The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-26
MRS. BRIGGS CLERK.

II Mis-. BRlGG > CLGRh.
\ He was tall thin, starved looking boy
with little jacket, the sleeves Of which Crep
half way up his arms and u hat that was moth
ing but brim; and when she first saw hin
he was eating crust out OF the gutter. SHE
was only poor old woman who kept n litlt
shop for candy and trimmings; but as she
said, he looked little like what her Tom
might If he had grown up and been neglected
and she couldn't stand it. She called TO him
| Come here, sonny"
| And the boy came. Before she could speak
again, he said:
~ didn't do it, amt so mean"
Didn't do what? ?" said the old woman.
| "Break your winder," said the boy, nodding
toward a shattered pane.
Why, | broke that myself with my shutter
last night" said the old woman. I'm moi
strong enough to lift 'em, that's the fact I'm
getting old"
"If I'm round when yon shut up. III come
and do 1t for you" said the hoy. "l'd just as
soon. What was that you wanted me fory'
II wanted to know what you ate that dry
crust of bread out of the gutter for" said she
"Hungry," said he; "I'vc tried to get job
all day. I'm going to sleep in an area over
there when 1t gets too dark for policeman TO
see; and you can't have a good nights sleep
without some supper, even if it is dirty"
"I'll give you some that's cleaner" said the
old woman.
"That will be begging" said he.
"No" said she, you can sweep the shop and
the pavement ana put up the shutters for it,"
"Vcry we'll" SAID he. "Thankee then. II
sweep up first III feel better"
Accordingly she brought him out broom,
and he did his work well. Afterward he ate
his supper with relish. That night he slept
not in the area, but under the old woman ~
counter.
He had told her his story. His name was
Dick; he was twelve years old, and his father,
whom he had never seen, was In prison Tor
life.
The antecedents we're not elevatlng, but the
boy seemed good. The next morning the old
woman engaged clerk for her small es,ab.
lishment. The terms were simple-his "liv.
ing and bed under the counter"
When the neighbors heard of it they were
shocked. A street boy-a boy no one knew |!
Did Mrs, Briggs really wish to be murdered
in her bedy She had so much time now that
she was going to take in sewing. Dick attend
ed to the shop altogether He kept 1t IN fine
order, ard HAD increased the business by intro.
ducing candies, dates, etc. Pennies came in
rs they had never came in before, since he had
painted signs in red and blue ink tn the effect
that the real old molesses candy was to be had
there, and that this was the place 10 buy 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
certain home for the aged. 1t would cost her
u hundred dollars She had saved three years,
and had fifteen Of it. But it cost so much 20
live, with tea twenty-five cents quarter, and
loaves SO small, and she had been sick, and
there WAS the doctor and Mrs. Jones Martha
Jane to be paid for minding her and the shop.
After tins Dick took the greatest interest in
the savings and the winter months increased
them as though he had brought blessing
One night in spring they took the bag from
under the pillow, and counted what it held. 1t
was thirty dollars.
"And I'll begin to make kites tomorrow,
Mrs Briggs, and you'll see the custom that 1t
will BRING
"You are clever boy yourself" SAID the old
woman, and pressed his hand.
1t was a piumper hand than it had been
when it picked TIE crusts from the gutter, and
he wore clean, whole garments though they
were very coarse.
How 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
was awakened. The room was utterly dark
there was not ray of Lght-but she heard a
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 a hand
clasped her throat and held her down, and
dragged out the bag of money, aud she was
released lialf-suifocatcd, she for momen,
found herself motionlcss and bewildered, con
sclous only of draft of air from an open
door, and some confused noises.
Then she sprang to the door and hurried
into the shop.
! Dick! Dick" she cried. "Dick Dick
help! wake up I'm robbed"
| But there was no answer. The door into
the street was wide open, and by the moon
light that poured through it she saw, as SHE
lpeercd under the counter, that Dicks bed wa:
Iempty. The boy was gone.
!, Gone, gonel Oh, that was worse 10 pool
lGranny Briggs than even the loss Of the mon
ley; for she had Trusted HIM, and he had do
lceived her. She had loved him, and he hat
abused her love. The noighbors were right
she was tool to trust a strange street boy. anC
had been served rightly when he had robbed
|, her.
&. When the dawn broke, the wise neighbor
came into poor Granny's shop to find her cry
| ing and rocking to and fro; and they told he
they had told Der so, and she only shook he
head. The shop took care OF itself that day
Life had lost ITS interest for her. Her "occu
lpation was gone" bit not with her saving.
Money was but money, after all. He hsl
lcome to be the only thing she loved, and Dicl
had robbed her. M
Il was 10 O'Clock. Granny sat moaning b
The empty hearth. GooN-nstured Mrs. yonc