Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-25
The Ncwsboy's Debt.

As ragged as boy could be,
WITH half n cap. with ono good shoe;
DUST patches to keep out the wind,
know the wind blow keenly too;
newsboy, with newsboy's lungs,
"A square Scotch face. and honest brow,
ana eyes that liked to smile so we'll
They had not yet forgott on how:
\ newsboy. hawking his last sheets
with loud persistence. Now and then
stopping to beat his stiffcned hands,
And trudginG bravcly on sgaiu
lodging about among the crowd
Shouting his " Fxtras" DER and DER:
'a''sng by whiles to heat the wind
Within some alley. by some door,
At last he stopped-six papers left,
tucked hoprlcssly beneath his arm
10 eye II frniterer's outspread store:
Here products from some country farm
And there CONNECTIONS, all adorned
With wrcathed and clustered leaves and flowers
While little founts. like frosted spires.
Tossed up and down their mimic Showers
Tie stood and gazod with wistful face.
ALI child's longing In his eyes;
Then started. rs touched his arm,
And turned in quick, mechanic wiso,
RAISED his torn cap with purple hands,
Said. Papers. Sir! World Herald Times ~
And brushed away freezing tear
That marked his cheek with frosty rimes
" How maay have your Never mind
Don't stop TO count-I'll take them all:
And when you pass my Office hero,
With stock on hand, give me call"
Tie thanked me with a broad Scotch smile.
a look half wondc ring and half glad.
1fumbied for the proner 81 change"
And said. " You seem little lad
ITO rough it in the streets Ike this"
I'm ten years old this Christmas time :"
Your name :" "Jim Hanley" Here's a bill
I've nothing else, but this one dime
Five dollars. When you got it changed
ono to my ofhce-that's the place.
Now wait bit. there's time enough:
You need not run . hssdlong race
Where do you live ?" "Most anywhere.
We hired stable-lott to-day,
Me and two others" And you thought
Tho fruiterer's window pretty, hey?
"Or we're you hungry ?" "Just Bit"
lie answered, bravely as he might
couldn't buy breakfast, Sir,
And had no money left Last niRht''
- And You are cold ~ AYE, lust bit
don't mind cold" "Why. that IL stranoew
lie smiled and pulled his!ragxed can,
And darted of to:get the change"
So, with half unconscious sigh,
sought my office desk again.
An hour or more my busy wits
Found work enough with book and pen
bnt when the mantel clock struck i've
started with sudden thought,
For there beside my hat and cloak
Lay those six papers hsd bought.
Why, where's the boy and where's the .cbanpo
He should have brought an hour ago?
: A. we'll! ali, we'll they're all alike!
was fool 70 tempt him SO
Dishonest F! Well, might have known;
And yet his face scanned candid, too.
lie would have earned the difference
If he had brought me what was due.
But caution often comes too late"
And SO took my homevvard way,
Deeming distrust of human kind
The only lesson of:the day
Jnst two days later. a. sat,
Half DOING In my office chair,
heard tim;d knock and called
In my brusque fashion, L" Who is there ?"
An rchin entered, barely seven
The same Scotch face. the same blue DYES
And stood, half doubtful. at the door,
Abashed ut my forbidL ing Ruise
Sir, If sou please, my brother jim
the one you give the bill, you know
ITO couldn't bring the money. Sir,
Because his back was hurted So
tie didn't mean to keep the change'
lie got ruined over, up the street:
One wheel went right across his back,
And tothor f.re-wheel mashed his feot
They stopped the horses: just In ti,ne
And then they.too him up for dead,
And all that day and yesterday
lie wasn't rightly in his head.
They took him to the hospital
One OF the newsboys knew twas Jim
And went too. because. you soc,
We two are bro. hers, I and him.
lie had.that money In his hand.
And never saw it any more.
Indeed, he didn't mean to steal!
He never lost a cent before!
He was afraid that sou might think
He meant to keep it, ary way;
Ihls morning, when they brought him to,
He cried because he couldn't pay
He made me! fetch his jacket hero:
It's torn AMI dirtied pretty had;
IT'S only fit to sell for rags,
Hut then, Sou know it's I'LL he had!
When he gets we'll 1t womb be long
lfyou will call the money lent.
tie says he'il work his fingers of
But what h-'ll pay you evc.y cent"
And then he cast rneful glance
At the soilcd jucket where it lay
" No, no. my boy! Take back the cont.
Your brothers badly hurt, you say?
Where did they take him Just run out
And hail cab, then wait for no.
Why, would give thousand coats.
And pounds, for such boy as he :"
half hour after this VIC stool
Together in tho Gro sded wards,
Ana the nurse checked the hastJ steps
That fell too 10 uiy on the boards,
thought him smiling in his sleep,
And scarce believed her when she said
Smoothing away the tangled hair
From brow and cheek. The bowls dead ,,