The daily gazette., 1879-12-26
A BRAVE REVENGE,
BY w. 8. N.

| ooHH 1HOIudS, Ine llVtTleu IOOtman,
who was arranging the mats in an ele
giant coupe b fore the door, at once
moved toward the boy in obedience to
bis lovely mistress command.
But the boy, evidently bootblack,
spared him the trouble by arising at once
and walking slowly away.
lie was poor, emaciated, forlorn-look-
ing little fellow, with his clothes hang
ing about him in tatters, and his bare
toes peeping through the wide cracks in
his ill-mated shoes, but he had as much
pride in bis 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 di-
rection of the speaker.
"I'il not soil her stoOp with my rags
again." he thought, as the clear, cutting
tones ceased, and the window slid sof.ly
down to the sill.
But, having reached the next pave
ment beyond, he paused and again turn
ed his eyes to the lady's face.
She was extremely beautiful, remind
ing him of one OF the bright prints he
lad been wont to admire at down.
town booksellers, land for some moments
he feasted his eyes on the charming pic
ture before him.
ga cat may look at king" was his
inward comment, and leaning against a
neighboring lamp-post, he watched until
she descended tie broad stoop, entered
The carriage and was driven away. Then
with sigh and shiver, for it was q
cold, windy morning, he slowly shufiled
away.
1t was some years ago, before boys
lodging-houses or other hospltable re-
treats were thought of, and like many
another newsbOy of that period, when
wi hout 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 he. .sh, ad, where he bad managed
to pass The night, and after taking a long
look az the rolls and coffee he could moi
buy, had wandered he scarcely knew
how or why, into the present aristocratiC
oca'ity.
Hungry, tired and cold, he scarcely
had the spirit to look about for another
job but midway down the block he es.
Ipe two gentlemen engaged in conver
salion, ard with an effort he quickenet
his steps toward them.
"Ilave shine, sirs ?" he asked, glanc
ing up at the older of the two, a stou
old gentleman, fautlessly dressed ant
carrying gold-headed cane.
But a cool "Clear QUIT" accompanied
with wave of the gold-crested stick
was his only reply.
"Those young rascals ought to be sup
pressed by the police as a nuisance" HI
heard him remark to to his companion
as he turned away.
At another time he would have re
turned the old gentleman's opinion will
a sarcasm as cutting as his own, bu
now he was quite too discouraged ant
miserable to reply, and, sitting dowl
this time on the curbstone, gave himsel
up TO his own dismal thoughts.
: "Alight have know'd better'n ter com
over here among the swells anyway,
vas his inward comment, but it went III
further, for he was now accOsted by
!, big countryman, who, in his. homespul
rig looked fully as out Of place Of
the avenue as the young bootblack him
self.
"That's a bootblackn' arrangement
amt it?" said the man, nodding at tn
|
box and brush.
The boy nodded in return.
, "Well, then, bub, you up and CLOS
my shoes, will you?"
This, bub was only too glad to do, ,
faint smile fitting over his face tn
while.
J, In few minutes the "cowhldes"w er
as the owner declared, call right; an
thar, nj n aoontlu hQ finn
bed into thd depths Of his great pocket
for the change.
|. "You're what they call perfesshuna
! bootblack, hain't you?"
0 "Zactly."
"Then, by Jimmy yer poor speci
men NV the craft look as though yo
hadn't tasted cow, flesh in month"
! "Yer right there, boss; no more
have"
'r "Thought so," was the rejoinde
'.and here's fifteen cents fur ter buy "
ST breakfast"
"You are bully cove" was the boy
reply, as he pocketed the money "whe
!, you come this way agin, Pll shine yo
up for nothing"
Fifteen cents at such time w;s
- good as a fortune, and away sped IL
boy to purchase breakfast.
There is nothing which reflects so d
!, rectly on the entire system as a goe
breakfast, particularly when there is
, strong northeaster sending its IL
y breath to the very marrow Of one
bones.
K, And so the knight of the blackin
brush found it on that chill Novemb'
morning, all his former spirits returnir
as the last morsel went ravenously dow
his throat.
III With bound he was off down IL
street, and soon, as luck would have
- turning in the pennies as fast as
could reasonably desire.
l. 1t was near eight O'Clock that san
evening, and our young friend, standil
e. beneath the light of street lamp, WI
a' = turning over in his mind whether l
- had best spend portion of his earning
y, in theatre ticket, or save it for Il
Il morrow, when some one touched hi
lightly on the shoulder.
Turning suddenly, he beheld the eb'
nv visase of young colored waite
n with whom he had a slight acquain
ance.
= allow are yer, Sambo?" he aske
pasronizingly.
}. "Oh, berry well, ia k'e, but Use in
powerful hurry, and cum over dis wa
y, to hunt some pusson to do me favor
"All right, shady. Then I'm the OIL
yer arter. How much yer goin' t