The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-23
A Case of Larceny.

The policeman omitted no opportunity to
annoy Jack, and Jack, on the other hand,
omitted no chance to torment the police.
man.
Jacks object in life--as far as business
) went--seemcd to be to sell as many news.
papers as he could. But whenever the
brass buttons and glazed cap Of No. 326
came in sight, Immediately the question
how he could most eifectually bother the
officer drove all else out of his mind
At such times the officer, spying the
boy afar. would mutter to himself
"Hollo there's that young villain again,
| I'd like to get chance to send him out
Of the city, What's be up to now, |
wonder ?"
And the two would eye each other ask
ance, until, perhaps, it would como into
Jacks head to rush round the corner Of
some building, ard shrek at the police
man some saucy remark about his red
nose, or "Where did ye sleep last night2"
He made faces, too that would frighten
blind man. Aud he could make such
absurd motions with his grimy little hands,
that often and often the policeman, think.
ing himself insulted by somo gesture, ran
after the young mountebank, declaring
revenge. He never caught him. or
course we cannot commend this conduct
iu Jackie hardly knew better-we are
only telling the fact
In this fashion petty hostilities were
kept up between the man and the boy, till,
at length, No. 326 came to dread Jack
almost as much as he dreaded Water
street row. He hated the very sight OF
him, and determined to get him convicted
Of some msdemeauor, and thus sent away
to prison.
One summers morning, about two
o'clock, when darkness had hardly begun
to give way to daybreak, Jack might
have been seen in the dim gaslight, in
the deep inclosure of one Of the windows
Of Il Broadway building, fast asleep.
His head was hanging down on his
breast, his right hand was in his pocket.
clutchiug bis money, and his left hung by
his side. One Of his knees was drawn up
before him, the other resting "a-kimboo"
on the stone sill. just as Turk would
have done it, Taken all together, with
his ragged hat and nondescrirt clothes,
the boy made quite u study for picture.
la the next window, and the next,
crcuched several more little fellows in
various stages of slecpiness, nodding, and
dreaming (pcrhaps) of COLDER days to
come. They were waiting for the morn
ing papers that we're just now being print
cd, while the whole ground shook with
the machinery of the giant presses that
thuudered under the sidewalk
No one disturbed the drowsy news. boys
till Policeman No 326 came along Now
No. 32G had made up his mind that the
newsboys should not sleep in these WIN
dows, uud seeing Jack Morrow in the
group, he proceeded with a relish to ex-
ecute his resolution.
Tie walked up to Jack aud took him
by the collar, and pulled him ont Of the
window upon the sidewalk Jack kicked
and wriggled like fish. it did no good
the policeman held him firmly.
"Lemme 90 lcmme CO. >creamed
, the boy.
Git along with yer 20 cried the off.
Ger. Clear out Ef | catch yer here
again I'll lock yer up"
"Ier won; :" ,aiu Jack, savagely.
"Ye won't lock me up. now | tell yer.
Ye wouldn't take me no turder'n the end
Of tho block
"Wouldp't IL" suid the officer
well see just come aloug now, then !"
and he began to carry Jack off
Look here, crfcer," said Jack, setting
his feet in the pavement, anu holding
back, "whero was you at arf.past 'leven
last night? Was you on your bea.. or
was you down in Steniner's cellar with
your badge in your pocket, an your belt
an club under your coat? Say, wasn't
you down there a-drinkin' liquor. eh2"
The man hesitated moment, aud then
told him to "shut up his mouth, or he'd
! fix him."
"Jes' let 90 o. my collar"
The officer. in a moment after, giving
the boy a shake or two, did let 90, and
then Jack cried out:
Now, you see here Ell yer touch
me agin I'll break We. III go with LOT
Of other iellers that seed ye drinking an
III swear TO it fore the p'lice commish'.
ners, an they'll fix you. Now I'm goin'
back to sleep, aud don't you never say q
word. I'm a.goin' to my velvet couch,
and don't want to be disturbed"
The officer made no further interier.
ence, and Jack scampered back, and
climbed into the window, and soon fell
into as deep slumber as he had been il
before, and in about the same attitude.
At half.past two he woke up. The
stone bed was hard, aud it hurt him He
opened his eyes and yawned. To his as
G tonishment he saw man before him. neal
a gas-light, busy drawing upon book
Jack looked at him with curiosity.
keep STILL said the man; dom
move for minute or two. I'm making
picture of you"
"What'l you gimme ?" demanded
Jack.
"A quarter" said the man.
"All right !" and Jack lay still ant
had another nap. Then the man wok,
S him up and showed him a square piece o
IS white paper upon which was drawn al
! exact picture of himself,
:; "How did ye do it 2" asked Jack, in
= tone Of great wonder.
20, with pencil"
Jack looked at it with su rprise, au,
n then said
you're an artes', amt YEP
p "Yes," said the other, ''and | wish yo
y y would come to see me in my studio. r.
!. like to paint you"
mo, thank ye," said Jack.
!. !, 10, no, l mean paint a picture of you
Don't dress up; came just as you are"
!; "What, 'thout a collar, and thou
u shoes, and 'thout washing of me2"
It Just then the clock struck three, Tn
/: artist looked at his watch