The Evening critic., 1881-07-27
THE DEAD NEwsBoY.
A Fourth OF July 5rragedy-A Dying
Boys Last Request 20 Pay IN Debt

bouiSd, poy F! pay! SOfJlY murmurcd
little Jimmy Cumpson, holding up four
fingers of q wounded hand. He was dying
as he spoke, and the words were uttered
with his last breath.
Jimmy Cumpson was a newsboy eight
years old, and lived with his parents at 1856
South Division street. At half-past eight
on the morning Of the Fourth he was shot
through the hand by tho premature dis
charge OF toy pistol, and at $50 on tho
morning Of tho 18th, just nine days to an
hour, he died Of lockjaw, after enduring
fortunes that the strongest of his attendants
could not witness without tears Up to
Monday night he Supplied his customers
with the Erening News. When starting out
for his last trip on this earth he complained
of pain in his hand, and his mother said
Don't go, Jimmy, tonight. The GUS
toners will forgive you"
No, no, mother. I'll serve 'em if die
on the street" The boy had little thought
that his injuries were fatal, however. He
said to his brother, Mr.. Thomas Cumpson,
on Sunday: next Fourth of July won't
buy anything but ice cream. don't want
any more pistols or fireworks. In one OF
the intervals ofhis racking pain on Tues
day afternoon he noticed his mother crying
and said Ma, throw away my pistol.
Why ma, Pm not dying"
imagery and the literature of heaven and
the angels far beyond his years. Clasping
his weeping mothers hand he said I:
Mother, do you know why tho birds sing
30 sweetly outsider"
Ne my son."
"Well, mamma, God sends the birds to
sing and make us happy. That's the way
the angels sing"
nrly wconesday morning the family
asnorcd ~ ms Dods'de, Tor the little news
ny was dying A deathiike silence pre-
Selsca. iAttle Jimmy looked lovingly ut
eecn anu with his unwounded hand clasped
ms MOWERS. On mamma, open the
$500 ana lct me IN 70 see the little angels, !"
- ~ hes.iy musmmrcG I'm gong home,
In going nome. Sucden!y holding up
TOUT nngcfs OF mrs woundcd nand, he died
WIN these words ON ms i1ps: LOUISA,
PAY Pay An ms dying moment no rec
ohectcu OWING = isdy customer Tour cents
on oouen DIVISION street. lie had taken
hVe Genus IN payment Tor paper and could
not make change at the time.
Lets puy MIN some flowers, said one
OIL olmmy's comrsdes when ne heard the
10y Mas ucau, u''u soouV iorty newspoys
PuV 0ncir iuhus togethcr ana gave them 10
MIS- Martih, tne agent VINO supplies thcm
with papers, to,make the purchase. Thurs
day afternoon the little fellows marched in
-: .aun W Ai.S,o oiy noine, pe'rihg
.nen. sr,pup: MourhIuily Sney gathereu
around the bier, and one Of the larger boys
approached the mother and handed her n
beautiful wreath. NTH this inscrintion in
M.o ''oS VII Duhu vi oarK Ehgiish
IVY.
I'VE bid you farewell, but not forever"
| A small bouanoks tas n,accd in tho dead
Doys nahus enu tne littie party TOOK leave
| oil their Gmpani0n.
| The fnneral services were largely at
tended l,y sympathetic newsboys, and the
LOUISE wxs cF9waeo WIN reiatives ana
| iriehub ~ Tue ocau boy. Deautl1ul nOral
pillow, inscribed Rest, +" was placed at the
| head of the coffin, surrounded by other an
NJ TR,aa ' s.y.s, 1lioues' ,..e
Inv Ichahs resteo IN peauIilul casKct,
ana were Inferred at Forest Lawn. The
pall-bearers were Frank Haggerly George
n1