American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-01-01
CASH.

| HE nOur IOr Closing Hdu aiilVeu, am
the cash boys of Conran, Caufn q Co.
the large dry. goods dealers in Broadway
were hurrying out of the store, each ben
on reaching his home in the shortest tint
possible, when clear, young voice called
out: II say, fellows, hold on minute
| won't YOU? l want to tell you some
thing"
The boys instantly turned back and
| surrounded the speaker, gray eyed, shy
| looking lad Of some ten years, certainly
not more, perhaps less.
elder ones; az promised mother I'd bt
| home early tonight, and besides thai
there's to be fresh gingerbread for sup
per, and my big brothers awful fond Of
| it, SO don't want him to get there first. .
:" Well, you know" said George, speak.
| ing quickly, but distinctly, :" Willie Lee
hasn't been here for week past and
we've all been wondering what had be-
come of him. 1 stopped wondering last
night and went down to his house to see.
And he's been awful sick, but he's getting
better now, though he amt able to work
yet; and, boys, he amt got any father OF
mother"
"Why, Georgy, you haven't any your
SELF" said Tom Griggs, merry-faced,
black-eyed boy.
Yes, but I've got good uncle who
takes care of me. Pm one of the lucky
ones, I am, and Willie amt. He lives
with an old grandmother who earns only
three dollars a week when she works her
very hardest, and he has pretty little sister
five years old, and she hasn't any shoes. "
THAT'S kinder hard" said Tom Griggs.
Go on, young Hamlet"
"Well, as you all know, day after to-
morrow is Christmas, and l don't believe
they'll have anything good unless zoe give
give it to them. So propose we buy
them Christmas dinner"
"a Christmas dinnerr' repeated half a
dozen of the boys; why, how can 'oe do
thatg"
"It's precious little money we get, any
how" said Tom Griggs. "They call us
Cash. but whats In name,' as w.
Shakespeare says"
"Who's hep asked Frank Spencer,
and, without waiting for an answer, he
went on: Drive ahead, George. What's
your plan?''
"Well, there's twenty of US, amt
there? And we can each spare five cents
that's one dollar-and Pm sure the
clerks will give as much as we do, thatll
make two dollars, and two dollars will
buy a nice Christmas dinner for three peo-
pie"
$50 it WILL" said Tom Griggs; moth
ing wrong with your upper story, George.
Keep on, and you'll be an A. T. Stewart
one of these days"
Here's my flyer It's tax on me, to
be sure; but I'll do without my cigar for
a couple of days, and that'H make it
square" :,
The boys burst out, laughing merrily,
and before they parted the whole thing
was arranged.
Christmas morning beamed bright and
clear Willie and his pretty little sister
were both sitting in large, old fashioned
rocking chair, looking over picture
paper someone had given them, and grand
mother was working away as usual-for
very poor people have no real holidays
when a sound of smothered laughter was
heard on the stairs, and then came tap
at the door and someone called out, sharp
ly: "Cash!"
Enter procession, single file.
Tom Griggs-carrying a fat chicken
with blue ribbon around its neck.
Frank Spencer-basket of potatoes.
Sam Styles-bunch of celery.
Three other boys with an orange in each
hand.
Target bearer with large mince-pie.
"Why, the Lord love and bless you all :"
says the old lady, whats this?''
.'Your Christmas dinner, ma am," an
swers Tom Griggs, taking off his hat
with a flourish; " and for it you must
thank"-pointing to George Welsh, who
came shyly in the very last, with tiny
bunch of flowers for the little sister
"that freckled-f faced, gray-eyed, little
'Cashr"-Aaryaret Eytinge, in Church.