The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-03

This pathetic little story is from the
Pittsbnrg (Pa) Leader, of recent issue
For long time past "little Riley" had
not been we'll he complainedo OF a pain
in his breast and of weakness, but hc
stuck manfully to his work. One morn
ing lately he said 90 one of his GUS
toners e. can't black your boots any
moro. | have no strength left, and the
doctor says j must give IL up aud
subsequently he was often observed sit
ung IN some doorway, weary and pale,
with his unsold newspapers under his
arm, tagged out II was evident that
h'ley WAS dying in the harness. Per
maps his parents noticed it,perhRps they
did not, but Riley peddled newspapers
almost up % 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
we'll 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 n severe tlt of coughing
MIR. Fishhernr entered into conversation
with him and asked him how he felt.
" | don't want 10 live ANY longer, said
Riley 81 long for ry'st. Poor fellow {,
his wish was soon fultilled At four
O'Clock that afternoon little Riley was
noticed. more pale and Keelk than usual.
holding 10 lamp-post. and with some
unsold papers. Nobody knows how lac
got home. but he was i'll all night. His
father. u deok-hand, was % start ont ia
the morning 90 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 stairs NJ six o'clock "a eat
his breakfast had left 20 gn down Ia
the river. All night Johnny had been in
q kind of daEed condition, but he sat up
10 the table and tried 10 eat. He could
eat nothing, but drank a emp Of coffee.
His mother then said johnny, | don't
think yuu need go for your papers for an
hour or So. Cio up stairs and lie down.
and maybe you'll feel better. 1 think
| 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 gooi-by before he went away /,
can't mind Yes, Johnny she
answered. 'Pm so glad of that. said
he and I'm glad he didn't say any
thing because | disturbed him in the
night. Then Johnny tried 10 go up
stairs. but he WAS too weak, and he said +:
Mother. can't you carry me upg' IN
try, Johnny, she said, and she took him
in her arms. AS she did SO he said, IN "A
strange voice oh, mother = and
these were his last words. Before she
got mp stairs he was dead. - This morn
ing WIS the time appointed FOR the
funeral. Through the exertions Of Mr..
Newell sufficient sum Of money had
been raised Ia defray the expenses of n
decent burial, and the pall-bearers We're
four newsboys who had been compan-
ions OF Riley's. and delegation Of
about thirty newsboys accompanied the
remains. At the next neWsboys' dinner
there will be a vacant seat at the heed Of
the table, draped IN morning. For
seven years past that seat has been oc-
eupied by Johnny Riley. who was
always given the seat of honor in conse-
auence Of his deformity and diminutive
size. He was in his fifteenth year. and
had been a newsboy for about ten years,