Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-11-24

| round; ana we asked IN some places II
they wanted hoy, but nobody seemed
to want any boys. We went into park
to eat all we had left of the lunch we'd
brought from home.
"Be of thcre-you rascalsl" some
one shouted, and the first thing we knew
big policeman was hustling us out,
and telling us If we ever set foot there
again we'd be locked up.
"All for going on the grass!
a. There's lots o. grass to home,'
whimpered Ned. Ned was smallcr'n
me and Bill. Lets go home, l sayr
"We laughed at him, but not very
hard. Bill said he was going to start
for the plains tomorrow, going to work
his way out somehow. We went back
to Tom Bly, and asked him if he knew
where we could sleep, and he s'posed
they'd take us in where he slept, If we
had any money.
ave all thought it would be very
grand to put up at city hotel, but II
wasn't. There wasn't half enough
supper. and the beds were awfully
crowded up in one room. In the morn
ing man came along and said we were
to pay thirty cents each for our supper
and our beds.
"Me and Ned had given Bfil our
money TO take care of. all but few
cents, because he was the biggest. And
now he felt in his pockets and it was
gone! He felt and felt, and then he
hollered out:
1--we been robbed! Thieves!'
"Thc man sworc mt him, and asked
him if he meant he d been robbed there,
lie took all the money me and Ned had.
and then he gave Bill kick and told
him to be off.
"Tom Bly, gave us lot of crackers
at his store, and said we'd better 60
home. But was too much ashamed,
and thought I'd try yet to get work.
walked till was footsore, and all the
work found was carrying parcel, and
got ten cents for it and bought loaf
of bread. Bill said he was going to the
depot to 90 West. Ned went with him,
and when night camo waited till it was
dark, and then l sneaked into n pretty
yard where there was trees, and crawled
into hammock there and fell asleep.
81 woke very early, and saw gen.
tleman in the yard looking at me. I
was afraid he was going to have me
taken up for going on his grass, and
| jumped up. The hammock stuck to one
of my buttons, and / didn't wait, but
tore away from it and ran away without
my hat. The gentleman called me to
stop, but jumped over the fence and
ran as hard as could n great way, till l
was clear out of breath.
"When stopped to see where was,
n boy came rushing up to me and says
he: "Isn't this your pocket-bookp p'
Then he ran away. l thought at first
it might % been mine that was stolen,
but in second l saw 'twasn't, and
hollered after him to tell him. But he
didn't stop, and while was looking at
it and seeing twas q very handsome
one, two men ran up and took hold OF
my arms. l says:
"'You le' 60 me, now!
"But they says: Come along. my
fine fellow and they snatched the
pocket-book and went to hauling me
along. There was q crowd round mt
in minute. / kicked and fought a
'cm, but they held me tight. and they
slipped some iron things on my wrists
and there l was-jerked along tha
way, and big lot of boys hollerine
after me! They took me into a grea
building and locked me up. and
didn't know what twas for more'n tn,
dead
j 81 lay down in corner and won
! dered if I'd ever get out, and if L,
ever see home again. wondered wha
mother'd say if she could see me.
wondered what they We're doing on tht
farm. After great while they tool
me out.
"'Where you going to take meP'
said.
" Before the magistrate
Then folks came and told how las
night I'd stole pocket-book from s
lady, and they'd been tracking me evei
= since, and just found me with the
pocket-book in my hands. / broke
right out. and told how the fellow {
given it to me, but they made me stol
till they'd examined lot O. witnesses
and they all said I'd stole it. Ther
they let NE tell how I'd slept all nigh
somewhere else, but they wanted me
to bring some one to say if it was so
and wouldn't believe me when | told
'em it was the solemn truth. just ther
saw the gentleman standing in the
door that had seen me in his hammock
hoped he wouldn't see me, for was
afraid he'd come to see about getting
NE punished. But he did see me, anC
came up to me. He took a button ou
of his pocket, and laid it against my
coat. 1t had a bit of the coat hanging
to it that had tore out when jumped
from the hammock, and it just fitted in
"'This boy was in my grounds al
night he says. i was up preparing
important papers, and waiting for te.e
I hin, pnvaro1
"They asked him some more ques
tions, and then the magistrate says
The prisoner is discharged
"The gentleman took my arm, ant
led me out. says to him:
".rll never do it again, sir. Wha
yon going to do to meP' He laughed
and says:
"Haven't you got astray, my boy?
al thought had tho worst way
you'd better believe! And told him so
and told him all about it and h,
thought I'd better go home. I'd gvcl
my eyes to get there that moment, bu
hated to tell him ] had no money t,
go on, SO told him as / d come I'd lik,
to try doing. something, if | had
chance. He took long look at me
and said perhaps that would be tn,
best, and said he'd write to my father
"He was q real good friend to me
He talked lots to me, and got me
situation. They told me they neve
paid much to green hands. slept I'M
der counter, and got enough to pay m.
board and a little over. i ran errands
and swept and scrubbed floors, ant
worked harder'n ever I'd done in m,
life. My clothes got shabby, but
saved up every cent.
"And on Thanksgiving-day got
holiday, and then told the boss / ha,
no taste for the city. And ! took tn
, early train for home.
"As l got off the cars 10 walk home
train came in from the other way, and
! saw a lanky-looking chap get on.
, didn't know him at first, and then say
, it was Bill.