The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-11-17

Jhe Grus @urthernsrt
PAW PAW, MICHIGAN.
BERT'S THANKSGIVING.

At noon, on dreary November day
a lonesome little fellow. looking yer,
red about the ears, and very blue abou
the mouth, stood kicking his heels at the
door OF a cheap eating house, In Boston
and Offering asolitary copy OF morning
paper for sale to the people passing.
But there were really not many people
passing, for il was Thanksgiving DAY
and the shops were shut, and everybody
who had home to go to, and dinner
to eat, seemed to have gone home TO ea'
that dinner. while Bert Hampton, the
newsboy, stood trying i'll vain to sell the
last A" Extry" left on his hands by the
dull business of the morning.
An old man, with face that looked
pinched, and who was dressed ina seedy
black coat, and n much battered stove
pipe hat, stopped at the same doorway,
and, with one hand on the latch, he APP
peared to hesitate between hunger anu a
sense of poverty, before going III.
1t was possible, however, that he was
considering whether he could afford
himself the indulgence of a morning
paper (seeipg it was Thanksgiving day.;
so at least Bert thought, and accosted
him accordingly.
"Buy a paper, sirl All about the
FIRE in East Boston, and arrest OF safe
burglars in Springfield. Only 2 cents. "
The little old man looked at the boy
with keen gray eyes, which seemed TO
light up the pinched and skinny lace,
and answered in n sbrili voice, that
whistled through white front teeth:
"You ought to come down in your
price, this time of day. You can't ex-
pect TO sell morning paper at II O'Clock
for full price" :.
"Weil, give me cent Them said
Bert. "That's lessn cost; but never
mind. I'm bound to sell out, anyhow. "
you look cold," said the old man.
"Cold." replied Bert, Sim froze.
And want my dinner. And I'm going
to have a big dinner, too, seeing it's
Thanksgiving day"
"Ah ! lucky for you, my boy!" said
the old man. You've a home to go
TO, and friends, too, hope" 10000
"No, sir; nary home, and nary
friend-only my mother. Bert hest
tated and grew serious, then suddenly
changed his tone and Hop Houghton.
/ told him 70 meet me here, and we'd
have q first rate Thanksgiving dinner
together--for it's no fun to be eatin'
alone Thanksgiving Gay 1t sets afel-
Ter thinking--if he ever bad o hoRe,
and then hain' got home any more."
cts more lonesome not to eat at all, /"
said the old man, his gray eyes twink
ling I" And what can a boy like you
have to think OF Here, I guess ! can
find one cent for you-though there's
nothing in the paper, know.
The old man spoke with some feeling,
his fingers tremoled, and somehow he
Dropped two cents instead of one into
Berts hand. at at El
Here you've made mistake -
cried Bert. A bargains bargain.
You've given me cent too much !"
"No, didn't never give anybody
a cent too much !"
"But-see here !" And Bert showed
tie two cents, Offering to return one.
NO matter" said the old man. +" 1t
will be so much less for my dinner
that's all"
Bert had instinctively pocketed the
pennies, when, on'a moments reflection,
his SYmpaIn1eS We're excited.
"Poor old man !" he thought; "he's
seen better days, L guess. Perhaps he's
no home. \ boy like me can stand it,
but guess it must be hard for hj0a. He
meant to give me the odd cent, ell the
while and / don't believe he has had a
decent dinner for many q day."
Al! this, which have been obliged to
write out slow ly in words, went through
Bert's mind like a flash. He was gener
Gus little fellow, and any kindness shown
him, no matter how trifling, made bis
heart overflow.
"Look here" he cried "where are
you going 70 get your dinner, to-day 2
81 can get n bite here as well as any
where--it don't matter much to me, re-
piled the old man.
"Dine with me-" said Bert, laughing
"I'd like to hare YOU"
"Tm afraid I couldn't afford to dine
rs you are going to, said the man, with
a smile, his eyes twinkling again, anC
bis white front teeth shining.
"Tn pay for your dinnerl" Bert ex
claimed. Come we don't have
Thanksgiving but once q year, and {
Teller wants q good time then"
"But YOU are waiting for another
boy"
80! Hop Houghton. He won't come
now, it's 50 late. He's gone to plac,
down in North street, guess place
don't like, there's so much tobacco
smoked and so much beer drank there.
Bert cast final glance up the street
"No, lie won't come now. SO much til,
worse for him He likes the men down
there; don't"
"Ah!" said the man, taking off hi
hat and giving it brush with his elbow
as they entered the restaurant, as if try
ing to appear as respectable as he coult
in the eyes of newsboy OF such fastid
ious tastes.
To make him feel quite comfortably
in his mind on that point, Bert hastene,
to say
81 mean rowdies, and such. Poo
people, If they behave themselves, ar
Just as respectable to me as rich folks
I amt the least mite aristocratic I"
"Ah, indeed !" And the old maj
smiled again, and seemed to look re
heved. "Im very glad to hear it,"
He placed his hat on the floor, an,
took seat opposite Bert at a littl
table, which they had al to themselves