The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-04-29
TONY

NuggluS, lllc DuOlDluck,
'Ya-a-s," was the slow reply, as
his companion drummed a tune on the
lamp-post mo business to be a-sneak-
in round thar"
"Why, twas his regular beat He's
cleared s'much's a dollar there some
days. 'Twarnt his fault that the mime
backed, An he's got lame mother
and two little little sisters to git grub
for"
"S'posin' he has. There's other fell
lers that's got plenty of that kinder
work." said the other roughly
That's So" was the response, as Jake
hitched up his much patched trousers
That's SOP he repeated slowly; "but
then, we amt smashed up by an milne
and made mincemeat of, and then car
ried home TO the ones as we've helped,
and can't help no longer"
How'd he git hitg" asked the second
boy, as he bent down to brush q capa-
cious boot just then offered b~N gentle
man.
'IIe was hit by the milne and knocked
clear across two tracks, and they said
his head was broke, N back broke; and
he's broke, guess, all over"
who's thatp' asked the gentleman,
looking at the boys from under bushy
eyebrows.
zone of us fellers; Tony Reed. He
was first-rate Teller, too; good at a
shine, and 'ad knowed better days.
Folks liked him, and us fchcrs liked
him, and he got lots ov chances; but
he's used upnow pretty bad. LaStnight,
he was a-standin' on the railroad track,
and injine just backed ov a suddin,
and it hit him and sent him a-fying,
and smashed him all up. guess his
mother feels bad; and she's lame, any
way"
Ebony Reed! Tony Reedn mused the
stranger. 80 that was his name was
itP A fine little fellow, hey? Yes. Well
let me see, Can trust you, boysP"
"Trust usp Well you justput us hin
the Bank of Hingland and guess we'd
know better than to touch cent. |
guess we would" and the little fellow
gave chuckle.
"He's a English chap, he is" said
Jake, the first boy htching at the trous-
ers; ''but he's all right. Him and mes
pardners," and with this rather dubious
compliment, Jake attempted to stop
seedy and shaky man, who had probably
been in the gutter TO the extent of over
shoes, at least.
"Have q shine, sir?''
"rllmake daylight shine through you,
if yer don't To- me lone" was the tipsy
reply.
"Tony Reedr' unused the stranger.
81 remember the accident; read about
it in the daily paper One of you, you
sayP A bootblack, eh?'
Eyes, sir; and he's got lame mother
and two little'-
THAT will do" replied the man. "pm
in hurry, but here's some change you
can carry to Tony. Honor bright, now"
Honor bright" responded the "pard-
ner," his eyes shining as the silver
pieces went into his hand
"There, | can't stop to count it, but
you carry that to the poor boys house
and give it to his MOTHER
"Pll doit, sir, was the quick response.
"Say, Jake, here's lift, ehP"
at amt for us, said Jake, gravely
"Well, we can pay ourselves for car
ryin' it, can't weP'
"No we can't nuther; we're to take
that money 10 Tony Reeds, and give it
TO him, every cent"
~ say shall pay myself"
II say yer shan'tr' and by this time,
Jake's fists were doubled up
Here, old yer at yer fool; I was
only a-tryin' yer" said the pardner,
with an amazing assumption of dignity,
'Tm glad to see as you acquitted your
self as yer ought ter, Now spose we
take the money!"
After few moments thought, Jake
said, "l'll tell yer what; let's soc if we
can't git the fellers to give some more
dimes for Tony and his mother"
"All right" and the two boys went
among 'the fellers" from corner to cor
ner, and TO their honor DO it said hardly
bootblack withheld his mite and some
of the little fellows gave the whole price
of "shine." Presently motley pro-
cession of eight or ten boys, straight
and STOPPING, slightly and unsightly,
hiBuh nuNt DtCi OtCu WHINING no WY
TO the north part of the city, full Of fun,
talking and laughing, until they came
To the narrow street where Tony lived
with his mother.
Coarse though they were; of strange
and varied experience; callous as to the
finer sentiments of human nature gen
orally, not one of them spoke above a
whisper as they stopped at the house and
grouped themselves about the door.
who'll go imp" asked one and an.
other.
LET Jake 90; Jake and his pardner,"
said a tall fellow, kicking at miscra.
bly, lean dog that was smiling about
''You can tell em that we're all plagu,
sorry, OF somethin' like that, and we al
put somethin' to clip Tony
"And tell Tony we're sorry as lie got
Knocked" said another.
"An' let's say as wen stand by 'u
till he gifts up agep," suggested still
another
Eyes, we'll 90 an extra shine fer him '
lam sure could you have looked int
those common boyish faces, you woult
have seen something there which wa
not OF self, or even Of this world Thes,
boys knew what the value of one penn,