St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-04-07
flor Mr Children.
The Poor Boys "Astor House. :"

beers street, on the south side of huge
seven story building with sign, News
boys Lodging House" We mount Il
tiIeproot stairway.
Il see YOU can get out if there is a
fire here"
81 tell You, sir, we wouldn't be many
seconds scootin' down them stairs"
We look into large dining hall. the
ceiling supported on pine columns, and
finished off with Georgia pine wainscot-
ing. comedy matrOn is setting tables
| for over Il hundred boys, with tea, NUT
ton stew and good bread. Everything
is as clean AS ii ships deck.
'.That'S Mrs. O'Counor, sir; she's list
as good as pie. But don't it smell
he let i'll to supper"
We enter ii large, handsome audience
room, with school-desks and Il piano :;
we'll lighted and cheerful, and windows
on three sides. and no constitutional"
smell, though ii hundred or more ragged
little fellows. with washed faces and
c"mbed hair, are waiting about before
going down to supper. The notices on
the walls are worth reading.
At the door sits an elderly clerk be
hind Il railing, with keys hanging around
him. Our little newsboy falls into il
line of boys, till his turn comes.
Three tickets, sir-lodgin', break
fast and supper. There's eighteen, sir,
and twenty owed You when was
stuck" i. e., when he could not sell his
papers.
But, Johnnie, where were you last
night -
You see, sir, was at the BoweIy.
and got to the door just one mint af-
ter twelve; and so, on course. had to
turn in under the steps down at Beck
man street"
''Ah, there's where your money goes,
You'll never get enough to buy that
coat and go out West. There's your
key. but get your hair cut and go to the
bath before you come To supper"
Johnnie disappears in the ample bath
rooms. We watch his operations. He
has warm t"ot-baths, wherein he plunges
his dirty feet, but ingenious spikes on
the edges prevent his sitting too long in
them; wash-baSims and towels are in
abundance, aud bathrooms with hot
and cold water. For his hair. il large
boy takes him in hand, and soon shaveS
him close. rubbing his head with lark
spur, for which operation johnny rather
reluctantly pays his three cents
Now he PUSHES out, Il clean and de
cent looking boy, 50 far as his skin
''l> that clean shirt ready ,"
His wet, ragged coat is put in the
dry Ing-room, and his valuableS are hid
away III the locker, tor which he has IL
key, and he puts on Il clean. comfort
able shirt, and soon enters the supper
room. delivering his ticket for payment
ut the door, and is deep in his stew and
bowl OF tea. Several boys are hanging
about III the upper room, looking rather
hungry.
Why don't You get your supper.
boys ,"
"lavrm't got II" stamps, sir; we're
stuck"
the Superintendent, Il kind, firm look
ing man. Mr.. O'Cnnnor, comes forward
and speaks to each:
Jack. You know where Your stamps
went-it was t" the BowcrN (heater);
and Pat. told You To let those policy
lottery tickets alone; and YOU. Dan.
why did Nou eat all your money up YES
trr'lay in that big dinner As for Won
It" IL quiet, depressed looking lady, Il
believe Nou were nnlucky; You shall
have credit. so 90 down.
We pay the tickets of the others, and
they all rejoice i'll their mutton stew and
Overlooking bowls of tea.
After supper, they all fly upstairs to
the gymnasium, and there is IL kind of
athletic pandemonium for awhile boys
IN the AIR. boys jumping, boys pulling
climbing. and tumbling the large room
res"unding with the laughter and shouts
You see, says Mr.. O'Connor. this
Is our opposition to the low thcaters and
grog shops"
Precisely ut half-paSt seven, they all
descend to the school-room. We look
III at the doImitoricS: rooms some ninety
feet long. filled with double iron bed
S;cadS; the beds OF straw, and very
comfortable: warm comtorterS and clean
sheets over each.
THAT'S my bed" Johnny points
number six. There's where :; Teller
sleeps, tell you"
But don't You ever fall out. or have
Il lark with another boy -
NO 81. Griffith would catch us be
sides, we has to Ice called at five o'clock,
and we sleeps like tops, :"
mere Il no smell about the rooms.
Everything is clean and pure us posi-
BILE. We 90 below to the audience
room.
'fhi> is my bank, sir-number thin
tN-"ne, pointing with pride to ii mys-
FERROUS table near the door, with Sits
in the top, and each slit numbered.
fIftN-nIne cents; but its slow work |
oh. thank 'ec sir that makes lust IA
dollar. Two more, and I'll have Sun
day -g"-to-mectin coat and a billed
shirt"
The teacher has already begun his
evening work, by reading some letters
from boys who had made fortunes at
the West. and were writing back to their
old friends.
go West, Young man :" whispers
ON guide, and he seats himself demure-
" among the scholars. Now they sing
i'll excellent accord the sweet HYMN. If
there's love at home" Perhaps here
and there il shadow falls across the
young faces, as they think of how little
''love at home" OF anywhere else. they
have known; but they all are soon live
y and Indifferent as ever-;is ready for
chatting or being chaffrd. CharIes L.
Brace, 81. Nicholas for 4prH
Duties of Property Holders.
There is duty devolving upon prop
crty holders 10y il statute law, which we
do not believe is generally understood