Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-04-20
mis- CELLAREo
MES. BRIGGS CLERK,

StH1 was = taH, tHIu, SlaTVeu>IOORlng 00y,
css with little jacket, the sleeves of which
crcpt halfway up his arms, and hat that
was nothing but brim; and when she first
saw him he was eating crust out of gut
ter. She was only poor old woman who
kept little shop for candy and trimmings,
aud poor enough herself, heaven knew: but
she said he looked little like what her Tom
might if he had grown up and been neglect-
ed, 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:
Il didn't do it. III take my oath on
anything | didn't do it. l 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 shut
ter last night" said the old woman. II am
not strong enough to lift 'em, that's fact.
Pm getting old"
elf am round here when you shut up.
III come and do it for YOU" said the boy;
I'D just as soon. What was that You wanted
mo for?"
Il wanted to know what you was eating
that dry crust out of the gutter for" was the
reply
! huuSty, saiu ue IL We tried to get q
| job all day. l am going to sleep in an area
over there after i. is too dark for the police
man to see, and you cant have a good
nights sleep without some supper, if it is
little dirty
"Ill give you some that is cleaner" said
the old woman
That will be begging" said he.
| mo, said she. 'you can sweep the shop
and the pavement, and put up the shutters
for it,"
Very WE'LL" said he. "TbnnGee, then.
If l sweep up first will feel better.
Accordingly she brought him broom aud
be did his work we'll. Afterward he ate his
supper with relish. That night he slept,
not in an area, but under the old yoman's
| counter.
he had told her his story. His name was
Dick; he was twelve years old, and bis
| father, whom he had never seen sober was
in prison for life.
Tho anteccdents were not elevating, but
the boy seemed good The next morning
the old woman engaged clerk for her small
establishment. The terms were simpIe-his
Giving and bed under the counter"
When the neighbors heard of it, they
we're shocked. A street boy-wbom no one
knew. Did Mrs. Briggs really wish to be
murdered in her bed? But Mrs. Briggs ielt
quite safe. She had so much time now that
she was going to take in sewing. Dick at
tended TO the shop altogether. He kept it
! in fine order, and increased the business by
introducing candles, 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, aud this
was the place for peanuts.
And in the evening, after the shop was
shut up, she began to take him into her con-
fdeuce. Her great dream was to buy her
self into q certain home for the aged It
would cost her hundred dollars. She wa
saving for it. She had saved three years,
and had fifteen oft. But it cost so much to
live, with tea twenty-five cents quarter, and
loaves so small. and she had been sick. and
there was the doctor, and Mrs. Jones' Mar
tha Jane to be paid for minding her and the
shop.
Alter this Dick took the greatest interest
In the savings, and the winter months in
creased them as though he had brought q
blessing.
One night in spring they took the bag
from under her pillow and counted what it
held. 1t was thirty dollars.
"And I'll begin to make kites tomorrow.
Mrs. Brigg," said the boy, "and you will see
the custom it will bring. IF a little shaver
sees the kites, he will spend all he has for
'em. and then he'll coax his mother for more
to buy the stick dates and chewing gum. 1
know boys"
"You are clever boy yourself" said the
old woman, and patted his hand.
1t was plumper hand than it had been,
when it picked the crusts from the gutter,
and he wore clean whole garments, though
they were coarse.
"How wrong the neighbors werel" she
said 'That boy is the comfort of my hfe' u
! So she went to bed with the treasure nm