The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-25
THE BOOTBLACK's AMBITION.
The SI0Ty az a New York Street Boy Who Wants 20
Make Something OF Himself.

\ s.ory comes from Portsmouth by the
sea- of a hoy such as we read of. The
life of this youth began in Glow estate. -
He was a New York gamin, and was
W mt to hai! the paSser-by in the City
Hall Park with "Shine, mister; iii
eents:' OF course he had no father, and
was given to sleeping in dry goods boxes
and obtaining his sustenance at a cheap
coffee and cake saloon. His taste was
Lever improved to any extent. In sum-
mer time lie often wandered off to the
watering places, and got all the benefit
of a fashionable vacation by industri-
ously applying the backing brush on the
boots Of visitors. Last winter lie set up
his box at the corner of Barnum's hip
podrOme, and when the great moral
show set forth for its summer tour, lie
cane along with it, hoping to pay his
shining way with the proceeds of his av-
ocatiOn. When he brought up in Bos-
ton lie WAS pOuneed upon for shining
without license. As the story has it,
he had not money enough to pay for u
license, though We believe the boot
blacks license does not have to be paid
for. However, there are conditions
about going to school which the wander
er could not comply with, and the great,
charitable city of Boston would not al
low the poor boy to gain his daily bread
by shining boots about the hippodrome.
The future great man was soreIy troub-
led and dismayed. CHANGING furtively
at copy of the GiOGe, at a news stand,
his eye caught little paragraph stating
that the United States receiving ship
Sabine, at POrtsmoth, N. H., had been
made a school ship of instruction for
boys. He recognized his destiny in a
moment, and his mind was made up.
He would enlist Oh the Sabine, enter the
navy and become a great commander.
Shaking the inhospitable dust of Boston
from his dilapi3ated shoes, and singing
his box over his shoulder, he trudged off
for Portsmouth, fifty miles or more dis
tant. Shining his way through the in-
tervening towns lie reached the seaport
OF New Hampshire, and inquired for the
whereabouts of the Sabine. Going on
board, with iiuttering heart, he told
something of his story to the eomman-
der, and expressed his desire to enlist.
Alas Tor his hopes! he could not be taken
without parent or guardian to be res
pOnsible for him. The commander was
sorry, for lie liked the boys looks and
manner, but lie had no discretion in the
matter.
Sadly the youth turned back to the |
city of Portsmouth, eogitating upon the
hard limitations put upon struggling
poverty by the great, respectable world.
But Give up was not in his "bright |
lexicon, and he wandered up and down
the streets in search of a guardian in
city of strangers. With that keen judg-
ment Of human nature which his rough
life had given him, he searched the faces
OF the passers-by. Passing the City
Hall, his eye caught the countenanee of
Mr.. Israel Marden, the City Marshal.
This was his man. Asking to speak to
him for moment, lie went with the |
Marshal into his office, and with anxious,
eager heart, told him his story. "And |
now, please sir" lie added, twill you be |
my guardian, and enlist NE, so that |
can learn something that will be of ben
eft to me hereafter The Marshal con-
sented, and went straight to the office of |
the Probate Judge, and became the Ie-
gal father of the fatherless boy. Then
he went with him to the Sabine, where
he was received by Commander Cooke,
and the boy was speedily enrolled in the
school Of instruction. The boys maine
is Charles Howard, and he is now seven
teen years old. His eagerness to learn
and his pluck have already made him Il
fayorite with the officers. Marshal Mar |
den is proud OF his boy, and predicts for
him n great future.-EostOH 6iOBe.