Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-14
Misrrllaneoms.
A City Rat.

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Dick. Dick what! Nothing; and do not
think that he even got Dick through Rich
ard given 10 him by codfathers and god
mothers in the usual way. A. I child he
managed somehow TO escape the massacres
which those modern Heroes. Want. Neg
lect and Disease, are allowed TO hold in our
great cities; aud we find him n small boy
twelve years old, living where he may. eat
ing what he can get; his hand against
everything (that will sell at Junk store}
and every ones hand against him. 4 hu.
man rat-a thing to hide itself in dark
places and 10 be chased and worried when
il ventures into the light.
His costume Was pair Of old blue cot
ton pants kept over faded flannel shirt by
n wonderful cOntriyance Of old braces and
twine. His feet bare. On his head is felt
hat, which (whatever was its original col
orr has now the hue of a well-soaked tea
leaf and whatever was it, original shape
has long taken that Of jellv-bag Per
haps il he were washed he would make a
good-looking Rat. under his CRIME: for his
eyes are very bright. He does not know
what school means. No one ever told him
II is wrong 10 steal. though the inconven-
ience of being caught stealing has been
made manifest 10 him in sgreat many
ways.
why don't he works? He does work in
his way.
The levee which Dick infests is that OF
New Orleans; down by the foot OF Jackson
street where the English steamers lie, is
his happy hunting ground. and on the day
when We make his acquaintance II is not
very productive. The hunting has all been
, on one side. and how Dick is discovered
hiding between two bales of cotton is the
query. He is kicked, pushed, dragged.
jostled backward and forward by the steve
dore's men, like a ragged shuttlecock.
Every one has n curse and blow for the
Rat with whom things are going hard,
when
oh, how shameful to beat that poor
child SOL" exclaimed soft voice with a
ring of genuine indignation in 1t.
The speaker is lady, clad in crisp. cool
muslin, elegantly draped-a lady, beautiful
in face and form, and assisted by every ac-
cessory that can heighten female charms.
From her dainty little bootines. which fit
like glove to the soft curls of her hair
which the river breeze caresses, she l.
stamped with the hall-marks of richness.
simplicity and good taste. Sae Is halfway
up the stage which leads TO the English
steamer. when the cries OF our hunted Rat
attract her attention.
oh" she exclaims. how shameful TO
beat that poor child so, Do, please. Cap
tain Gilbert. make them let him alone
Captain Gilbert, whose guest she is, and
who leads her up the stage, shouts.
''Halloa quit that! Let the boy go, and
get on with your work" For you see, one
cannot beat Rats and roll cotton at the
same time; and the latter occupation,
though perhaps the most exciting. Is the
la.u r1ftf faht nj hsa
Dick-who, unable to dodge his tormen.
tors. has emulated the example of a hedge
hog. and made himself as nearly spherical
as possible. against a cotton bale-dOes not
rise. The foe has not sufficiently retreated
but he keeps a bright lookout from the cor
ner of one eve, so as to be ready for q
jump.
They have hurt him." said the lady
He can't get mp. poor little fellow.r and
before any one can interfere she'trips down
the stage and is STOPPING over the RAT, .
who is so taken aback by the apparition
that he forgets to jump. and rolls over
straight. His plight-when it appears that
no bones are broken-makes the LADY
smile. He has been kicked into a coal heap
and is black. He has been cuffed agains,
lot of oil cake. and is russell brown. Hs
| is fluffy all over with cotton waste. Hi;
mouth is open. and his eyes are wild with
astonishment. He had never been so neal
| to q lady. and don't know what win he dOnt
| with him.
Come, get up" says the captain
'there's nothing the matter with you"
| "Can you rise@' asks the lady. and sht
touches him with the most wonderful thing
Dick ever saw-her hand! The creamy
glove upon it. the simmer of lace and gilt
| ter of gold at the wrist. and the soft. whit
| flesh beyond: never had he felt such ;
touch. or been spoken to In such tone.
.-Ob. amt in for it now.r he muses.. ant
then he looks up into the lady's face.
| He saw an expression there that he di'
not understand. He had seen anger in tn
face Of those who had caught him sudden