The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-06-02
MRs. BRIGGS, CLEnK.a !

boy, with little jacket, the sleeves og
which .erept half way up his arms, and
o hat that was nothing but brinl; and
when Bhe fifst saw him he was eating o
crust out Of tho gutter. She was only poor
old woman who kept little chop for
candy and trimmings ;a but "a she said,
he looked little Ike what her Tom
might. ifhe had grown up and been neg.
lecied, and she couldn't stand it. She
called.sto him:i t,
"Come here sonny !" and the boy came
Before she could speak again, he said:
II didn't do it. ain'tao mean"
"Didn'i do what ?" asked the old wo-
man.
"Break your winder," said the boy,
nodding toward sha!tered pane.
"Why, I broke that myself with my
shutter last night said the old woman.
I'm not strong enough TO lifE EN-, that's
the fact. I'm getting old.n
t'If1'm round when you shut up, I'll
como and do it for yon,T ne said. "I'd
just no soon. Whatwas thstyou wanted
me for?n
"I wanted to known what you ca. that
dry crust ont of the gutter for" said
she.
"IIungry ,,,aaid no. 'I've .rid TO get o
job oil day. I'm going TO sleep In che
alley over there when 1t gets too dark for
the policemen TO see; aud you can't
haze good nights sleep without
some supper, even Ii 1t 10 dirty"
"IIl give you souie that's cleaner,"
said the old woman,
aThat would heibeggipgsn said he.S
NO. said che, "you CAN sweep the
chop and the pavement, aud put up the
ehutters for if."
"very wsl,,n said be. 'iThankee, then.
If ! sWeep fup first i II feel better" -
Accordingly che brought him out o
broom, and he did his work we'll. Afts-.
ward he ate his supper with o relish.
That night he slept, not 10 the alley but
under tile old woman's counter"
He had told her his story. His name
was Dick ); he was twelve years old aud
ilis father, whom ho had never seen, was
in plison for life.
The antecedhnts were NOT elevntirg,
oIt the boy aeemt5 good. The next
mo;;nirg the old woman engaged o clerk
for her small estahlishment. The terms
were simple his "lisiug and q bed under
tho counssy.p
When the neighbors heard Of 10, they
were ahocked. A street boy "a boy no
one knewi DID Mrs. BriRga yoaily,yish
TO be murdered in her bed? Did Mrp,
Briggs feel quite safe2 She had 80 much
time now that abe waa ge:ng to take In
sewing. Dick attended 90 the ahop alto.
gether. He kepe.it Ia fine order, and
had increases khe biisinesa bysintToduu.
Ing candles, dates, etc. Pennies caple ih
% they never came In before eince he
had painted sigma In rad and blue fnk To
The effect thGk the real old niolasses can
dy was 70 he had there, and that was the
place fur peanuts. a!
And in the evening, after The shcp Was
shut up, she began 70 take him into her
confidence. Her great dream was to buy
hereelf -tnto4tE certain hohis for the
aged. 1t would coat hEf G hundred doi.i
inn. She had saved faree yaars, and had
fifteen of IL. But il cost so much to live
with tea ut twenty-five certs3 q quarter
and loayes go ANAL, and che had been
sick, aad there vas the doctor and hfre.
Jones Martha jane to be paid for tho
miuding her and the shop. Is After khie
Dick took the greatest interest in the
saeings, and the winter mouth, increased
than as though heshad brought q bless
ings :
4 One night in spring thSy took the bar
fromnDdsr the pillow, and cousteti what
IL held. e was thirty dollars.
"A Nd i'll begin to make kites tn-ynng4
row, Mia. Briggs, and you'll eea the Gus.
topn that 1t will bring"
You nrel q clever boy y0nraelf,n said
tho old woman, end pressed his hand.
lt was q plumper hand than 1t had
Jean. when it picked tho csnate fEosa tho
I gutter, and hgs wore clean, whole gar.
naents, though they s7ere very caaiass,
How wrong the neighbora were, q 5he
saiti; ,,:, THAT boy is tho cenfgft Of my
So che vent to bed With tie treasure
under her pillow and slept. Fer on In
the night she was awakened. The room
9Ma3 utterly dagk--there was q ray OF
l:gnl.-hnt che heard 2 stop on che floor.
w no II tIFatPH shscried.
Thefo wac no laiBsier, but she fSlt that
some one was leaning 1yes her bed.
Theh o hand elasred her throat and held
& her down, aud deagSea out ths hay az
money, Hild abe wss felsased. HALF auf-
located, she for q ni0lneut found iiaraeif
uaoti0nlesa and bSwildereS consclous
only Of airaught OF air from IN open
5Fs7yT, 7siu v5Il1 confused noises.
Then ahs spsaug 70 tho door ana hur-
: riet Into the shop. ~ 81
Dick Dick ~ she cried t'Dick i
Dick help woke up 1 PM robbed n, 3
tslt shere was no answer. ,Fhe .door.
s into the street was wide open, aud by the
moonlight that poured through itsaha
eytSgs asi ahe peeEsd undeg the counter.
that Dick'a bed lsgas empty. The boy vas
gone. 81.
Ono gomez Oh, that Wss worsa Is
POOR Granny BRIGGS than even che Ioss Of
slle none for q lie had trusted him, md
\ no bud deceived her. She had loved tirl
ana he had abused her love. The neIah-
beEs fEere right; sha lgnS q fool Ia trpat q
aETest bpss and bed bsAn served Tifghtly
Wheu hc bad robbed haE.
hon the Ci.Wn brnlI tho wise neifk-
+ boss came Into roor Gfsnny'e shop 70
s hfia her cggsnls M saaging "a and fyn /.
aud thes told her tliey had told her q.
y ard atia shook heI. bead. q The nl1cD toj
care 81 itdelf that day. Life had Iast re
! sinEefest Tor her, L1or pcoSna tlon Was
gona, 's ssillt not With her aTingS. Money
sfas bEe tfsauey, ftay ail. He had come
20 80 Tho only thing che lnsElj. aud llsiek
had enfl.l.sl her.
1k Wks ssB 9ecigcs Granny ake IS
lag By fliH empty hearth. Coed ns tilred
S.. ] JoNes Som tiF igs selss 10
thug and tFying 20 cheer her, chen
saddenlT thege waa a zap on tho door,
and 3 ptllteetn&n lo1Se ia.
aSgs. r he a. IT,
eFe she z aaid ails. joiies;
Z = s3orsl q saflEs "a 80 You 81 head
deaFraf euid The policsuiat. here's
I h6si i hnsi nnsl 81 iaoiiay.
2las ,,sl crsea e4fe 5Eisgs, Or, 4