The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-19
MY LITTLE GENTLEMEN.

There are i've of them, and presume
all strangers to each other One of them
l met in the street-car one day--the ten
year'old boy who respectfully offered his
seat to a lady whom no other occupant of
the car appeared to see. The boy looked
tired and had with him heavy parcel
which could not be trusted out of his
hands. The seat was comfortable and
he had thoroughly enjoyed it.. ~.
But this boy was too full of gentle
manly instincts, and too truly one of
natures little noblemen, to retain his
seat while a lady was standing. And,
by the by, had you seen how poorly she
was dressed. and noticed the shabby
purse from which she took her fare, you
would have thought her only poor WON.
an, seamstress, may be-. Perhaps she
was; only called her lady because
she did as ladies usually do-accepted
the seat with smile and a "Thank you,
my boy!" which must have made my lit
tie gentleman well content to have yield
ed his place, and happy notwithstanding
the fact that his small feet had only the
ghosts of shoes upon them and his jacket
was a coat of many colors, where loving
mother hands had patched it.
Another of my little gentlemen | saw
in the street soon after. He was dressed
in the style of the season, and looked the
little aristocrat that he was. Several of
his stylish little companions were with
him, and they were having grand sled
ding time as l approached. A beggar
woman Just then turned into the area of
one of the handsome houses. | don't
know whether she received help or no.
But as she turned to come out, a second
after, her foot slipped, and, basket and
all, she fell flat amongst the merry and
wild boys. They laughed, as what boys
would mott but my little conference.-the
best dressed of the group checked his
laugh and kindly assisted the forlorn
woman to her feet. Then he lifted the
basket with his daintily- gloved hand,
gathered the cold pieces together until
the basket was filled, and with polite
bow he handed it to the woman who
stood grateful and speeches. before
him. When l passed minute after /
could not resist saying: " Your mother
has noble son. my boyw and he an
severed confusedly: ooh, that's moth
ing!" But it oaS something, little readers,
was it not, in the eyes of those waiting
angels who carry. our good deeds to the
Great Throne above? .... IT,.
My third little gentleman I found also
in street-car had an armful of pack
ages and sank YEARLY into the seat two
ladies rather unwillingly' made for me
between them. Standing in front of me
was a little fellow about twelve years of
age.l Poor and very scantily clothed he
was, but | noticed his hands and face
were clean, and his eyes had an honest,
straigh tforward look that one likes TO
see. ........4 a......I BE-. =
Older passengers showed him here and
there, but he patiently chung to his strap
and allowed others to sway him about as
they liked. | had some difficulty in get
| ting my fare out because of the bundles,
but presently a low and timid voice said:
"Please, maam, TIL hold yer bundles if
yer likes,n and my little gentleman took
them from me as l thanked him. The
passengers about him looked pleased at
such an unlookedfor act of politeness on
the part of the ragged boy, and he looked
confused. But / shall never forget the
little thankful act of this little gentle
man of mine, and have no fear for the fu-
ture of boy whose heart is so noble
The fourth of my class of noblemen
was only newsboy, quite unconscious
of the title soon gave him. .oH
| A blind man, with his cane and the
brushes he was trying to sell, came feebly
along the street, hesitating now and then
as the blind must, uncertain as to what
might be before him.. Down the street
came crowd of newsboys just from the
offices of the different papers, and
screaming at the top of their lungs. One
among them-a bright eyed little fellow
only nine years old, Judged, noticed
the blind man. "Hold on, fellersn he
cried, "dont run agin that old cove
now. Watts the use of hurting him
when he's blind and can't look out fur
hisself" paused to watch the result.
| The other boys checked their speed a
little and then hurried on, crying, go
botherF' So my little gentleman stood
beside the blind man until the crowd had
passed and then silently withdrew. The
old man, little dreaming of the youthful
protector who had shielded him, moved
slowly on, and l opened my heart tc
take in another, whose small head was
already laurel.crowned in my opinion.
The fifth little gentleman was one OF
the better class of boys, that is, 50 far as