The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-17
TOO LATE.

"CIear out -
Back EN- Tor five cents?"
C'ear out, L sayi" and .he irat,
eradesman advanced towards the how
5sh intruder with threatening ,estnre
Inc after, little more than an infant II
age and stafnre, re aated through The
uoor; onf nndsunfed ny his ignomipiou.
e.Puision rom the store, calmly seated
imse,t on his little battered box uea,
tne eI9e Of The sidewalk. and deter.
incaiy nc ,osted each passer. by with
his curt Black yer boots ?" II was !
cpid feornary day, and the ground was
hurrying to ard fro, each individnsl
muff1ed to his eyes in warm rms VET
shivering from the blasts of the coId
penetrating wind. Hundreds passed
and repassed, but the persistent boot
black received no look, no SIGN. no
word His small, slender form WAS so
-meaeeriy c'ad thst each breath of wind
seemed TO initiate his loosely. fitting
garments and battle his naked BODY in
cold air. The cast off j. ckct of some
poy OF larger growth performed iripple
service OF vest coat and overcoat. A
par OF heavy pautaloons. held at the
walls. BY buck'ed strap, were tucked
snueiy INTO the legs of capacious boots
long SINCE discarded by some poor
wofklngman, whose toughaned feet
multiplied gaps in the widowed leather
made unavoidable. A rnda,v-made
cloth cap gave its protecting warmth to
the boys heed ard ears. and a ropv-
looking scarf was wound closely abont
ms throat his hands had no covering
save the mapping wristbands of soiled
COTTON shirt, and such free ventilation
prevailed In the torn pockets of his
Gear, that even those CUSTOMARY Ravens
afforded but little comfort to his red.
last stiffening fingers. Truly a nitifni
object was Little Dan as he sat there
hInching, hall fainting- in the biting
atmosphere. Yet, but half the story
was told BY his tattered garments.
Inc plnched rnd sunken features, the
"1stfui look OF those blue ewes. and the
weaxy, drori1k attitude of that attenu-
ated ngure needed no hneusga TO e1-
hefea must mfortunate victim The
lad could not have been much over ton
Years OF age; bis face was fair and clean.
IT'S expression denoting frank and manly
u1sposlhon. For over an hour be sat
shc.e IN ont of the store from whicI
''sn been so mercilessly driven forth.
a'drt snng every male pc estrian with
ms short, business Ike Interrogation
BLACK yer bootsS only i've CENTS |! .
DE received no respenses-not even 80
much as brief negative. Some men
VINO strobe by in warm "arctics." "
looked down carelessly upon the pluckv
little fellow, and smiled at the absurdity
OF the idea OF stopping in tho street to
have their boots BACKED on sucb d.v
Others wondered Why CHE law littie
urchin did not occupy his time IN the
mora sensible vocation of selling news.
papers and the proprietor Of the store
happening to look ont of his window
esnght sight of the ragged bootblack'
and wondered why the police did moi
take care OF such vagnbon1a AZ last
there came along one young man mora
observing than the rest. He saw thaf
the poor boy was suffering from cola
and hunger, and his heart was tonched
Stopping, he said ::
well, little fellow, isn't this pretty
cold work for you ?"
hlnd 7, Sir, responded the bow. as
with an effort he dropped on his Knees
and rushed forward the box. "Haye
yer boots blsckea?"
NO, L guess not" laughingly re-
pied the young man. cts little too
cold to stand out'here." =
Black 'em quick, siri" said the
nrcnin, looking longingly up into the
eyes OF his long-waited for customer.
What is your name - asked the |
Sentieman paving no attention to the |
- 70. WHOM had been pushed close to his |