The Hickman courier., 1881-03-18
WIS. RKIGG'S CLERIk.

/ He was a tall, thin, starved-looking
/ boy, with little jacket, the sleeves of
/ which crept half way up his arms, and a
/ hat that was nothing but a brim; and
| wheH she first saw him he was eating
/ crus. out Of the gutter. She was only a
poor old woman who kept a little shop
/ for candy and trimmings; but as she
said. he looked a little hike what her Tom
might. if he had grown up and been
neglected. aud she cOuldnt stand it.
She called to him;
Come here, sonny.
And the boy came Before she could
speat again he said:
II didn't do it. 1 amt so mean.
Didn't do what p said the old wo-
man.
Break your winder," said the boy,
nodding toward a shattered pane.
why, I broke that myself with my
shutter, last night. said the old woman.
: I IA act slltsns enough tolIft en- that's
the fact. Tn getting old.
IF I'm round when you shut up, I'll
come and do IT for YOU, said the boy.
I'D Just as soon. What was that you
wanted me for p
Il wanted to know what you ate that
dry crust of bread out of the gutter for,
said she.
Hungry. said he; Eve tried to get
a job all day. I'm going to sleep in an
area over there when it gets too dark for
a policeman to see; and you can't have a
good nights sleep without some supper,
even if it Is dirty
"I'n give you some that's cleaner,
said the old woman.
"That viii be begging" said he.
~ i.
shop and the pavement and put up the
shutters for it.
every well, said he. "Thankee,
then If l sweep up first I'll feel better. "
Accordingly she brought him ont
broom. and he did his work well. After
ward he ate his supper with q 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 twelve years old, and
his father. whom he had never seen, was
in prison for life
The anteccdents were not elevating;
but the boy seemed good. The next
morning the old woman engaged a clerk
for her small establishment. The terms
we're simple-his living and bed un-
der 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 bed? She had so
much time now that she was going to
take in sewing Dick attended to the
shop altogether. He kept 1t in fine or
der. and had increased the business by
Introducing candies, dates, etc. 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 had there, and
that this was the place for peanuts.
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 a hundred dollars. She
had saved three years, and had fifteen of
1t. 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
Martha Jane to be paid for minding her
and the shop. After this Dick took the
greatest interest III the savings, and the
winter months increased them as though
he had brought n blessing.
One night in spring they took the bag
- uuutI Ilt luipW, duu tplubtu Nudt
1t held. it was thirty dollars.
And I'll begin to make kites to-mor
row, Mrs. Briggs, and you'll see the Gus
tom that it will bring.
], You are clever boy yourself said
the Old woman, and pressed his hand.
1t was a plumper hand than it had been
"hen 1t picked the crusts from the gut
Ter and he wore clean, whole garments,
though they were very course.
How wrong the neighbors were, p"
she said. THAT boy is the comfort of
my life .
80 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
hght-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.
Ihen hand clasped her throat and held
her down, and dragged out the bag of
money, and she was released. Half sui
located, she for moment found herself
nlouonless and bewildered, conscious
only of draught of air from an open
door and some confused noises.
Then she sprang to the door and hur-
rled INTO the shop
Dick, Dickl'' she cried. tDick,
LICK! helpl wake up I'm robbedI'