Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-04-13

the tipsy reply.
"Touy Reed !" unused the stranger
II remember the accident; read about
it in the daily paper. One Of you
you say? A bootblack, eh ?"
"Yes sir, and got lame moth
er and two little"
That will do, replied the man.
I'm IN a hurry, but here's some
change you can carly to Tony. Hon
or bright, now"
Honor bright responded the
"pardner." his eyes shining as the sill
yer pieces went into bis hand.
"There, l can't stop to count it,
but you can carry it to that poor boys
house and give it to his mother"
"Ill do it sir. wae the quick re.
sponse. Say, Jake, here's a lift,
eh ?"
1T amt for US, said Jake, grave.
ly.
well, We can pay ourselves for
carryin it, can't we?'
mo we can't nuther; we re to take
that money to Tony Reeds and give
it to him, every cent"
~ say I shall pay myself"
II say yer shan't," and BY this
time Jake fist Was doubled up.
Here, old yer ut yer fool; was
only a tryin' yer" said the pardner,
with an amazing consumption Of dig
nifty. I'm glad to see as you acquit
ted Yourself as yer ought ter. Now,
s'pose we take the monev?"
After lew moments thought, Jake
said, "Ill tell yer what; let's see II
we cant git the feIlsrs to give some
dimes for Tony and bis mother"
"All right and the two BOYS
went among "the fellsrs from corner
TO corner, aud to their honor be il
said ha,dly bootblack withheld his
mite, and some OF the little fellows
gave the whole price Of a "sblne.
Presently a molly procession of eight
or ten boys, straight and stopping,
slightly and unsightly, might have
been seen vending it's way to the
north part Of the citv. full Of fun,
talking and laughing, until thev. came
to the narrow street where Tony lived
with his mother.
Coarse though they were; Of strange
and varied experience; callous As to
the huer sentiments Of human nature
generally, not one of them spoke
above a whisper as they stopped at
the bouse and grouped themselves
about the door.
Who'll go in p asked one and an
other.
Let Jake 90; Jake and his pard
ner," said tall fellow, kicking at a
mserably lean dog that was smiling
about. "You can tell EN- that We re
All plagny sorry, or somethin like
that an we all put in somethin te
'elp Tony"
And tell Tony we're sorry as he
got knocked, said another.
IAN let's say we'll stand by hin
till he gifts up agen," suggested still
another. ,
Eyes, we'll 60 an extra shine fel
him"
am sure could you have looked
into those common boyish faces. 20,
would have seen something ther'
which was not Of self or even of th
world, These boys knew what tn
value of one penny was. They earn
ed their bread by making pennies ii
season and out Of season. They wer
what men on the street would call
hard lot. But they had hearts, an
; their hearts, at this time, at least
=. were in the right place.
A moment more and Jake and bi
pardner were lost to them and wer
slowly ascending the rickety steps.
mercy sakes t. cried an aged cron
> as the two bows entered the room i
which she was and looked around.
They saw a croucbing figure at tn
! 6re-a thin, cheerless fire it was
They saw two pretty, pale faced llttl
! girls sobbing in each others arms.
. And they saw something else.
board stretched across two chairs, an
: figure that did not stir, under
I white cloth.