Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-12-25

80 1: \
The Ncwsboy's Debt.
only last year. at Christmas time,
While pacing down city street,
saw tiny. il-clad boy
One Of the thousands that We meet
Asrag4sd A. boy could be,
With half cap, with one good shoe;
just patches to keep ont the wind,-
know the wind blew ksenly too:
A newsbeH with . newsboy's lungs
square Scotch face. and honest brow,
And eyes that liked TO sfnile 80 we'll
They had not yet forgotten how:
ne"sboy. hawking his last sheets
win loud persistence. Now and then
stopping to beat his stineued hands,
And trudging bravely on sgain
Dodeins about among the crowd
Shouting his - Extras" DER and Ger;
Paustns BY whites to cheat the wind
Within some alley. BY some door.
At last he sto0psd-six papers left,
Tucked hopeiessly. beneath hts ann
To eye a fruiterer's outspresd store:
/, Hero products from some country farm,
And there CONNECTIONS, all adorned
With wreathed and clustered leaves and flowers
While little founts, like frosted spires,
Tossed mp and down their mimic showers.
He stood and gszed with vistful face.
ALA child's longing In his eyes; -. -
Then started. As touched his arm,
And turned In ODiok. Henhani In viae
Raised his torn cap with purple hands,
Said. Papers. sir3 World Herald Times =
And brlahed away freezing tear
That marked his cheek with frosty rirnes.
How many have you ? Never mind
Don't stop TO count-Ill take them al:
And when You pass my once here,
With stock on hand, give me sall.n
He thanked me With broad Scotch smile.
look half WONDERING and half xlsd.
1fumblsd for the prsnsr CHANGE"
And said. "You seem \ little lad
To rough 1t III tho streets IKE this."
I'm ten years old this Christmas time ~
"Your name ?" Jim Hanley." Here's . btu
I've nothing else. but this one dime
Five dollars. When you get it CHANGED
Come to my ofnce-that'6 the plaza
Now wait bit. there's time enough:
You aesd. not ~. hssdIons race.
Where do you Avel" "Most anywhere.
We aired = stable-loft to-day,
he and two Others" "And you thought
Tho fruterer's window pretty, hoy?
Or we're you hungry" "Just Bit"
He answered, bravely a. he might.
couldn't buy a breakfast, Sir,
And had NO money loft Last nisht,''
"And you arc cold p" "Ays, lust bit.
Idon't mind cold" why. that is stfange!"
He smiled and pulled his.raxsed cap.
And darted Of to::get the ''::eh.nfe." =.
So, with half unconscious Sigh,
Isousht my o1sce desk again.
An hour or more my busy wits
Found work enaashwtah beck and PEN r.
Bnt when the uantel clock struck dvsr,.s' -
started with . sudden thought,
For there beside ny hst and cloak 81
Lay tree s'z p.s'r 1hd tessht:~s
why. where's the boy. and where's the change
, He should have bes.shAsn hour agol
2 All. we'll! al wSn ths6sre all alike!
1wsS's foott0tembt hih 10!
Dishonest! We'll. might have k,owa;
AND yee his fsoe seemed candid. too !.
He would have earne1 the di1arenoe
Hhe had brought me what was due.
But caution often comestoo hte"
Ands Il took'my homeward way,
Dsemin9 distrust Of human kid. :. !
The ONLY LESSON of;tAs day.
just two days later. ~ sat,
Half doing, In my office chair,
heard = timid knock, and called,
In my brusQue fashion, " Who is there -
An urchin entored. harsly seven !
The same Scotch face. the same blue ores
And stood, half doubtful. 1t the door,
Absshed at my fofbidt ing guise
" Sir, If you please, my brother jim }.
The one You give the bill, you know
He couldn't bring the money, Sir,
Because his back vas hurted 50.
He didn't mean to keep tho :chanse;'
He got ruined over, up the street:
Ono wheel went right across bis back.
And t'other f.re.Whael mashed his feet.
They stopped the horses. just in time,
And then they:took him up for dead,
And all that day and yesterday
He wasn't rightly In his head.
"They took him to the hospital
One OF the newsboys knew twas jim
And won't too, because. you see,
We two are bro.hers, l and him.
He had1that money In his hand,
And never saw II any more.
Indeed, he didn't mean to stesl!
He never lost = cont before!
He was afraid that you might think
He meant to keep it, any way;
This morning. whom thsy brought him to.
He cried because he couldn't pay
He made mesfetch his Jacket horn:
It's torn ana dirtied pretty bad;
It's only fit to sell for rags,
But then, you know, its Ill he had!
When he gets we'll it won't be long
1fyou will call the money lent,
He says.he'n work his fingers of
But what he'u Day you every cent"
And then he cast rueful glance
At the soiled jacket where it lay.
No, no, my boy! Take back the coat.
Your brothers. badly hurt. you say1
''Wherr did they take him: Just run ont
And hail . cab, then wait for me. -,
Why, would give Thousand coats,
And pounds, for such boy a. he I"
half hour after this VIC stood
Together in tho croxded wards.
And the nurse checked the hasty stops
Ihat fell too 10 IDLY 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. j" The boy;is dead ="