The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-01
A YOUTHFUL TRAVELLER.

Little Edwin Flynn. Eight Years Old,
Goes 1000 Miles From Home Unat.
tended.
New York Mercgry.i
He was bright, intelligent looking,
manly little fellow who cazee towards me as
the stewardess of the Denmark called him
cabin on deck December 6, the morning the
steamer arrived here" The speaker was s.
H. Stevenson, merchant engaged in bust
ness IN Front street, this city, and he con-
tinued: Although only eight years of age.
the boy had quite the air of man, and
spoke and acted as if he were quite capable
OF taking care of himself. l had never seen
him before, and, indeed, knew nothing of or
shout him, excepting that / had been re-
Quested by a correspondent of mine at
Saginaw, Mich, to look out for him on the
arrival of the steamer, and to book him
through to that city. Since then l have
learned that he was an orPhan his father
having died, and his mother-but where's
the use of speaking of such things-she left
him-tbat about embOdies the whole story
in England, going off, God knows where.
Then the lad was taken care of by an aunt
Mrs Oakley, living near London, but after
while she too seemed to have tired looking
after the little fellow, and then an uncle
living at Saginaw agreed to take care of him,
providing he was sent out. 1t is no small
responsibility to send child 400G miles on
a journey vi bout care, and for long time
the difficulty appeared almost insurmoup "a
BILE, but at length the good hearted steward
ess of the Denmark, hearing about the little
fellow, and of the aunt's anxiety to ship
him across, volunteered to look after him
during the voyage. Accordingly he was sent
ON board the steamer and was placed in the
ladies' cabin. Evidently he was of good
parentsge, for his dress and linen were re-
markably fine, and his manners and address
only such could result from careful train
ing. l was so pleased with the little chap
that took him a shore with me, and drove
him to the office. Here he at once de-
Drawers. packages, anything and everything
he could lay his hands on, were subjected to
the severest scrutiny, not only of eye and
touch, but of taste also. Nor was he fully
satisfied even with this, but would go to
some of the clerks or myself and ask what
this and that was for, and why did we do
one thing in this manner instead of in some
other, as he had seen done IN England.
Some of my boys later in the day took him
out for drive, on Broadway and in the
horse cars and over the Elevated Railroad.
His delight was boundless, and his express
sion of it so enthusiastic as to draw the at
tention of the other passengers. Then, too,
he would draw comparisons favorable or I'M
favorable, and my clerks joining in the fun,
led him on. His loyalty TO his sovereign
was, however, the topic on which he was
most inclined to take umbrage, facing up 20
the youngsters whe were tormenung HIM by
derldiDg his queen and country. After
time, though, he seemed to suspect the trick
and treated them with silent contempt.
In the evening sent him back to the steam
er. He remained here for two or three days
and was with us about the office during the
day the whole time. The evening before
sent him off TO Saginaw, via Detroit, we took
him down to Fulton Market TO give him
some supper. Talk of boys eating. 1t was .
sight that made us laugh to see the way in
which he went through soups, fish, flesh,
fowl, sweetmeats and coffee. None of us,
(there were four in the parry could eat any
thing for laughing. declare, positively, it
was astonishing The next morning by the
7:30 train / dispatched him from the Jersey
City station for Port Huron. / should have
mentioned that the lining OF his coats and
v. SITS and on all his linen was stamped his
name in this fashion:
Master EDWIN FLYNN (Boy eight years., a.sis
From Mrs. Oakley,
Sessions House, Newington, London
Saginaw, MichigansU.s.
From London, 10th Nov, 1878.
One thing Is certain, those who sent him
across were determined that he should not
| go sstrsy Tor want of his name and address
| oeing known. Just before starting q most
amusing little incident occurred. When
| the stewardess handed him over to me she
told me that he had los English money,
which had been given him Cor pocket money
and which he had not spent Asking him II
he would not have 1t changed to U. S. cur
rency before he left New York, he said,
-syes," and then after a moments considera-
| ton, requested that would get all 10c
pieces. these being most easily counted, and,
~ he expressed II, 'there'd be less chance
| foe the Yankee boys to cheat me- At the
exchange Office l gave the broker the cue to
| give him one piece less. After gravely count.
| ing toe money three times, he looked up at
the man and said, There's one Short" and
the broker, laughing at his sharpness, hand
ed him q couple, saying. ''That'll make it
right, won'S it?'' 'sOh, yes," the boy replied,
Laughing; 'but now you're giving me one too
many" On the way to Saginaw the Port
Huron train deposited him at Flint to wait
| for the evening rain. Here he fell asleep, and
wasfound tired and wearied, butsttll carrying
. stiff upper lip, by q lady who, for the rest
| of the journey, took him under her care. de-
livenng him to his friends, who were In
| waiting at the station on the trains arrival,
on Thursday Of this week. II I ruistake not.
there il bright future before listle Edwin
Flynn.