Connecticut western news., 1877-12-21
The Little News Boy.

 ing touching story: For a long time past little Riley" had not been we'll. He complained of pain in his breast and of weakness, but he stuck manfully to his work. One morning lately he said to one of his customers :; "I can't black your boots any more. have no strength left. and the doctor says I must give it up" and subsequently he was often observed sitting in some doorway, weary and pale, with his unsold newspapers under his arm, fagged out. It was evi- dent that Riley was dying ill the harness. Perhaps his parents noticed it, perhaps they did not, but Riley peddled news- papers almost up to the hour that the silver cord was loosed. Sunday last was a weary day for him. He was nearing the end of his earthly journey. He was well-known at the Monongahela House, and often, through the kindness of the attaches, got his meals there. On Sun day he went into the building and was seized with a severe fit of coughing. Mir. Fishherne entered into conversation with him and asked him how he felt. "I don't want to live any longer" said Riley "- long for rest" Poor fellow his wish was soon fulfilled. At four o'clock that afternoon little Riley was noticed, more pale and weak than usual, holding to a lamp-post, and with some unsoId papers. Nobody knows how he got home, but he was i'll all night, His father, a deck hand, was to start out in the morning to make trip down the river, and Johnny, sick as he was, was afraid of disturbing his fathers sleep. "In the morning, |" said his father, "he came down stars at six o'clock to eat his breakfast. I had left to go down the river. All nj ght Johnny had been in Q kind of dazed con- dition, but he sat up to the table and tried to eat He could eat nothing but drank a cup of coffee. His mother then said Johnny, don't think you need go for your papers for an hour or so. Go up stairs and lie down, and may ! be you'll feel better T think I will, mother, said he, and he went as far as the foot of the stairs. Here he stopped and said Mother, did father bid me geod-by before he went away? I can't mind. Yes Johnny,' she answered. { I'm so glad of that said he and I'm glad he didn't say anything because l disturbed him in the night. Then John ny tried to go up stairs, but he was too weak, and he said, Mother, can you carry me up?' 'Tll try. Johnny she said, and she took him in her arms. AS she did so he said in strange voice 'Oh, mother ! and these were his last words. Before she got up stairs he was dead. This morning was the time ap- pointed for the funeral. Through the exertions of MT. Newell @ sufficient sum of money had been ralsed to defray the expenses of decent burial, and the pall- bearers were four newsboys who had been companions of Riley's, and dele gation of about thirty pewsboys accom- panied the remains to the Cathedral, where the funeral services were con- ducted by Rev. Father Reardon. Al the next newsboys' dinner there will be a vacant seat at the head of the table, draped in mourning. For several years past that seat has been occupied by Johnny Riley, who was always given the seat of honor ill consequence of his de- formity and diminutive size. He was ill his fifteenth year, and had been news boy for about ten years.