Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-12-01
BERT'S THANKSGIVING.

giving Day, and the shops were
shut, and everybody who had home
20 go to, and a dinner to eat, seemed
to have gone home to ca. that dinner,
while Bert Hampton, the newsboy,
stood trying in vain to sell the las,
"Extry" left on his hands by the dull
business of the morning.
An old man, with face that look
ed pinched, and who was dressed in
I seedy black coat, and a much bat
tered stoye-pipe hat, stopped at the
same doorway, and, with one hand
on TIE latch, he appeared to hesitate
between hunger and a sense Of pov-
erty, before going in.
1t was possible, however, that he
was considering whether he could
afford himself the indulgence OF a
morning paper seeing it was Thanks
giving day.; so at leastB thought
and accosted him accordingly.
ebay a paper, sir? All about the
fire in East Boston, and arrest OF
sate-burglars in Springfield. Only .
cents"
Ihe little old man looked at the
boy with keen gray eyes, which
seemed to light up the pinched and
skinny face, and answered in shrlll
voice, that whistled through white
front teeth:
"You ought to come down IN YOU
prlce this time Of day. You can't
expect to sell morning paper at II
O'Clock for full price
"Well, give me a cent, them" said
Bert. "That's less'n cost, but new
er mind; Pm bound to sell out, any
how
"You look cold, said the old man.
"Cold," replied Bert. "l'm froze
And | want my dinner. And Pm
going to have a big dinner, too, see
ing it's Thanksgiving day"
'Ah! Lucky for you, my boy
said the old man. "You'ye home
to go to, and friends, too, hope
."No sir, nary home, and nary
friend--only my mother" Bert hes
itated and grew serious, then sudden
ly changed his tone-"and Hol
Houghton. | told him to meet me
here, and we'd have y tirst-ratt
Thanksgiving dinner together-for its
no fun to be eatin' alone Thanksgiv
ing day! 1t sets a feller thinking
if he ever had home, and then
hain't got d home any more"
It's more lonesome not to eat a
all, /" said the old man, his gray eye:
twinkling. "And what can boy
like you have to think of? Here,
guess | can find one cent for YOU
though there's nothing in the paper
| know"
The old man spoke with some feel
ing, his fingers trembled, and some
how be dropped two cents instead
of one into Bert's hand.
''lIere. you've made mistaken
cried Bert. "A bargains Il bargain
You've given me cent too much!
"No, | didn't never give any
body cent too much"
"But-sce heren And Bert show
cd the two cents, Offering to return
one.
mo NATTER" said the old man
at will be SO much the less for ny
dinner-that's ALL"
Bert had instinctiveIy pocketed
the pennies, when, on a moments
reflection, his sympathies were ex
cited.
"Poor old manr' he thought; chez
seen better days, guess. Perhaps
he has no home. A boy like me car
stand it, but l guess 1t must be hare
for tim. lie meant to give me tht
odd cent, all the while; and | dom
believe lie has had a decent dinner
for many a day"
All this, which | have been oblig
ed to write out slowly in words,wen
through Bcrt's mind like a FASH
lie was a generous little fellow, an(
any kindness shown him, no matter
how trifling, made his heart overflow
"Look here" he cried; "where are
you going to get yourdinner to-day?'
! n can get a bite here as well al
anywhcre-it don't matter much t
me-" replied the old man.
"Dine with me-" said Bert, laugh
ing. I'd like to have YOU"
'I'm afraid | couldn't afford t
dine as you are going to- said th'
man, with smile, his eyes twinklin!
again, and his white front teeti
shining.
"I'll pay for your dinner!" Bert ex
claimed. "Come! we don't have
Thanksgiving but once year, and ;
feller wants a good time then"
"But you are waiting for anothe
/ boy"
90. Hop Houghton. He won
come now, it's SO late. He's gone t.
place down in North street,
guess-a place / don't like. There
so much tobacco smoked and 81
much beer drank there" Bert cas-
q final glance up the street. ''No
he won't come now. SO much tn
worse for him! He likes the mel
down there; don't"
"Ah." said the man, taking off hi
hat and giving it a brush with In
elbow as they entered the restaurant
as if trying to appear rs respectabl
as lie could in the eyes of news
boy of such fastidious tastes.
To make him feel quite comforta
bic in his mind on that point, Bcr
FASTENED to say:
81 mean rowdies and such. Poo
people, if they behave themselves
are Just as respectable to me rs ricl
folks. I amt the least mite aristc
cratic!!"
, ':Ah, indced!" and the old ma
smiled again, and seemed to look re
lleved. Pm very glad to hear it.
lie placed his hat on the floor, an,
took seat opposite Bert at . littl
table, which they had all to them
selves.
Bert offered him the bill of fare
"No, must ask you to choose fo
ne; but nothing very extravagant
you know-Tm used to plain fare.
$50 am I. But Pm going to hav
/ n GOOD lipnor fnr oncn IN NV l;fa-