The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-07
TON z.

Heard about little Tony?' asked Jake
Muggins, the bootblack
'Ya-a-s," was the slow reply, as
his companion drummed 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 iniine
backed. An he's got lame mother
and two little little sisters to git grub
for.'
ssS'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 sor' he repeated slowly; 'sbut
then, we amt smashed up by an injine
and made mincemeat of, and then car
ried home to the ones as we've helped,
and can't help no longer"
Howe he git hitp'' asked the second
boy, as he bent down to brush a eapa-
cious boot just then offered by gentle
man.
'.He was hit by the injine and knocked
clear across two tracks, and they said
his head was broke, N back broke; and
he's broke, guess, all over.n
s.Who's thatp' asked the gentleman,
looking at the boys from under bushy
eyebrows.
.'One of us fellers; Tony Reed. He
was a first-rate teller, too; good at a
shine, and 'ad knowed better days.
Folks liked him, and us fellers liked
| him, and he got lots ov chances; but
he's used upnow pretty bad. Last night,
| he was a-standin' on the railroad track,
and a mime Just backed ov a suddin,
| and it hit him and sent him a-fying,
and smashed him all up. I guess his
mother feels bad; and she's lame, any
way"
"Tony Reed! Tony Reedr' unused the
stranger. $50 that was his name, was
it? A fine little fellow, heyp Yes. Well,
| let me see. Can / trust you, boysP"
Trust us? Well, you just put us hin
the Bank of Hingland and guess We 4
know better than totouch a cent. /
| guess we would" and the little fellow
gave q chuckle.
Hes a English chap, he ISL said
Jake, the first boy, hitching at the trous-
ers; ssbut he's all right. Him and mel
| pardners," and with this rather dubious
| compliment, Jake attempted to stop q
seedy and shaky man, who had probably
been in the gutter to the extent of over
i shoes, at least.
s.Have a. shine, sir?''
s.rll make daylight shine through you
if yer don't le' me lone" was the tipsy
reply.
.sTony Reedr' unused the stranger
/ al remember the accident; read about
| it in the daily paper. One of you, you
say? A bootblack, eh?''
| Eyes, sir; and he's got a lame mother
/ onH ftxyr Iitflaff
! ..That will do replied the man. 'Tm
/ in a 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
.sThere, can't stop to count 1t, but
you carry that to the poor boys house
and give it to his mother"
sISll lott, SIR was the quick response
"Say, Jake, here's lift, eh?''
1T amt for u.s. said Jake, grayely.
ssWell, we can pay ourselves for car.
| ryin' it, can't wep'
mo we can't nuther; we're TO take
that money to Tony Reeds, and give il
/ to him, every cent"
II say / shall pay myself"
81 say yer shan TT and by this time
Jake fists were doubled up.
Here, odd yer at, yer fool; / was
only a-tryin' yer" said the pardner
/ with an amazing assumption OF dignity
I'm glad to see as you acquitted your
self as yer ought ter. Now s'pose we
| take the money!"
After few moments thought, Jake
/ said. ssI'Il tell yer what; let's see if we
| can't of the fellers to give some more
dimes for Tony and his mother
..All riohtrf and the two boys wen
| among 1.-The fellers'' from corner to cor
ner. and to their honor be it said hardly
a 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
/ might have been seen vending its way
| to the north part of the city, full of fun
/ talking and laughing, until they came
to the narrow street where Tony HveC
with his mother.
i Coarse though they were; of straDg'
| and varied experience; callous as to the
| finer sentiments of human nature gen
orally, not one of them spoke above /
whisper as they stopped at the house ane
grouped themselves about the door.
who'll go imp asked one and an
other.
..Let Jake go; Jake and his pardner. ,
said a tall fellow, kicking at misera
bly lean dog that was smiling about
4 ..You can tell 'em that we're all plagul
sorry, or somethin' like that, aud we III
put sonethin' TO clip Tony
..And tell Tony we're sorry as he go
knocked, - said another.
AN let's say as We'll stand by in
till he gifts up agen.n suggested still
another.
Eyes, we'll go an extra shine fer him
am sure could you have looked int