The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-12-31
miscellaneous.
Mrs. Briggs Clerk.

He was tall, thin, starved looking boy,
with little jacket, the sleeves of which crept
halfway up his arms, and n hat that was
nothing but brim; and when she first saw
him he was eating II crust out of n gutter
She was only poor old woman who kept
little shop for candy and trimmings and poor
enough herself heaven knew, but she said he
looked little like what her Tom might fhe
had grown up and been neglected, and she
couldn't stand it. She called to him:
Come here, sonny" said she; and the boy
came.
Before she could speak again, he said:
81 didn't do it. I'll take my oath on any
thing / didn't do it. | amt that mean"
Didn't do what?' said the pleasant old
woman.
Break your window" said the boy, nod
ding his head toward shattered pane
"Why, | broke that myself with my shutter
last night" said the old woman. II am not
strong enough to lift 'em, that's fact I'm
getting old"
"If am round here when you shut up, I'll
come and do it for you" said the boy; I'D
just as soon. What was that you wanted me
for?"
II wanted to know what you were eating
that dry crust out of the gutter for" was the
reply pE;,,nr,, s,;a i. g, tr,oa 70 10, . ii,
Sdltl tllGO W SCt Ii JOD
all day | am going to sleep in an area over
there after it is too dark for the policeman to
see, and you can't have good nights sleep
without some supper, if it is little dirty"
"Tll give you some that is cleaner" said
the old woman.
"That will be begging" said he
"No," said she, you can sweep the shop
and pavement, and put up the shutters for
it,"
Every we'll" said he. "Thankee, then. If
sweep up first l will feel much better"
Accordingly she brought him broom, and
he did his work well. Afterwards he ate his
supper with relish. That night he slept,
not in the area, but under the old woman 8
counter.
He had told her his story His name was
Dick he was some twelve years old and his
father, whom he had never seen sober, was
| in prison for life.
The antecedcnts were not elevating but
the boy seemed good. The next morning
| the old woman engaged n clerk for her small
| establishment. The terms were simple-his
| living and bed under the counter.
When the neighbors heard of it, they were
shocked A street boy-whom no one knew
Did Mrs Briggs really wish to be murdered
in her bed? But Mrs. Briggs felt quite safe
She had so much time now that she was GO
ing to take in sewing. Dick attended to the
shop altogether He kept it in fine order
| and increased the business by introducing
candies, dates on sticks, and chewing gum
| Pennies came in as they never came before
since he had painted signs in red and blue
ink to the effect that the old molasses candy
was to be got there, and this was the place
for peanuts
And in the evening" after her shop was
shut up, she began to take him into her con
| fidence. Her very great dream was to buy
herself into q certain home for the aged 1t
would cost her hundred dollars. She was
saving for it. She had saved three years and
had fifteen oft But it cost so much to live
with tea at 25 cents quarter, and loaves SC
small, and she had been sick, and there was
the doctor, and Mrs. Jones Martha Jane tc
be paid for minding her and the shop.
After this Dick took the greatest interest
in the savings, and the winter months in
creased them as though he had brought 6
blessing.
One night in spring they took the bag from
under her pillow and counted what it held
It was thirty dollars.
"And I'll begin to make kites to morrow
Mrs. Briggs" said the boy, land you will SEE
the custom that it will bring If a little sha
yer sees the kites, he will spend ali he has fol
'em, and then he'll coax his mother for more
to buy the stick dates and chcwing-gum
know boys"
"You are clever boy yourself" said til,
old woman and patted his hand.
It was plumper hand than it had beer
when it picked the crusts from the gutter
and he wore clean whole garments, though
they were coarse.
How wrong the neighbors were! she said
That boy is the comfort of my life.
SO she went to bed with the treasure unde
her pillow and slept Far on in the nigh
she awakened. The room was utterly dark
there was not ray of light-but she heard
step on the floor.
i "Who is that ?" she cried.
There was no answer, but she felt tina
some one was leaning over her bed. Thel
hand clasped her throat and held her down
and dragged out the bag of money, and sh
was released. Half suffocated, she for mo
ment found herself motionless and bewilder
ed, conscious only of q light draught of ai
from an open door, and Of some confuse'
noises.
| Then she sprang to the door and hurrie'
to the shop.