Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-02-08
A Humble Philanfhronisf.


How that north wind whistled and
stung the other dayl 1t was the first
signal Of a long dreary winter, and
even men in o%yercoats turned sharp cor
ners to get on OF the biting blast. Two
children, a boy and girl, neither over
8 years old, stood shiyering in a door
way on Monroe avenue, wishing to 90
to their lowly home, but dreading the
wind. They crept closer and closer to
each other, and their chins quiyered and
their noses grew red as they grew colder.
I Hundreds of men and women passed up
and down without care, but by and bv
| along came a whistling. ioyial lad Of II
who vas swinging his bootblaek's kit
by . strap and picking up the steps of
some clog dance. lie saw the shiYeIing
bits Of humanity where others were
blind. and, hating before them with a
"'cligilgger-riggeI" Of his heels and a
toss Of his box. he called out:
kin | borrow them ere chins o.
yours ab0u "A hourP''
Yes, ma ann demurely replied the
girl.
Il Kin, eh?-hol no. That's a give
away on me- Be you chickens cold?'
lEcs MA GAA+ HAlt dilSM EItQd NtlIlr
"And that ere cub is your brother, l
'spose2 Well, when I'm cold | git
warm. What do YOU do-freze?''
Yes, ma am, if you please" she re-
piled.
III | please-ha! ha.-'nother give
away onme! Well, you autumn leaves
come along with me. ! hain't got no
influence on the weather, but | kin
smell a hot stove as fur off as the next
sinner in this town. Come right over
10 this store"
lie led the way across the street and
into an office where there was a fire.
lie had placed chairs for them, when
a man came in from a back room and
said:
"What do you children want here?'
want some of this waste hotness,''
bluntly replied the sinner. These ere
cubs is nigh froze todeath and drought
EN- here TO thaw out
And VIZ won't even look at YOU, nor
cough, nor sneezet' added the little girl
as she saw a frown on the mans face.
"Ihats richness; there's innocence!'
laughed the sinner, and the mans face
cleared, and he poked up the fire, and
said they could sit nearer.
"S5pose men you chip in and buy
en- somethin' TO stay their s~tomachs?''
suggested sinner, all of a sudden.
''Tell you what. some of the children
IN this town don't have q square meal
any more n youn me wear diamonds.
Little gal. are you hun9ry?'
Yes, ma'am, ifyou won't be mad at
US, She replied.
The mar stood irresolute. but sinner
went down into his pocket, ratified
around and said:
Heres 10 cents that says they're
hungry
oven, I'll give as much" replied
the man. "You go and buy something,
and tssuy can sit here and eat it."
Sinner bought crackers and cheese.
and the children ate until he felt obliged
to say:
'Now, you cubs, 90 a leetle bit slow
an! save the rest for supper. Kin ye
find The way home a%lone?"
ayes. ma'am."
and do you feel Us warm as later
bugs rolled up in wool?''
Yes, ma am."
'.Allrigbt then. We're dead TO rights
Obliged 10 this man, and I'll black his
boots beside. You'd better run along
lane now. What's We goin' to tell yer
ma.Eer?8
IN cell her we come awful near
going 70 heaven, and my little brother
he thanks Won too, and now wen 90,
and thank yen ma'am, ever SO many
times, good-byr'
"EI 3 T. 49, ~