l don't prove a
good catch, you see. Really, though,
wife and have thought more about it of
late we are getting old, and the house is
dreadful lonesome since Johnny died"
He sighed heavily. They had buried
all their children, three in number;
Johnny, little fellow of seven wears,
was the last. How desolate is the home
and hearth without the merry voice and
busy feet of children, especially If the
light has once burned and then gone out
still, blank, void! Mr. Thomas Man
ming had lively and earnest intere-t in
the poor city children. He gave of time
and money literally. Now his heart was
delighted with the new Interest manifest
ed by his heretofore incOrrigible brother,
who had always seemed very indifferent
on the subject; so to draw him out still
farther, he simply asked:
"Why not take One:"
at is this, Thomas 1 suppose have
been unfortunate in my observance OF
'em. l have little courage to try. Mean
ness seems to be bred in the bone, or
something's the Natter
"As | said, it is not always so. / see
Few waits on the streets every day driven
out for bread-bread. The surroundings
soon harden them; they catch the words
and manners of street life; they have to
fight to live. If some of them could be
taken before this hardening process they
would of course, be more easily managed;
but even some of the worst turn out well.
Only yesterday l saw among the boot
blacks little fellow who | am sure is I'M
used to their rough ways; his face has
haunted me ever since. I'm sorry now |
didn't stop to speak with him. | was in
IA hurry, and he seemed under the protec-
ton of one of the older boys, so | thought
he would not be abused, as new recruits
usually are"
WELL" said the farmer, eff could find
one | could have faith in to start with, |
would try one"
You would? Well then, suppose you
stay over night and we will see what we
can find | will go over the missions
with you and the orphan asylums, if you
like I'd like you To take look NJ the
armies on the streets, too"
Il should never take one from the
streets I'm sure; have horror of them,
with their rags and dirt and oaths."
Not all not all, George!" repeated Mr..
Thomas Manning.
The farmer shook his head incredulous-
"; but answered, II don't know what
wife will say; bat I'll stay and look
round"
Out on the streets of New York one
has to see and hear to know. Rich and
poor joslle each other The street is free
10 all-ihe HOME of many-a great place
for business; fruit. vegetables, milk, meat,
and fish are cried for sale, mingled with
the hollow sound of charcoal" and
rags rags" the shrill voice of the
newsboy, and the merry cry of "Black-
your boots" etc.-a moving panorama IN
many acts The brothers went ON To-
gether, and as they passed safely to the
sidewalk, over "A crowded crossing, MI
George Manning felt touch on his arm,
and Il sweet voice sad,
Black your boots-make 'cm shine;
Cost You only like a dime
ond in the sky"
The farmer was struck by the curious
couplet, and, looking down at his unpol-
ishcd boots, said:
well, sonny, they do need it; suppose
YOU try your hand Thomas!" he called
to his brother who had passed on II few
steps, "heren' rs he came up, what do
you think of my getting sinner Hal
ha hall"
The little fellow set to work quite bust
ness like, though little awkward. TAX
ing out his backing and brush, he set his
box for Mr.. Manning to rest his foot upon.
There was some backing ON his hands,
of course, cut his clothes were neat and
clean. He looked up with gratitude in
his eyes to answer the farmers questions.