Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-10-14
GaIes arro Sketfbes.
rae LITTLE SEwsBor.

woman" said to a brother journalist
who was furnishing a cold supper with me
lately, ~thst laundress who just went out.
shSr bIiDghg my clothes home from the
wash?''
Your definition is very good one -
replied my friend Dali. 'She looks fat, /,
comfortable and I should Judge, she
weighed 1s0 pounds. Is she widow ?"
Yes"
well, she's bonnie-looking. healthy.
kindly-looking woman. but | hope you
are not Bohemian enough TO have any idea
Of marrying her," replied my friend Dali.
laughed long and heartily. and then.
as the memories Of my first meeting with
nv honest old Iaundress came into my
mind, / became silent and thoughtful.
The further my memory went back In con-
nection with good Mrs. Merriam. the more
it was hedged with thorns. At last Dali.
seeing me musing, said:
"Old boy. your grog is untasted and
you're thinking about something painful.
I'm sorry If made a Joke that hurt you
let us change the subject. Are you going
TO see the small yachts race on Saturday"
MY dear Dali" / answered. "nost
emphatically shall refrain from witness
ing the lilliputian plungers cavort around
our bay on Saturday, and ! have to re-
mark in addition. that there is no necessi-
" To change the subject. But, if you will
hoist ND your interminable crural appen-
dages on to the table, and get outside Of
that grog and blow cloud. will tell you
the washerwoman' story"
.One act OF three % asked Dali. "be-
cause have to report meeting OF Peck
shifts, at s .. m, who are going 10 try the
sexton on charge of heresy-guilty OF
taking snuff and sneezing during the ben
ediction. I believe"
Dali Is nothing If not absurd but he
put his legs upon the table and retorted
Fire away old six-foot-ofmisery. and
make it short and did. But Dali is in
corrigible, and just as was beginning;
About four years ago" he Interrupted
with
"Say, drink your tOddy. | know this
yarn is an Internal lie. but if you swallow
about three ounces Of alcohol | have no
ticed. you always talk so much more
pleasantly"
So emptied my glass and commenced:
About four years ago, when ! was on
chatting with the herculean cashier, when
a tiny little boy. very much emaclated.
came in and bought ten papers at the regu-
lar newsboys' rates.
He must have disposed Of them very
quickly. for he came in again and again
until calculated that he must have dis /
posed Of at least fifty papers.
That's smart boy." | remarked to /
the easier: he must have made nearly a
dollar and half in the last halt hour"
Yes replied that official. thought
fully: "but sometimes have to trust him
for papers. There's something wrong
about him. See how thin he is. Guess
he's forced to sell papers. and has a father
who takes every cent away from him.
Shouldn't wonder. answered.
These little street fellow have tough
road to travel" And just as spoke,
heard the shrill. weak. little voice piping
outside the counter Ten more papers.
please"
LETT the Office Dali and went around to
saloon on Clay street to get a cocktail
before going home: but couldn't get the
idea Of that little newsboy out of my
head. and, although party of us were
chatting over the election. and a dozen
subjects interesting to newspaper men.
that the little boys face stood still in the
back ground of my minds reflections.
All of sudden. while we were laugh
ing at one of little Is jokes. heard |
the tiny voice and saw the boy again, with |
his lips all pinched and looking whittier
than ever.
This time | was determined to find out /
something about him.
lie was watching his opportunity and /
when he saw the barkeeper at leisure he |
pulled his coat timidly. and | heard /
him say; please. Alfred, give me glass
of water and cracker"
The kindly hearted barkceper. Dali. |
gave him some bread and cheese. some
with raspberry syrup in it, aud added
pitch in, little 'un. lIow's Your moth
er?"
Worse" was the little croak from the
bundle of bones. "but I'm bully. You bet
and sold titty-seven papers tonight and
took the money home. Bet your sweet
life mother was pleased. They're mighty
good" he chirruped. ''to me at the office.
and the cashier Civ me three extra papers.
Made dollar and forty cents tonight
We got coal and wood and meat and bread
for mother. Were hunky. SO long"
"Well. Dali. | stood pretrifed had
IUSV sci tue UritikS UP ivT tiit CTNNu--~i -
and here was this little fellow working
like q beaver. all skin and bone. for his
mother. and felt like brute
Broke you up, rs it Were" said Dali.
Made me esthetically weary" re-
piled.
"well, what did you do next9" queried
Dali.
II didn't do anything for several nights
but couldn't get the little begger out of
my mind. and one night cornered him.
He came up and asked me to huv paper.
and before he could run off AFTER getting
his FIVE cents. l said;
"Say. sonny, come and get cup of
coffee and something to eat /; ,nu look
hungry"
The little midget looked at me with his
bright. sunken eyes for a moment md
said:
Say. sir. you belong TO the newspa-
pers. and I've often seen YOU look kind at
me but dom . want no coffee nor nuffeu.
only can't sell no papers t'night, and if
ye'd like to gimme the price of the coffee,
| can use il better.
"How betterp" | asked. Mother, :"
gulped the boy. bet he Was Fraud
said Dali. Fraud7 Well. let me tell YOU
got TIT boy to take me np to where his
mothd lved, and she gave me the whole