The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-12-13

DICK SHIELDS.

= Not many towns can boast of neo
u nut boy. But Brandon can. Hi,
name is Dick Shields, and he is very
smart little fellow of about ten wears
i OF age. Dick has been raised on the
streets, has carried notes to the bows,
sweet-hearts, ran errands, sold pea
nuts, etc., until he has become almost
apubllc necessity. He has been do
ing thriving business on his own
NOOK Tor three or four years. His
iather is in bad health, and Dick has
Deen engaged in the commendable
work OF helping to support his mother
ana baby sisters. Dick is an honest
mule fellow, and fovorite among the
entire community. Every body knows
Dick. The young men of Brandon
throw all the nickels in his wav thew
can. he has monopoly of all the
note carrying, and when business in
Ghat line Is brisk, he makes several
dollars per week.
When Christmas comes Dick il not
forgotten by the boys. They ali give
nm something. Very often he is pre-
sented with an entire suit of clothes.
nat, boots, knife, and all the fire.
crackers ne wants. He is perfectly at
nome with the boys. He follows
tnem around, calls them by their
given names, and he can enjoy Joke s
or tell yarn as well as any of them. ,
lie TOOK an active part in the last can
Vass IN Rankin, and was vigilant for
the success of the Democracy.
DICK used to dissipate and swear,
ana on one or two occasions he has ,
been seen drunk. But he is not aban- 1
Toned to drunkenness, his sprees being
only occasional and of short duration, t
tie has not been on bender now for c
'wo years, and says he never expects 0
o indulge again. o
Dick Shields is a sprightly boy, and o
lie does not hesitate to express his a
'plnlon, or to crack jokes in the COM "
ANY of some of the best legal heads q
n Brandon, and during the quaran- Il
Inc last year, he completely annihila- al
ed body of gentlemen in DR.. Nc OF
Iaurin's Drug Store. Sc
But about the best thing Dick ever u
OF OIL was on an eX-member of the LII
who will be remembered I'll
this city as the smallest member 81
the session of 1876. He is the same m
lember who was so small that when er
put his boot up for shine he had Sc
len a juvenile appearance, the black tlt
'ked him if his father would pay for th
lie shine. Nj
This ex-member is an accommodating pr
HOW, and Is not at all given to dis an
urtesy. He wouldn't think of hurt ed
vi l.
ass of white wine, and rather than in
use an open breach, he would knock clu
or mint julip with his
ends. to
Well, last summer when this clever ha
had accidentally happened thf
with some of his friends, and been TO
one or his most accommodating "a ms
,ods, he met the worthy nastor If the
Presbyterian church in front of IS
keys store, and at once entered the
o discussion with him. The ex- VIII
mber took the unwarrantable DO son
on that the world was not sha
de in six days, and seemed eau
to all the reason and juri
zeal augment adduced by the rem
d man, who tried TO convince him titiC
he fallibility of his position. But nab
Pailed. The eX-memher was incor- cOul
BILE, and the minister asked hin, rem
ere he got his theory. thar
III tell you where he gets it." sam
Dick, who was standing by give
his basket of COOLERS swing agar
on his arm, che gets it RICH
n at Swift's bar-room." And tlon
ling to the now somewhat discon- caus
'erted eX-member he continued. corp
,, you incident pay me for that cup bail
oobers-we are even now," and one,
'hard was himself again" ana