The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-01-24
1" Missy 92."
BY MARY L. SHERMAN.


lle WAS utWSOOy WHO $1,000 on the
sunny side of the Astor House, to screen
himself from the wind of one of the
coldest, brightest December afternoons
that ever sh0ne, bundle of papers
thrust under his left arm, his hands
thrust dep down into his pockets. Be
tween the sharp yells of extra" he
jumped and clattered the frozen leather
scuffs on his feet in a demoniacal kind
of dance, in which the tufts of matted
faxen hair hanging about his face or
protruding through his hat seemed to
join. Over his cotton shirt tapped
summer coat. which, flying open at
every gust of wind, displayed narrow
chest crossed by single suspender,
from which depended pair of panta-
looms many sizes too large. That there
were legs in them was probable, since
the cracks In his shoes, one of which
was mans boot, showed red feet
guiltless of stockings. His eyes, as
nearly as one could Tell through his
matted hair, were of two shades of
blue, small and watery. His weazened
face, pale and pinched. had funny
trick of vanishing in every direction,
when he opened his mouth as only a
newsboy can, with the cry: "Yere's
yer mornn' paper"
lie was an odd one among all the
boys Of the Rivington Newsboy's Lodg-
ing House; he never treated at the pea.
nut stand nor lemonade fountain, never
went tn the Bowery Theatre, even when
the play of Buffalo Bill was at its
height Of popularity, though he was q
prosperous newsboy, though at the
monthly opening of the Lodging House
Bank, Of all the little heaps of nickel
and currency that had been showed
through its Sits, box 02, his box, had
always the biggest pile. For his real
name, which but few know, the bows
substituted Miser, which shortly be.
came, from the number of his bank
box, "Misey 92;" until, as time went
on, he was known only by that name.
He never resented that or any,
thing else, though taunted and bullied
for mouths, till at length the BOYS, re.
| specting the strength that endures, as
well as that which cOnquers, ceased TO
annoy him, and when 1t was accidentally
| discovered that he was boarding and
educating q little sister, volunteer cham
pions appeared by the score to figh5 his
battles; lie was allowed to break over
] any Of the self-eOnstituted obligations
Of newsboys, and newcomers were in.
| formed that "Misey 92 was a queer
cove, aud 1t wasn't safe to fag him.
Yet with all this license he never tres
passed on the other boys beats: though
the Extra" was ever so exciting and
consequently salable, he never showed
forward when buying his papers, hut
often allowed himself TO be iostlel
down in the long column of boys who
In the early morning crowded the sale.
room % the publishing house. Often
last out, re was sure to clean out we'll,
as the boys termed it, perhaps because
the watery blue eyes always carried
some half-understood appeal, that men
answered by buying q paper.
Missy 02 was still keeping up his
stamping dance when two other news
boys came trottlng bIiskly around the
corner; doubtless'the keen wind com.
PEELED their briskness, rs II did Misey's
dancing.
"Hello, Missy I" called the younger,
heard you was going 10 leave Riving.
ton Lodgings and take rooms at the AS
tor. SO?"
"Half So" Missy shouted back;
"Astor aln't high enough. Call Up,
joe"
"All right" shouted Joe, as he with
his companion, a large, Unlocking boy,
rtrotted out OF sight.
"Misey 02 Is a cute one, Hod," said
Joe 10 his companion. "He won't
partner with no one. He drawed to-
day, the first In two months; he's gOin'
TO change beat apd board with his sister
on the Rocks and 60 to school
nights"
9'what dye think would panic hIm9"
said Hod.
"NSt less than twenty-five dollars"
"CTackeel"
''I bet YOU
Half an hour after the two boys came
back to the corner, Joe looking angry
and Hod sullen.
Evidently they had been quarrelllng,
and Missy had been the subject The
"Rocks" arc near the Grand Boule-
ward, a new street, the continuation OF
Broadway (New York;, When u was
opened, the workmeD were obliged 70