The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-30
A BRAVE REVENGE.

the window at which she was standing,
tell that dirty boy to get off the stoop at
once"
John Thomas, the liveried footman,
who was arranging the mats in the ele-
CANT coupe, before the door, at once
moved towards the door in obedience to
his lovely mistress command.
!. But the boy, evidently bootblack,
spared him the trouble by arising at once
and Walking slowly away.
4 He was poor, emaciated, for
lorn-looking little fellow, with
his clothes hanging about him
In tatters, and his bare toes peepin
through the wide cracks Of his ill-mated
shoes, but he had as much pride in his
humble way as the fair lady at the
plate glass window had in hers, and there
was an unmistakable look of wounded
dignity on his begrimed face as he turned
it for an instant in the direction of the
speaker
.T'll not soil their stoop with my rags
again he thought, as the clear, cutting
tones ceased, and the window slid softly
down to the'sill. f
But having reached the next pave
ment beyond, he paused and again
turned his eyes to the lady's face.
She was extremely beautiful, remind
ing him of the bright prints he had been
wont to admire at downtown booksel-
ler's, and for some moments he feasted
his eyes on the charming picture before
him.
"A cat may look at = king" was his
inward comment. and leaning against a
neighboring lamp post, he watched until
she descended the broad stoop, entered
the carriage and was driven away. Then
with sigh and shiver, for it was a
cold, windy morning, he slowly shufaed
away. ...... :.
1t was some years ago, before boys
lodging-houses or other hospitable re-
treats we're thought Of, and like many
other bootblack or newsboy OF that
period, when without means, he was
Compelled to find food and shelter as
best he could.
On this morning he had arisen with
aching bones from the interior Of an
empty hogshead, where he had managed
to pass the night, and after taking long
look at the rolls and coffee he could not
buy, had wandered, he scarcely knew
how or why, into the present aristocratic
locality.
Hungry, tired and cold, he scarcely
had the spirit to look about for another
job, but midway down the block he
espied two gentlemen engaged in conver-
sation, and with an effort he qnickened
his steps toward them.
"Have shine, sirs7 he asked, glancing
up at the elder Of the two, stout old
gentleman, faultlessly dressed and carry
ing gold-headed cane.
But cool "Clear outp accom-
panied with wave of the gold-crested
stick, was his only reply.
"Those young rascals ought to be sup
pressed by the police as nuisance" he
heard him remark to his companion as he
turned away. ....- '..,
=" At another time he would have re-
turned the old gentleman's opinion with
a sarcasm as cutting as his own, but now
he was quite too discouraged and miser-
able to reply, and sitting down, this time
on the curbstone, and gave himself up to
his own dismal thoughts.
"Might have know'd better'n ter come
over here among tho swells anyway"
was his inward comment, but it went no
further, for he was now accosted by q big
countryman, who in his homespun rig
looked fully out Of place on the avenue
as the young bootblack himself.
"That's bootblackin' arrangement
amt itr said the man, nodding at the
box and brush.
The boy nodded in return.
"Well, then, hub, get up and gloss my
shoes, will your
This bub was only too glad to do, a
faint smile fitting over his face the
while.
In few minutes the "cowhides" were,
as the owner declared, "all right" and
surveying them complacently, he fum-
bled into the depths Of his great pockets
for the change.
"You're what they call perfesshunal
bootblack, hain't you"
"'Zactly." H..
"Then, by Jimmy! yer poor speci-
men NV the craft; look as though you
hadn't tasted cow-fesh in month"
3 "Your'e right there, boss; no more /
have" .
Thought so," was the rejoinder, "and
here's fifteen cents fur ter buy yer break
fast"
"You are bully cove" was the boys
reply, as he pocketed the money; when
you come up this way agin, I'll shine you
up for nothin'."
Fifteen cents at such a time was as
good as fortune, and away sped the boy
to purchase a breakfast. 49,
There is nothing which reflects SO di-
rectly ON the entire system as a good
breakfast, particularly when there is a
strong northwestern sending its icy
breath to the very marrow of ones bones.
And SO the knight of the backing
brush found it on that chill November
morning, all his former spirits returning
as the last morsel went ravenously down
hia thrnat IT,. .H