The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-05-17
Come And he shone."

The Detroit brigade of bootblacks
was increased by one yesterday. a
passenger train from the East carried
one more passenger than the conductor
knew of, because the said passenger
was concealed on the trucks and looked
more like o hunk of mud than u liv,
boy IA years old. He came across the
river with the others, and after brie
look around the depot he walked up tC
hickman and said
cold boy, I'm right from Jersey City
with nothing to eat for two hull days
and not red in my pocket. I'm game,
l am. Lend me quarter and I'll make
it dollar before noon"
II don't know you," replied the
hackman.
Nor I you, but that's all right. A
man who won't lend live boy quar-
ter to get a start in life is no man at
all. Come, what dye say?"
He got the money, and walking up
to a bootblack who stood shivering in
the cool air, he said;
"Boy, you'll never make sinner in
the world. Your forte is landscape
painting or counting bank notes. I'll
gin We quarter for yer kit, and if We
ever want money for pint of peanuts
call on me-"
1t was trade. There was new
box of backing and pretty fair brush,
and the new boy no sooner had the box
under his arm than he cried out in
wonderfully shrill voice:
Come and see me Come and be
shone by chap who kin make yer
butes look nicer in two minits than a
sIouch could in four days. Hold out
yer feet an gin me a chance to lay the
cornerstone of II fortune-and don't
you foget it !"
He secured five "blacks" as fast rs he
could work and in twenty minutes he
had paid back the quarter. In half an
hour he was fifteen cents ahead, and
then he rubbed his aching arms and
said:
tive got to drop sunthin down for
my stomach to lay hold on, and then
It'll take me two hours yet to get me
limbered up and feel like buzzsaw run
by chain lightning, but when I do git |
% worn in earnest l shall use up a
brush every nine minits all day long"
After he had procured cheap break
asst at restaurant he found himself
confronted by four OF five bootblacks,
Who looked as if they had planned to
siye him the bounce.
Morning gents" said the new boy
S he looked from one to the other.
No use giving me any coperas, my
beauties, for I've struck this town to
tay. I'm Kelley motor only more
%. [ strike, kick, bite and pull hair
ii at one motion, and it takes three
oliceman to pull me away from the
tangled remains of my victims"
The boys consulted together and con-
luded not to tackle MIN, and in five !
linutes more they were giving him t
heir friendship. He led them back to I
ne depot, stood them in line and said: '
Now, slouches, you stick by me and i
II stick by you. This town hahn new +
bin half worked, and I know it. v
own East we all thought you used 4
shwater and backing instead of fl
zoe polish. Repress ger emotion a d
W minutes and see me tear myself all v
flinders. " (,
The new boy moved around. like a b,
p, worked like pony engine, talked Il
Re a candidate, and made twenty o.
nts in about ten minutes. Putting
q "chink" down into his old vest
'cket, he swung his box over his
oulder and remarked: Il
Sixty cents sfore 10 o'clock of the
st day is good huff, Now I want to
uptown, see the streets, study arch =,
'cture, steal me a dog, and this after %
on III feel as if 1 was born here and y
d been in Jail half dozen times. N
'ta, children; don't spend your money al
I tatfy while I'm gone I'-Free Press. N