Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-06-19
Dick vhittingt on who Became,
szSoHd Mayor sof London.
a uoob TALE FOR DoYs.


tory, however much Of romance there moy
bo in she story; and it is difficult to say
which is tho moro important Of the two,
for tho cat is credited by tradition with
being tho making Of tho Lord Mayor. We
in regard to thcm, and our readers, young
and old, will bo glad to havo tho following,
which is made up FROM authcntio traditions,
although 1t is not vouohed for as absolute
history. Wo copy from 4Hc Boys Osoa
Paper Of London: aan Fh
A poor boy, meanly clad, and carrying in
his hand small bundlo, trudgcd sadly
along tho road which lod over the moor.of
Finsbury to IIigbgato. The first streak of
dawn was scarcely visible in tho Eastern
sky, and as he Walked, tho boy shiyerod 10
heHohill morning air. More than onco he
dashed from his eyes tho rising tears, and
olutchod his littlo wallet and quickcncd his
pace, as if determined to hold to some dcs-
peratc resolve despite of all drawings to
the contrary. As the road rose gradually
towards H:shgato tho sun broke out from
behind tho clouaa on his right, and lit up
folds aud trces and hills with brightness
aud richness which contrastcd strangely
with tho gloom on tho boys face, aud tho
poverty OF his appearance. The G;rds in
tho hedges began to sing, aud tho cattle u
low and tinkIc their bells; tho whistle of
tho herds meu oamo up from tho valoy,
and all nature seemed to wake with q cry
OF gladaess to greet tho new day.
Eyon poor Dick Wilmington could not
wholly resist the cheering influence of that
bright summer morning. TWAS impossible
to believe that everything was miserable in
the midst Of SO much gladncss, and Dicks
face frightened and his stops became brisker
almost without his knowing it, as he
tradgcd higher and higher up that steep
road. lis thoughts, too, took less dcs-
ponding turn.
CATER ALL" said he to himself, "pcrhaps
[ am foolish to bo running away from my
masters house. had bcttcr be tho scullery.
boy of good Master Fitzwarrcn, although
his cook docs ill-trcat me, aud lead me
dogs lifo, than vagabond idle boy which
l am now. And yet l cannot endure tho
thought of returning to that cruel woman.
Would that knew what to do!'
Thus he thought and questioned with
himself, when he came to stone by the
wayside; and here he sat to rest, and rumi-
nate further upon his evil fortune.
elf some voice would but say, sRcturn,'
l would return" said he, "cycn though she
scold and beat me, for l know not what to
do without friend in the world. Was
ever such wretchcd boy as IY'
And ho buried his face in his hand and
gavo himself over to his misery. Suddenly
in the quiet morning air thcro came to his
cars wonderful sound, up from the valley,
where, in the sun, shono tho towers and
stecples of I,oudon town. 1t was tho
sound of distant bells, aud, as the boy
listened, it came clearer and clearer, and
seemed to Gil the air with tho very voice
for which no had but u minute since been
longing. But what strange voice and
what q strange story the bells told
"rurn again Whittington,
Thrice Lord Mayor Of I4ondon!"
Over and over again they said tho samo
words. Over aud over again Dick per-
suadcd himself ho was dreaming, vet
felt suro' he was awake nTurn
agaih!'' that was plain enough, and he
could believe it, even though Bow Bells
sold it. But-"Thrico Lord Mayor of
London" what could that mean? That
was mover meant for tho poor i'll used soulc,
ry-boy of Master Fitzwarren, tho mercer
in the Minorics! And Jet, what could be
more distinct than the voice of those bells?
Hc sprang from his scat, turned his facc
IN the direction of that wonderful sound,
and ran. And that morning, when tho
family of Master Fitzwarrcn assembled for
their early meal, and the scoldiug cook
took possession Of the kitchen, Dick Whits
tington was in his place, securing tho pots
and pans in the scullery, singing to himself
tune no ono had ever hoard before.
Only few days after this adventure of
Dicks news came of the arrival in port of
ono of Master Fitzwarrcn's vessels with
valuable cargo on board Now it was the
custom in thusc days, in some houses, for
all the servants of family to invest somo-
thing in tho fortunes of any vessel their
master might send out; and when, many
months before this, Master Ftzwarrcn had
bccn cquippiug tho vessel now in question,
ho had summoned all his servants together,
and beginning With the chief, had called
upon them to put their savings into his
venture, promising each a fair return of
whatever profit his share should cntitle him
to at the end of the voyage.
Dick, poor boy had no mony; nothing in
in the world but q cat, whom ho loved as
his only friend, and to whom he owed no
common gratitude for tho manner in which
she had protected him against the rats that
infested his garret. When it came to his
turn to put his share into tho voyage ho
had not the heart to offer this companion---
and he had nothing olse he could call his
own-so ho begged to be excused His
master, however, insisted that ns his servant,
ho must put down whatever ho had, how
over little, and oven though this cat had