Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-03-12
POOR LITTLE KIT.
From the Detroit Free Press
A Story From Life.


1t was gala day on the avenue. All
the fast horses in town were ont show
ing their pace and the merry sleigh
riders shouted with mirth and enjoy
ment as they raced neck-and-neck, five
teams deep, and when they came TO a
deadlock it was still more fun. At one
juncture, however, there were shouts
that did not sound mirthful, a wild
plunge among the thoroughbreds, and
some policemen ran out from the side
walk and talked in authoritative tones,
but the crowd was Sd dense no one
could see what was going on among the
noisy drivers and their plunging horses.
"It's only couple of boys, said the
beautiful Felicia Hautton, settling back
among the luxurious white robes: "two
of those horrid newsboys. They ought
not to be allowed on the avenue at all.
They're always getting under foot and
frightening the horses-such good time
as we are making, too-how disagree
able"
"Anybody killed 2" asked one fine
gentleman Of another as they passed.
" Nav, two boys mixed up, that's all,
one started to cross the street and fell,
and tother got run over trying to save
him, stweet Awabs, you know, can
spware q few-ta-ta."
"Got under the feet of highfiyer
and spoiled his time" said another in
diseusted tone.
Then the avenue was cleared and the
tide OF enjoyment went on, and no more
Arabs were so foolish rs to sacrifice
themselves by obstructing the triumphs
of the fashionable throng.
At sundown of that same day two
poorly dressed boys applied for adpis-
sion at the doors of Harper's Hospital
and inquired for one of their number,
who had been brought thither that
same afternoon. They were permitted
TO see him for few moments, and on
tip-toe they entered the long, clean
ward and sought out the narrow bed on
which lie lay. When they had awk-
wardly greeted him, they sat down upon
the edge Of the cot, and were much en-
barraSsed with the strangeness of the
scene, and painfully conscious Of their
own hands and feet; they were also
rather shocked at their comrades clean
face it looked so unnaturally white,
with a dab Of red OH either cheek.
Their eyes roved stealthily about over
the other sick beds and their occupants.
Say, old felIer," began the biggest
of the two boys, addressing his sick
comrade, "ain't you putin on heap
Of stile?"
"Where's Kit ?" asked the sick boy,
iretfully; "why amt he along of you q
The two visitors looked at each other,
and their faces grew downcast and
troubled; they dug the toes of their
boots into the clean floor Mt the bedside
and shuflied uneasily, while both cough
ed violently in concert, then the big
boy blurted out:
Kit went on errant, and he told
me to tell you he would be up to. NOR
rer, sure-he sez, seZ he, tell Jim it's
all right"
"You amt gassin, be you? Kit
didn't git hurt, nor nothin' ?"
"He couldn't go errants eff ne wa:
hurt, ccnld he ?" asked the other, dog.
gedly; san here" improvising lie foi
the occasion, she sent yer this.
the sick and injured boy smiled as ht
took the big orange in his feverisi
hands, aud tnrned it over.
al knew Kit wasn't The boy to forgi
me-here, you feis, take bite-it''
many n orange, and stick of candy, anC
bit Of pie we've divided atween us afort
this. Pore little Kit He knowed a.
how l liked 'em; here, you take {
squeeze as he handed it back.
But the boys wouldn't touch it, ant
the sick patient put it under his pillow
Then he said in strange, quaverin {
voice:
81 want You fels to look after Kit
and don't You forget it; when | get'
well I'll pay back every cent; but it'll
be a long time, fer I'm all mashed in
he's little fel, and needs lookin' ar ter
Now, boys, don't go back on me, vii
you?'
"You needn't worry about Kit," saif
the spokesman Of the two, lookin.
away and digging violently ut the floor
q he's all rite
"Lord, am SO tired, said the sicI
boy. eff it wasn't for Kit I'll as lev
die as get well but promised mothe
as how I'd allns take care OF. ..the littl
chap, and s'-s done il !; and he wasn'
cut up nor lruised nor nuthin' whe
they pulled him out'n from undehe tn
! hoss's hoofsg"