Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-07-01
LITTLE 'RAa-BAa's' REVENGE.

| saiu one OF group OF wen dressed
boys, as timid child, with patched
clothes, came toward the school
house.
The child walked on without lifting
his eyes.
81 say, how are you, Rag-bag T.
exclaimed Albert Hale again, as he
went toward the boy, and caught hold
of his shoulders. "Why don't you am
swer ne, hey? You are looking quite
spruce this morning for YOU not be-,
coming to your title; there" he con-
tinued, as he thrust his finger into a
thin spot in the knee of the child's
trowsers, and tore it to his foot-"yeu
look better now"
The air rang with the shouts of the
boys as the child turned, sobbing, to-
ward his home, with his bare leg ex-
posed to the weather.
81 guess l have taught the washer
woman lesson this morning, to keep
her ragbag out of Brookdale Academy"
said Albert, as he turned to his COM
panions. didn't he cut a comical
figure, though, as he went blubbering
home 2"
"Three cheers for little Rag-bag!"
shouted another boy.
An instant after and the air was
filled with their cheers. The sound in
the distance went like dagger into
the poor chlld's heart.
81 shant 60 to school any more,
mother!" sobbed Walter Brooks, as he
entered his mothers humble kitchen.
See what Albert Hale did, just because
the teacher said 1 was getting ahead of
him in arithmetic, after you set up
half the night to mend my clothes. 1t
is too bad! but I'll pay him for it
when I'm man; you see if l don't
mother
"Walter, it is wrong to cultivate g
spirit of revenge" sadly replied the
widow.
ooh! if / was only man now!
But, mother, I'm going to start for
Boston, to morrow, and go to work.
I've been thinking that am big enough
to take care of myself"
"a delicate, slender boy of twelve,
like yourself, Walter-work Nobody
would empty YOU
Eyes they will-for I'll keep going
until I find somebody who wants a
boy. I'm going first to see MIR Brown
the man who visited our school and
praised me so; and I'm going to tell
him Just how the scholars treat me,
and perhaps he will hire me to take
care of his office. Then, mother, I'll
read his books and be lawyer, and
get rich, and build big house for
you. Only think of it, mother!' And
the child's eyes sparkled with delight
at the idea.
The mother replied to her child S
enthusiasm by sad smile.
1t was the winter of 49,. Money
was scarce among business men, and
bread was scarce among poor men.
One morning the papers announced
that Albert Hale & Co., one of the
largest firms of New York City, had
suspended payment.
The day following a young man "a
stranger-entered their store, and in
quired into their liabilities, the amount
of stock they had on hand, etc, stating
that he had some money he would in-
vest on good security, if he could ac-
commodate them by dong it.
Mr.. Hale, the head partner of the
firm. opened his eyes in astonish
ment.
"Why sir" he replied, 1--WE have
tried for weeks to raise money on oui
stock by offering thousands of dollars
bonus; but money cant be had in the
city, just now, at any price. If you
could relieve us of our present embar-
easements, we could return your money
in a few weeks with a heavy per
centage.'
81 am happy to say" replied the
stranger, that have it in my power
to help you, and will cheerfully do
So"
Mr.. Hale with tears in his eyes
grasped his hand and said ''To whom
am I indebted for this act of kind
ness?"
| "Don't you know me I" asked the
stranger, as he fixed his eyes upon
him.
"If we have ever met before.
your features have passed from me.
Il know you very well, Mr.. Hale.
Don't you remember the little boy who
went to Brookdale Academy whom
you used to call the Rag-bag! The
last time You saw hlm you tore his PAM
falcons from the knee to the ankle,
and he went home to his poor mother
l was that boy; and have now come
all the way from Boston to obtain my
revenge"