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

"What was that song you were singing,
sonnyy'
Before he could answer, the city brother
exclaimed:
| "Well, declare, if this isn't the same
| little fellow | was speaking about. You
haven't been in the business long, my
boy!'
green, but I'll shine your boots for you
| for all that"
He brushed away with the energy of a
small engine. Ii the gentlemen had
| looked they might have seen his protector
IA big boot-black-only IA few steps off,
with something more than gratitude ex-
| pressed on his face; there was real, genu-
| Inc love, as he watched his charge.
| "You didn't tell me your song" re-
marked the farmer, changing his foot on
the box, one boot shining like mirror
now despite its coarseness.
"Well,'' laughed the boy, lyon see Ben
| told me something to say-maybe L didn't
| get il right"
Out with it; what was il? that was
what caught thi. customer Tor you"
The boy raised his head and cried half
| smilingly and shyly:
BLACK your boots-make 'em shine;
ond in he sky"
| His voice dropped toward the last. He
said, 81 guess l get something else mixed
with it. Benz" he shouted, peering
aronnd Ben stepped from the corner OF a
building: What was it you told me to
say, old fellow7"
"Black your boo..-make 'em shine;
Cost yer only half a dime"
| "Ohl yes; got some OF Twinkle Star
int, guess"
They all laughed. Then Mr.. Thomas
Manning said:
'Step this way, boys, into my store'-
they were near it; he led the way-''come
on; I'll pay you for your time" he added
cheerily They walked through to the
back part of the store. "Now l should
like to know something about this little
boy-who he is l noticed him on the
| street yesterday"
my names Toots," the child said,
| then looked at Ben.
| "Why, yer see," said Ben, "l've know
ed i'm alters. His mother used ter live
next room t'us. She TUX in sewin'
an washin', an got long well 'n"ueh till
she TUX sick an died. Men Bob, that's
my brother, felt SO sorry like Inr Toots
| we TUX i'm for our own He doft like
ter stay lone, so we hev ter take, I'm with
us. Toots wants ter work, so We sets i'm
up an are learnin' of him. T"ots does
bully" and the generous Ben = i'ed him
fondfy on the shoulder.
"Your big heart makes me ashamed of
my little one, Ben said FaImer Man
ming Il think I'll learn a lesson from
you. Now | want a little boy God has
taken all of mine, and I'd like 10 take
this little fellow off your hapds. What
do you say sonny" turning I" Toots,
| would you like TO live in The country
and be my boy?'' "Oh! G, ek-ee,"
Toots calculated, dropping his blncking-
box ana opening his eyes very wide-"a
real country of trees and birds and
| and ty chirk and all that
such mamma used to tell me about"
Ben's face grew long as he tried to scan
Mr.. Manning's.
"'Twould be the thing sir, il Yves sure'
Ben paused. 'Sure of whai?" asked
the farmer. THAT you'd be good n
| kind" Ben said half choking.
II think l should try to follow your
example. my brave boy; il you could
take him with your little ought to do
well by him with the plenty God has
given me. With His help / WILL" he
said solemnly.
"What do yer say. Toots!" asked Ben.
Leave you?" said tire Child, taking
Ben's hand.
Yes but yer'd hev a good home 'mong
green fields n flowers"
"Ohi Crack-ee," exclaimed Toots
again.
Yes, I've seed 'em onct, Toots, they're
awful nice; I'd come ter see yer some
times, yer know"
"Of course" said the farmer, getting
more and more interested. His brother
was silently enjoying the scene, and after
some further conversation both gentlemen
went with the boys to talk with Bob.
| When Mr. George Manning saw their one
poor room and scanty furniture, and
thought how generously they had made
room not only there, but in their hearts,
for the orphan boy, he silently prayed
God m fnrriya him for shifting so much
Joy out of his soul as he felt was creep
ing in now he bad opened it. 1t
was decided that ToOts should go. He
was quite willing now. He had been sit
ting, during the conversation, on his new
| friends lap, and said, "'Tis most like
mammals"
You dear children who see green grass
and fair fields every day can not imagine
the JOY and surprise of lit Toots when,
next morning, they drove out OF the noisy,
busy city. He noticed tree and flower
! and bird, asking many questions which
his new friend gladly answered. 1t
! brought the tears to Mr.. Manning's eyes
i many times, for his own lille boys were
brought to mind He felt his heart grow
! ing bigger with this little wait beside
t him.
Mrs Manning only said, "Why, George"
when here husband explained who his
| company was. Then she got Toots Il
!
| took him right to her kind mother heart.
| Toots's real name was Newton Muir
doch He was Scotch boy, and noble
one he proved. Mr.. Manning's generosity
did not stop here. He took Bob to help
! him on the farm, and got good place
/ for Ben. Three better boys than they
never lived; they quite took the stigma
/ from the name of charity children in that
| neigh borhood. Bob became a sturdy,
thrifty farmer, and helped Ben 10 become
/ a fine scholar.
! Toots-what was he not to Mr.. and Mrs.
| Manning? their comfort and stay, tender
and gentle as an own son could possibly
be. At their death the old farm was his.
Many and many poor city boy has he
/ tcfriended, and always told them the
/ story of
BLACK your toots-make em shine,
Cost you only ike dime
ond in the sky
-Hearth and Home.
MNfhar Pleasantly.