The Red Cloud chief., 1883-07-06
JOE.

doe n j are -rrdi ifsrhb- ~ oSt
xnow how our irisni,hip Fam. about.
nor. indeed. do I know ju.; when Ne
frs; became acquainted w were both
n.w,boy.. he > little Que q a dozen
I years. and | 81 twenty summers" n.
the ~story-books .ay. lie sold nrws-
papers and I helped to~ri,- the rrport.
that 60 into them. q frs and partir-
and sermons aud cirrus-s and all a. the
queer things tina; happen in this queer
world o. ours.
Joe and ! often met. He wss an act
i've little fellow. and -srmcd 10 b.
everyw here with hi, bundle u papers.
always calling nj the top Of his sturdy
little voice: "Mornin' papcrs' later
DEAN. Times. 7ribtHe and Sfrsr' lie
sold them all. and though he had hi.
regular beat and regular customers
At certain hour II the day. he seemed
Ia find a great many odds and end. Of
time. when he could dart OF and sell a
few extra copies around tn. depo;s ar
in front II the hotels when people were
coming down in the omnlbuses and ear
riages for the early morning trains.
What first attracted me TO him do not
nj INV" hfI' WIZ u'&f w
ncwsboys on the STREETS who seemed To
be as energetic a he. and numbers who
were better booking; for. truth 10 tell.
Joe is far from handsome. But his big
gray eyes were SD bright and happy.
aud he had such n %jaunty. PRETTY way
Of doiling his hat that one quite
forgot that il was ragged. al that
the eyes which shone forth 81 bravery
were almos, the only handsome feature
Of the rugged. boyish face. A. ] said.
we met often. ] became one of Joe>
regular customers and was much
laughed at for carrying Goals into
Newcastle" rs l came into our news
paper Office every day with a bundle 81
dailies under my arm. Joe sold the
evening papers. too. and, IN my recon-
mendaiion, applied for and go, the task
OF bringing up the extra papers which
were desired by the men in our Office.
They all had = kind word for him when
he came in Of an evening. hut Joe was
loyal To me. and though our acqua'n,-
ance did not for n long tine progress
much beyond our good morning
and goodnight, ! came Ia feel a sort
81 proprieiorship in the hoy. ! fell TO
saving up my odd pennies in an I'M
usually economical way. Joe's thin
M and worn brecches appealed to nv
seli-dcnial in an unaccu>tomed way,
but n way that | am sure VAS good for
me. Ii is always good for any human
heart to feel care for anothcr's welfare.
and | am not sure il il not n sign 81
growth when we begin To love to do for
other people. But b. sure ! did not
think much Of all this at that time. |
helped Joe because I liked him. l
whecdled him into the %tailur's after
some coaNing. and On Christmas day !
gave him a fine new suit. lie wa very
much pleased. but Ia my great surprise
resolutely refused ~ take the clothes "a
a gift.
You must tell me how much they
cost" said he. land let me pay the
money back To You rs Dor A. ] a !
need the clothes. and | would have
bought them myself. only / had to give
all the money / had saved to" He
stopped short with his face as red ~
fire.
TO whom. Joe?" I said. kindly.
He burst into tear, and put his head
down on my table. for we were alone
in nv Office ut the time.
He cried for about a minute. big sobs
which shook him all over. There.
SIR" said:hc. suddenly Strengthening up,
IL won't be a baby anv more. Don { re-
member crying before since l really was
a baby" and he brushed his sleeve across
his face. We'll, | won't bother YOU
a. al L.. ..l
know you'll let me pay for them. sir?'
half inquiringly.
why. YES. II YOU want TO. but don't
be in a hurry. Next year will do nice
~. The whole suit was only ten dol
lars. any way"
Ten dollars. D. DEAR and Joe's
faced looked for q minute as though il
would not be very hard work to burs,
into tears again.
Indeed. l cant afford it," he began.
when ! interrupted. taking him by the
collar and shaking him around.
"Now stop your nonsense. you young
scamp. I'll give you till you're twenty
one t. pay me the money. and I'm not
afraid to ~prophesy that you'll he rich
enough II make me quantities Of presents
before that time. and I'll take them fast
enough. won't make any such silly
fuss. l promise YOU
So Joe took the clothes and went
away. leaving me- to wonder q little
about his life and his history. He had
been very rticenf, and some |
way I had always hesitated about ask
ing him. He seemed tn command the
same delicacy Of treatment that one
exercises only toward an older
man.
Not long after I saw Joe in his home.
II was = bitter winter night and I vas
sent by my Office over into one II the
poorest wards of the city to inquire into
the particulars Of . ease of ~wife-besting
had been reported At police
headquarters rs one Of peculiar Sc
To my surprise. in answer TO my rap
the door vas opened by Joe. He seized
hand and drew me inside.
20. ] thought you would come" he
cried What Al we do for herr
and with Joe still leading me. I went
into the miserable where his poor