The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-01-16

beauties of wealth and taste; so jim
kept on.
From the various restaurants in the
neighborhood of the Fifth Avenue HoteI
came appetizing odors, and Jim walked
more slowly and glanced in at the en-.
vlable beings seated at the bright, little
tables. Despair can not always be read
on the features, or certainly this child's
face would have won the pity of one oI
the elegant persons rustling by. Nc
one saw in him chance to keep Christ.
mas in a deed of love and charity
Christ presented in the form of a rag.
ged, starving child is to most people un.
attractive.
So Jim walked on unheeded. Neal
Thirtieth Street his attention became
fixed on the handsome equipages dash.
ing down the avenue. Even hunger
gave way to admiration, and on the
corner he stood still in amazed delight
At this minute a faint cry of terror
reached him, and he looked behind
him. A nurse, frightened by an ap-
preaching carriage, had started for the
pavement, leaving the wagon, in which
was lovely smiling child, standing in
the middle of the street.
Jim dashed forward as he took in the
situation, caught the back of the wagon
and pushed it from him out of harms
way, the plunging, rearing horses just
grazing his back and ankles as he fol.
lowed it. 1t was done in second. The
child was safe, the carriage had passed
by, and Jim stood alone on the side.
walk looking after the departing nurse,
whose "naerci, naerci," "was puzzling his
returning senses.
Poor Jim! He did not realize the
grandeur of his act, but not even to re.
ceive thanks seemed strange to his con-
fused notions of politeness.
The door of the house behind him
was now opened, and lady called to
him in very light voice: "Come here,
little boy!"
Jim entered the frescoed vestibule,
and was asked a perfect catechism OF
questions, all of which he answered
simply enough. There was not much
to tell.
81 can not 90 to see your mother this
week, because l have all my time en-
gagged, but next week l will try to find
your room. Now, as 1 know who owns
the child you saved, want you to come
back here tomorrow and see its father
and mother. They will help you. But
l will give you some money now so that
you can get your poor mother what she
needs"
The lady gave Jim little card with
her name and address on it, and rolled
a five-dollar bill in paper and put it in
an old purse which she gave him.
Jim felt dazed. He walked off re.
tracing his steps, from time to time feel,
ing the purse in his breast-pocket, afraid
to look at it lest it might take wings OF
some one might steal it.
After while, hungar again assailed
him; and Jim thought of Fulton Mar.
ket, and it's stores of good things. Il
he could 60 there first and buy some
food, how surprised his mother would
be. The doctor at the Dispensary had
recommended good beef soup and steak
At the time, diamonds would have been
as possible. Now, Jim had visions o1
a steak, broiled over little coal fire il
the stove he had left empty in the morn
ing, and in imagination he tasted the
soup, thickened with -four and adorned
with floating vegetables.
The long, weary walk was mysterious
ly shortened by the play of Imagination
and Jim reached the market, and bold
ly approached colossal butcher wht
eyed Jim sidewaysas if expecting to Sc,
him run off with one of his tempting
cuts.
SHOW much is porter-house steaks p
asked Jim; staring at the meat on th'
block.
"Thirty five cents pound. Wht
sent you here?"
"No one; want steak and a piec'
for soup, and hurry up, will you?"
"Come, get out, I'm too busy fol
fun"
"Won't you give me them? I'v'
got the money here;" and Jim touched
his pocket.
"Let me see it?'
Jim took out his purse, and exhibited
his prize.
"I guess you can have the beef" sale
the butcher, proceeding to cut the steak
while Jim watched admiringly. Th'
knife went straight through the firm
red flesh, and solid, yellow fat, then |
piece was chopped small for soup. th'
whole was wrapped in coarse brown pa
per, and Jim put it carefully under hi
arm, while the butchar changed the bill
He gave Jim several half-dollars ant
quarters in silver, which bulged out th
sides of the worn pocket-book, ant
threatened to burst It in pieces. jim
started out of the building, passing
quickly along the narrow, dirty street
which led to his home.
He was quite unconscious of having
been watched while in the market b,
several boys as ragged as himself bu
much older. While thinking of tn,
price of coal by the pail, and the capac
itV of the old one that had gone many