Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-07-01
MRS. BRIGGS CLERK.

hat that was nothing but a Drlm;
and when she first saw him he
was eating a crust out of the
gutter. She was only a poor
old woman who kept a little
shop for candy and trimmings,
and poor enough herself, heaven
knew; but, said she, he looked
a little what her Tom might if
he had grown up and been neg
lected, and she couldn't stand
it. She called to him:
"Come here, sonny" And
he came.
Before she could speak again,
he said:
Il didn't do it! I'll take my
oath on anything, l didn't do 1t.
| | amt SO meant"
"Didn't do what?" asked the
pleasant old woman.
"Break your winder,". said
the boy, noddiug. his head to-
ward a shattered pane.
"Why, l broke that myself
with my shutter last night"
ssssl the old woman. "Pm not
strong enough to lift 'cm, that's 4
the fact. I'm getting old"
at I'm round here when you
shut up, III come and do it for
you," said the boy; "l'd just as 4
soon. What did you want OF
me?'
"I wanted to know what you
was eating that dry crust out OF
the gutter for"
"Hungry," said he. "l,ve [,
tried to get job all day. I'm
going to sleep in an area over
there after it gets too dark for a
policeman to see me, and one
can't have a good nights sleep
without some supper, if it is a
little dirty"
"I'll give you some that's
cleaner" she said.
"That'll be begging" said he'
"No," said she, "you can
sweep the shop and the pave
ment, and put up the shutters
tor it." 2
every WE'LL said he. "Thankee
then. fl sweep up fust III
feel better"
Accordingly she brought him
a broom, and he did the work
well. Afterward he ate hls
supper with a relish. ( That
night he slept, not in the area
but under the old woman's coun'
ter.
He had told her his story
His name was Dick; he wa'
twelve years old, and his father
/, whom he had never seen sober
, was in prison for life.
The anteccden nts were not eie
s vating, but the boy seemed
n good. The next morning tn
: old woman engaged a clerk for
Il small establishment. The term
Y were simple--his "living and
bed under the counter.
d When the neighbors heard ol
: it, they were shocked. Astree
boy. whom no one knew Di
Ie Ie Mrs. Briggs really want to b
/; murdered in her bed? Bat Mrs
I'd ID Briggs felt quite safe. She ha
so much time now she was &C
D. ing to take in sewing. Die
L attended to the shop altogethe
h. He kept it in fine order, and il
P. creased the business by intro
or or ducing candies, dates on stick
# and chewinggum. Pennies cam
tn in as they never came beior
since he had painted signs
red and blue ink to the etfe'
that the real old molasses cand
was to be got there, and tn
this was the place TO get pc
;rs m nuts. i,
lts nt. And in the evening, after L
It's shop was shut up, she began
a take him into her contidenc
me Her great dream was to bl
m n herself into a home for the age
nd nd 1t would cost her 500. 81
md was saving Tor it. She had sa
zlo ed three years, and had $l5 {
md It. But it cost so much to Inv
md with tea at 25 cents quartz
ic' Ile' and loaves so small, and she h
at been sick, and there was t
les .ns doctor, and Mrs. Jones' Mart
Jane to be paid for mindlng h
md md at the shop. After this, Dl
Io- do took the greatest interest IN I
savings, and the winter mont
uF- increased them as though he h
5 brought blessing.
lies One night in spring she to
Of. the bag from under the plll'
u and counted what it held.
ICES ices was $50.
5: "And I'll begin to make XII
'nts tomorrow, Mrs. Briggs" 81
do do the boy, land you'll see !
DO custom that it will bring. II
L. little shaver sees the kites h'
spend all he has for 'em, a
!. then he viii coax his mother
more 10 buy the stick dates a
che wing-gum. | know boy
you're a clever boy yo
SELF" said the old woman, &