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

Inc NcWSbOy'S Debt.
on'S last year, at Christmas tmc,
while pacing down Il city street,
saw tiny. ill.clad boy
tnr OF tho thousands that we moct
AS ragged as boy could be-
WITH half Il cap. with ono goad shoe:
'ns' patches +" keep out the wind.
know the wind blew keenly too:
nrwsbOy. with neweboy's lungs,
square Scotch face and honest brow,
ANA oyes that liked to smile so weil
they had not yet forgot on how;
n'wsboy. hawking his last sheets
WIN loud persistence. Now and then
stopping to beat his stiffcued hands.
And trudGing bravcy on again
lodging about among the crowd
Shouting his '' Fxtras" DER and DOR;
fa"sins by whilos to cheat tho wind
Within some alley. by some door,
Al last no stopped-six papers loft,
tucked hop"lcssy beneath his arm
10 eye fruitcrer's outsprcad store;
h're products from some country farm,
Ana there CONNECTIONS, all adorned
With wreathed and clustered leaves and flowers
Tossed up and down their mimic showers.
tie stood and gazcd with wistful face.
AHA chld's longing in his eyes;
Then started. as touched his arm
And turned in quick, mechanic wisc
Raised his torn cap with purple hands,
Said Papers. Sir! World Herald! Times y
And brushed away freezing tear
That marked his cheek with frosty rimes
How many have you Never mind
Don't stop TO connt--Ill take them all:
AND when you pass my Office here
With stock on hand, give me cali.''
tic thanked me with broad Scotch smile,
look half wondering and half glad.
fumbled for the proner change"
And said. You seem n little lad
TO rough it in the streets like this"
I'm ten years old this Christina time -
our nane :" Jim Hanley." " Here's a bill
I've nothing else, but this ono dime
Fiv" collars. When you get 1t changed
ONE to my ofice-that's tho place.
NOW wait n bit there's time enough:
You need not run hsadlong race
Where do you live ?" Most anyvhero
We hired stable-loft to-day,
Nc and two Others" And YOU thoupht
TIL, sruiterer's window pretty. hey?
Or we're you hungry ?" "Just bit :"
He answered, bravely as he might
couldn't buy breakfast, Sir,
And had no money left last niRht.''
And you are colds" AYE, lust n bit.
don't mind cold" why. that Is strapce!'
lie smiled and pulled his!ragged cap,
And dart cd of to..;et the .cbance,
SO. with half unconscious Sigh,
sought my office desk again.
An hour or more my busy wits
Found work enough with book and pen.
fnt when the mantel clock struck fvo
started with a sudden thought,
for there beside my hat aud cloak
Lay those six papers had bought
why, where's the boy, and where's the change
ne shoult have brought an hour ago?
An well! ali. we'll they're all alike!
l was n fool TO tempt him so!
Dishonest! Well, might have known;
And yet his face seemed candid. too.
lie would have earned the difference
III ne had brought me what was DUE
But caution often comes too late"
AND SO took my honeward way
Deeming distrust of human kind
The only lesson ofthe day.
jas. two days later, 40 I sat.
Half doing, in my office chair,
heard timd knock, and called,
In my brusQuc fashion, Who is there ?"
Anurchin entered, barely seven
The same Scotch face. the same blue eyes,
ANA stood, half doubtful, at the door,
Abashed at my forbidl ing uuise
Dir If SOU please, my brother jim
Inc one You give the bill, you know
ho couldn't bring the money. Sir,
Because his back vas hurried So
lie didn't mean to keep the '.chanee;'
He got ruined ovc:, up the street:
Ono wheel went right across hi. back,
And tothor f>re-wheel ma she'd his foot
ihey stopped the horses. just in time,
And then they.took him up for dead,
And all that day and yesterday
lie wasn't rightly in his head.
They took him to the hospital
tine OF the newsboys knew twas Jim
And went too. because, you see
We two are bro. hers, 1 and him.
lie had.that money In bis hand.
And never saw it any more
Indeed, he didn't mean to steal!
he never lost 4 cent before
lie was afraid that you might think
tic melnt to keep it, ary way;
This morning, when they brought him to.
lie cried because he couldn't pay.
tic made me.fetch his jacket hero:
It torn an dirtied pretty bad:
Us only fit to sell for rags
But then, you know it's all he had.
When he gets we'll 1t won't be long
If you will call the money lent,
Tie says he'll work his fingers of
But what h7'll pay you evc.y cent"
And then he cast rueful glance
AT the solcd jackct where it Law.
M, no, my boy! Take back the cont
Your brothers badly hurt, you saw
Where did they lake hin, just run ont
Ana hail cab, then wait for mo,
Why, | would give Il Thousand coats.
AMI pounds, for such boy as he !"
y half hour after this VIC stool
Together in the s,rd w:::..,
Ana the nurse checkci The hae,j steps
That FELL too 10 u. sly on the Lvarts.
Thought him sinin. in his sleep,
AND scarce believed her when she sa ill.,
Smoothing away the tangled hair
From brow and cheek. " The bowls dead ~