The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-11-30
The Young Partners.
A STORY FOR BOYS.

He wore mans coat and pair of
very small trousers, but neither fitted
him. His hat was an old felt affair
that he had picked up in back alley,
and his head seemed very much as
if might have been picked up with
it. !.
Top was the other partner. 1t was
Top who bought the melon, because
he had sold all his papers but one,
and had an uncommon handful of
change. The melon was cheap, too,
and only trifle spoiled, so tho part
nors set down on a stono and ate it.
Then Tip wiped his mouth on his coat
sleeves and looked at Top, who had
spread his last paper over his knees,
and was slowly spelling out the ncws.
There's q row somewhere, but
can't make out which side is lickin';
it's the Turkeys or tho other fcliers.-
What be the Turkeys, Tip?
baseball fellers, l reckon; them
kind is greas at scrimmage'
'And froshot carrtod off railroad
bridge. Taraado in Dubhs county;
bIowed all tho oats down. Does oats
grow on trees, Tip, or bushes?'
Bushes, and kind O. limbcr.'
"TarribIo catastrophe. What would
= catastrophe be, Tip?'
It's II kind O jumpin' ANIMAL
Don't yo mind the ono VIC SEQ to the
circus?'
Top folded up his paper with sigh
Tho circus was the beginning Of the
partnership, when the two boys, curl
rd up together in Il crockcry crate.
had been awakened in tho dusk of Il
May mrrniny by the long train OF
circus wagons rumbIing away into
tho country. Half asleep, they fol-
lowed on, Keeping pace with the great
Drown hulk that sty"dc with swaying
trunk after the wagons, and gluncing
halt foar'u!ly at the awkward camels
that bareS thci' great teeth viciouSIy
as Il they WOul not at all n'inI u.all-
ing monlhtuI Of the two lit va
Sabonds. Once driver noticed them,
and cracked his long whip at them.
but thoy only fell back II few steps.
4 say, Tip, let's go on till it stops,'
whispered Top; and with II nod the
bargain was concluded.
II was ten o'clock before tho circus
stopped, and tho boys, footsore and
hungry, hung around the wagons, get
ting plentiful kicks and abuse, which
was no moro than they were accus>
toned to ut homo, but rewarded by q
glimpse of tho animals as they were
tod, and making rare breakfast on n
loaf of bread that girl in dirty
spangled dress snatched from one of
the wagons and tossed to them.
Top had risen in the world since
then. lie had left rag picking and
gono into the newspaper business, and
even picked up little learning at tho
night class in the newsboy's home
But he was loyal to his partner, and
often shared his good fortune with
him. lie had plan now for thom
both.
I say, Tip, los you and mo 90 to
farmin'.'
Tip looked at Top, took off his hat,
turned it over as if looking for an
idoa in it, and then put it on again
and said nothing.
'Thoro'e chap comes down to the
homo told us folIers if you 20 out West
bit, the guvment would let yo have
farm free, jest fer living on it. Bost
kind O ground, too. We would raise
things to sell, besides havin' all tho
melons and stuff you could swolIer
evcry day.
'C'm on said Tip, hie mouth wat
oring at tho thought. rs it fur, out
West, do ye reckonY
"A good bit; but I've got some
,monoy1and we can walk it easy --
Git yer other shirt, and wo'lI start to
morrow mornin'.' ~ 2
That night Top drew all his monoy
from the deposit at tho newsbovs'
hnnna q h,oo 4