Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-01-18
TANI's TEMPTATION.

It was getting on towards uuSk, ANA
Tim Drake, with his blacklngbox swung
over his shoulder, stood on the corner
of Courtland Street and Broadway,
eagerly Watching the passers-by, and
shouting almost continually, "Shine,
slr-shine?" while at the same time he
pointed down at the shoes OF those
gentlemen that Tim thought needed
that attention.
Mr.. Robert Montague, banker of No.
Wall Street was on his way to the
elevated station at Courtland Street, to
be carried to his elegant residence III
one of the fashionable streets up town,
when upon reaching the corner he met
| Tim, who instantly rushed forward,
and, pointing down to Mr.. Montagues
rather muddy cloth top shoes, again
shouted the repeated cry. "Shine, sir?
| Have sinner"
The banker paused before the boy,
glancing down at his own feet. and
then at the bright eyes and dirty tace
of the bootblack, who had already sunk
upon his knees and was prepare for
work,
WELL" he said finally. ''you can
shine them if you'll hurry about it.
Tim did not wait for second invita-
ton, but, turning mp the bottom of his
customers pants, so as not TO soil them
with his blacking, he went straight to
his task.
It was not long before the job was
finished, and jumping up FROM the
ground, Tim stood waiting for his pay.
| Mr.. Montague put his hant into his
trousers pocket, and drew out handful
of coins. Selecting three he dropped
them into the outstretched palm of the
bootblack, saying as he did so:
A three and two pennies; that's right,
| isn't it?''
"Yes, sir, that's correct" replied
| Tim, as his late customer hurried>away.
81 think I'll buy little Jack an orange
with that five, said Tim to himself as
he walked over to stand on the oppo
site side of the way; for Tim had a little
cripple brother, Jack, the only relation
he knew of in the world; and often,
after hard days work, when he made
his way up town to the small room of
the tenement which he called home, he
carried some small delicacy to this little
boy, though he sometimes had to scrimp
himself to do it.
While Tim was, away down town,
little Jack employed himself with a
box OF cheap paints that Tim had pro-
cured for him to make the weary hours
pass more quickly.
Tim selected the orange that he
thought looked most juicy and inviting,
then taking the three coins from his
mouth, where he had deposited them,
glancing at them as one might look at
a very casual acquaintance before he let
them go.
In the glare of the oil lamp that lit
up the stand he saw that one of the
coins he had taken for cent was not
q cent at all.
"By hooky!' he exclaimed, opening
his mouth wide in astonishment. If
that ere gent didn't go and make a
mistake; why, one OF these cents amt
cent-it's u two dollar and half gold
piece!"
A thousand different thoughts flashed
through the boctblack's mind as to
what he should do with the money.
What lot of things it would buy
him! He could get little Jack bigger
box of paints and even drawing book,
too.
But then small voice within him
whispered;
'It doesn't belong to you, and you
have no right to it,"
Then still another voice said: Eyes,
you have, too, for how do you know
where the gentleman who gave it to
you lives?"
1t was puzzling question, and Tim
concluded, after a minutes thought,
that whatever he would do by and by
he would not spend it just now.
So putting .he gold piece into an
inner pocket, and taking nickel from
among his earnings OF that day, he paid
for the orange and walked briskly up
town.
| A week passed, aud Tim still had the
gold piece.
He had hung around the corner of
Courtland Street every afternoon, half
hoping and half fearing that he might
see hls customer, but the gentleman had
not yet appeared.
On this particular day Tim had ex-
perienced very poor luck.
1twas a fine day; people did not seem
to want their boots blacked, and Tim