The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-04-21

anu, pauSlng long enough 10 make
shirt-cuff note on the fearful increase OF
crime among children, he, too, went of
shaking his head.
And then another millionaire CHANGED
by. One of those continually haunted
by fear Of being themselves left In
poverty and want some Gay, despite
their present wealth. And so this one
clutched his purse tighter than ever,
and gave way to a couple of giggling
women, who were the next Corners.
Does not some writer say that sweet
charity and holy piety dwell always in
woman's gentle breast ? But these were
San Francisco women Of the period, and
30 they Uttered with one breath "What
a horrible little brat and then minced
on toward the matinee.
Meanwhile the brisk merchant first
mentioned walked rapidly up Market
| street, like a man every moment OF
whose time meant coin. But when he
had proceeded about three squares his
| pace, for some reason, seemed to grow
slower and slower, and from time to
time he jerked his lad impatientlY and
said Pshawl'' indignantly to himself, as
though he was engaged in combating
some unwelcome mental impulse that
persisted In presenting itself to his con-
sideration.
The fact was, this brusque, impera-
| tive man of trade was troubled with
most uncommon and annoying affection
of the heart, called humanity. It was
so unnatural and singular disease for
grown man to possess nowadays, that
the merchant was very properly ashamed
OF it not only that, but it seemed this
was an hereditary affection that per-
severed in making itself felt, and impel-
ling its possessor to do all sorts of in
consistent things in the most absurd
manner possible. Left to himself the
merchant was wealthy, respectable, 3
man of influence, and a church mem
Der. In fact, he possessed all the nec-
essary qualifications for being selfish,
uncharitable, self-centered and inhuman,
and it irritated him to the last degree.
Just when he was about, for instance, to
initiate his wealthy neighbors and evade
subscribing to some charity or perpe-
trating any otner kind action, to have
this little Unborn imp of humanity act
ually torment him into doing the very
thing his worldly training taught him
most to avoid.
He had noticed, too, that this disease
though it is not AN epidemic, the
reader will understand always affected
him most when most happy and con-
tented himself, and as he was in more
than usually serene mood just then he
was annoyed but not surprised to hear q
familiar little voice in his breast say, and
keep saying
Remember the loving little child
you kissed when you left home Just
now. Suppose it were sitting there, in
stead Of that wretched little waif,
crushed and despairing. Come, stop
thinking of how your neighbor Jones
would act, but go back and see if you
can not do a little something for the
boy"
AS we have said, he fought against
this ridiculous impulse for time, but it
ended in his turning at last and retrac--
ing his steps with that sort of half-in-
| iured, half-shamefaced expression many
men put on when they set about
good action, for some as yet unsolved
| reason.
"What's your name?" he grutfly
asked of the child, who by this time had
been pitched upon the seat of the wag
on, which was about ready to start.
"Snub, replied the small hoodIum,
eylng his interrogation a moment in
sort of despairing stupor. The house of
correction for six months, which he knew
was the Fate that awaited him, was more
much more-to his kind than the
mere disgrace and punishment. It
meant in addition just what bankruptcy
and ruin does to the business man. Long
before his release the particular street
corner on which he sold his papers, and
the sole an I equitable night to occupy
which he had defended from his fellow
merchants at the expense of many
gamely fought battle and bloody nose,
would be gone forever.
"Snub what?" said the merchant.
"Walker, or suthin' like that" re-
piled the grimy midget, after moment
of attempted recollection. "The boys
call me onny Snub, that's ALL"
"Why?"
He shook his head in answer, although
the shape Of his ininitesimal nose sup
piled the necessary information.
Where's your mother p
"Gone dead"
"When?"
"Dunno-long time-'fore dad rpn
away"
"Away where ?"
"Ter sea"
"And so you shift for yourself and sell
papers? Hum. Why do they call you
wharf rat ?"
dunno. amt no rat" said the
red-headed pigmy, explanitorily, and
somewhat warmed into show of inter-
est by the more-kindly voice of the
stranger.
"Well, no; you are hardly big enough
for rat, laughed the other. You're
more like mouse, and so I'll give you
crumb."
And as just then the wagon started,
the merchant stepped into cab and
told the driver to hasten to the City
Hall, and be devilish quick about it, as
he was missing an engagement at the
Merchants Exchange. As for "Snub, !"
| u0 WdtCH6u OHo queer gentleman out OF
sight with kind of apathetic curiosity.
The rat had been soinured to chatting"
and other branches of popular street
amusement, and so used to ridicule on
account of his puny frame and bristly
red hair, that it did not surprise him to
see this gentleman go off, like every one
else, in spite of his steady eyes and clear
voice. For "Snub" didn't clearly re-
member to have ever heard kind voice
before, in the whole course of his brief
career. He was still musing over the
novelty when the wagon turned down
into. Merchant street, and the shadow of
the Jail again fell over his benumbed
little soul.
But the MI ; with tAe kind 'oice was
there before him, chatting affably with
the Captain in charge.
Chow much will the malefactor's
forfeit bail come TOP" he asked, as the
exposure charge was booked.
"Ten dollars" said the clerk, with q
grin.
II an angel from heaven had risen out
of the floor to slow music and offered
"Snub" whole pot-pie at once, after
two days fasting from bad business,