Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-03
NO. 1876.
Gales ano skettbes.
MRS. BRIGGS CLERK.

| lie was u t9ll, tnln, St3rNcu-tOOkNsX UVts
with little jacket, the sleeves Of which
crept halfway up to his arms, and a hat
that was nothing but brim, and when
she saw him he was eating crust out ct
the gutter. She was onlya poor old wo.
man who kept little shop for candy and
trimmings. and poor enough ITSELF heav-
en- knew, but. said she, he looked little
like what her Tom might be ii he had
grown up and been neglected. and she
couldn't stand it. She called TO him:
Come here. sonny" she said; and the
boy came.
Before she could speak again. he said;
IL didn't do il. III take my oath on
anything didn't do il. amt so mean"
.Didn't do what ?n said the pleasant
old woman.
Break YOUR window" said the boy.
nodding his head toward shattered
pane.
why. broke that myself with my
shutter. last night" said the old woman.
I'm not strong enough to lit EN-, that's
the fact. I'm getting old"
"lf I'm round here when you shut up,
I'll come and do it for you. I'd Just as
soon. What was that you wanted me
forpn
Ntut W NtOW VIM Npu WINS
that dry crust out of the gutter for" was
the reply.
Hungry" said he, 1--WE tried to get u
Job all day; I'm going TO sleep in an area
over there after it gets too dark for po-
liceman to see, and YOU can have good
nights sleep without any supper, IL It Is
little dirty"
I'm give you some that is cleaner"
said the old woman.
THAT will be begging said he.
mo, you can sweep the shop and pave
ment and put up the shutters for it,
Very well," said he. "Thankee then.
If sweep up first I'll feel better"
Accordingly she brought him broom.
and he did his work WE'LL Afterward he
ate his supper with relish. That night
he slept not in the area but under the old
woman's counter.
He had told her his story. His name
was Dick; he was - years old, and his
father, whom he had never seen sober.
was in prison for life.
The anteccdents were not clcvatipg.
but the boy seemed good. The next
morning the old woman engaged clerk
for small establishment. The terms
were simple-his Living and bed under
the counter"
When the neighbors heard Of IL they
were shocked. A street boy whom no one
knew. Did Mrs. Briggs really wish to be
murdered in her bedp But Mrs Briggs
felt quite safe She had so much time
now that she was going to take In sewing.
Dick attended to the shop altogether. He
kept it in fine order. and increasedthe bus
mess by introducing candies and chewing
gum. Pennies came in as they never
came IN before, since he had painted signs
in red and blue ink to the effect that the
real old molasses candy was TO be got
there, and that this was the place for pea
nuts.
And in the evening. after the shop was
shut up. she began to take him into her
confidence. Her great dream was to buy
herself into a home for the aged. It
would cost her 300. She was saving for
It, She had saved three years, and had
S15 of it. But IL cost SO much to live.
with tea twenty-five cents quarter, and
leaves so small and she had been sick.
and there was the doctor and Mrs. Jones'
Maria Jane to be paid for minding her and
the shop. After this Dick took the great
est interest in the savings, and the win
ter months increased them rs though he
had brought a blessing
One night in spring she took the bag
from under the pillow and counted what
it held. 1t was $50.
And I'll oegin TO make kites to-inor-
row. Mrs. Briggs" said the boy. '.and
You'll see the custom that it will bring
If little shaver sees the kites. he spend
all he has for 'em, and then he'll coax
his mother for more to buy the stick dates
and chewing gum. know boys"
You're clever boy yourseii, - said the
old woman. and patted his hand.
It was pumper hand than 1t had been
when il picked tie crusts from the gutter,
and he wore clean, whole garments,
though they were very coarse.
.'IIow wrong the neighbors were.' she
said. THAT boy is the comfort Of my
life.''
So she went to bed with the treasure
under her pillow and slept. Far on in the
night she awakened. The room was ut
terly dark, there was not a ray Of light
but she heard step on the floor.
.'Who is that?'' she cried.
There was no answer: but she felt that
some one was leaning over her bed.
Then hand clasped her throat and held
her down. and dragged out the bag Of
money, and she was released. Half sui
| focated. she for a moment found herself
motionless and bewildered, conscious only
of draught of air from the open door,
and some confused noises.
Then she sprang to the door and hur-
ried into the shop.
"Dick. Dick ~ she cried; .sDick Dick
help! wake up! I'm robbedl''
But there was no answer; the door into
the street was wide open, and by the
moonlight that poured forth through it
she saw as she peercd. under the counter
that Dicks bed was empty. The boy was
gone.
Gone. gone! Oh. that was worse to
Granny Briggs than even the loss Of the
money; for she had trusted him and ne
had abused her love. The neighbors
were right: she was u fool to trust
strange street boy, and had been served
rightly when he robbed her.
When the dawn had broke the wise
neighbors came into Granny's shop, to
| find her crying and rocking to and fro
and they told her that they had told her
50. and she only shook her head. Life
l L. l.~k ssrka~1ok &C., 49,. H.. 49,.