Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-05-13
Toms Adventure.

young boot-black, box in hand, Wa
moping glOomily along the sidewalk
near one of the large library building.
; of New York,
From the sky the heavy clouds we re
weeping cold November drizzie. The
walks and pavements were slippery
with wet, and the caves ofsall the hous-
es dripped with changeless patter,
patter, that to the boy with nothing ia
do seemed likely TO keep on forever.
1t had rained steadily for three days,
and in nil that time Tom, the boot
black, had not had single shine.
Men did not care to have their boots
polished in such weather.
lie spent his last cent yesterday for
his dinner. Since that he had eaten
nothing, and 1t was evident that he
could earn no money till the weather
changed,
Tom had reason to feel gloomy. He
was beginning to think where he could
get q broom to sweep the crossings
with. As he moved slowly along, re-
fyolving the other plans In his mind to
earn his dinner, he came opposite the
great library door, and heard some one
calling him. He turned, and looking
up the broad stone steps, saw q grey
haired gentleman standing at the en-
trance Of the library. soa.s ssi
Shine, sir? exclaimed Tom, and he
started straight up the steps. ds!t.s
The man smiled, and opened the
door wider. Come in, my boy, said
he, i want to speak to you.'
Impressed by the kind tone, Tom
dashed OFF his cap and walked in. ~.
He found himself i'm lofty corridor,
walled with stone. No other person
was there but himself and the man
| who called him. The man shut the
door and looked at the boy steadily for
q moment, and said:
You're an honest boy, L think
Tom twisted bis cap, and looked
down to the little box OF tools in his
left hand, and did not reply.
i can always tell an honest boy when
see one,' continued the other. 'An|
honest boy is shy, and he doesn't say
much. Yes, you're honest, / think.
Here, here's something for you,' and
he held out fifty cents. -.p4s
Tom seized it eagerly. 'Thankee,
sirv said he, and thrust the money into
his pocket. H slS s.;i ''
Right! An honest boy likes money.
You like money. Therefore you are
an honest boy
The old gentleman chuckled and |
looked over his glasses. Tom blush
ed. but somehow did not accept the
logic. .,..s5 ...--...,.,.i...-. --l.,7a
7Eh! bIushing? Well, well, there's
another sign. For one to be trusted
anywhere, give me boy that bushes.
A boy that doesn't blush most likely isl
rascal Tom got redder. ~
sHe's a queer old peep thought he.
Nov, Continued the gentleman, in
q lower voice, you give my boots .
shine, and while you are at work I'll
talk to you,' ....a .-..f ~.,se
And the boy ,unloaded his brushes
and blacking, and fell to polishing |
with will, ut the same slime wonder
ing what his odd customer intended by
all this fattery and unusual frien6li-
ness.
Il want you to do something for me-
said the old gentleman, STOPPING down
and speaking in the same low tone.
Il am President of this Library Associ-
alton, and am here just now to see to
some repairs myself. / am very par
ticular about the books, very particular
indeed. 1 am having some of them
bound over again, and l want some
body to carry them from here 10 the
bOokbinder's. I've been looking for q
good honest boy to do it, and yOn're
just to my liking. [ shall want my
boots polished every afternoon at three
O'Clock, and you caR come here, and 1
will let you d0 the backing, and at the
same time give you the book that /
wish you to carry TO the binders. You
can put 1t right into your box carefully
and it will 60 as safe and dry as an ex.
press bundle. You see?'
Yes, sir said Tom, putting the last
touches to his customers boot, i see.'
of course you do said the gentle
man, with q laugh. YOU'RE . bright
boy, that's the reason. Now for every
book that you'll carry that way, I'll
give you quarter OF \ dollar, and pay
you another quarter for the sshine.' II
will be . first.rate bargain for you. In
fact, you can't earn so much anywhere
else in 20 little time. 1t won't be ne
cessary to let anybody see you take
the hooks; indeed, think i should be
careful not to, if were you, because
people might think you had taken
them without leave, and that would
make trouble; / would't get you into
trouble for anything; not for my hand
And the old gentleman shook his
head, and patted Tom on the shoulder. .
when shall come 6rst, sir?'
q, well, we can begin now. have
q little book with me this very mo-
ment p
Just here q door In the lower part Of
the library opened, and the speaker
waited while some person passed thrO'
the entry. Tom thought this sudden |,
silence was singular, and he instiuc.
lively looked up to his companion
with something like q stare.
Polish little more on the iustep, +
there quoth the old gentleman, in an
altered tone.
And soon as the outer door was swung 4.
to, and they were alone again, he re-
suned, Il can lay 1t in your box here, !
70, with your things, and you can car
~ IL with the cover down, all snug.
And slipping small old leather-cOv-
cred book from his pocket as Tom I'm
ished his work he hastily showed the
boy how to pack 1t out Of sight.
There, that's all right. Now, III
yOu'll-nO, STOP he reflected. won't
have YOU take them to the bOok-binde-l
nv directly. You take them to that
place. and he gave Tom a card on
which was written certain street. :
YES, sir said Tom once more.
And TO- morrow come again, and you .
may black my boots. and I'll give you :
q book, and also fifty cents. You'll
oblige me, and I'll Oblige you, and
we'll be firm friends. Hs, ha, ha!
And the old gentleman patted Toms
back, and gently pushed him toward
tho door. But don't say anything
about this, and don't fail to carry the
book to the proper place. Promise to
be CAREFUL and the gentleman smiled.
And Tom, whose head was full OF
ideas, readily replied. I'm carry It
safe, SIR And Tom did so.
The more Tom reflected upon this
whole affair, the more thoughtful he
became. He was sharp and keen, and