The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-01-09
TINS TEMPTATION.

TINS TEMPTATION.
It was getting on towards dusk, and
Tim Drake, with his blacklng- box swung
over his shoulder, stood on the corner
Of Oourtland Street aud Broadway,
eagerly Watching tho passers- by, and
shouting almost continually, 'Shine,
slr-shinep" 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 resi- zee in
ono of the fashionable streets up town,
when upon reaching the corner he met
lin, who instantly rushed forward,
md, pointing down to Mr.. Montague's
rather muddy oloth top shoes, again
shouted the repeated cry. "Shlno, sir?
Have sinner"
The banker paused before the boy,
Slanoing down at his own feet. and
then at the br' ht eyes and dirty face
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 up the bottom Of his
customers pants, SO Us not to soil them
with his blaoking, he went straight to
his task.
1T wns not long hefe.e tha job was
hnisbed, ana Jumping up FROM the
3iound, Tim stood waitlug Tor MS pay.
MIR. Montague put his han into his
trousers pocket, and drew out q handful
uf coins., Selecting three he dropped
them into the outstretohed palm OF the
bootblack, saying rs he did so:
A three and two pennies; that's right,
isn't it?''
eyes, sir, that's correct" replied
lin, as his late customer hurried away.
'I think I'll buy little Jack an orange
with that Ave." said Tim to himself as
he walked over tu stand on the oppo-
site side of the way; for Tim had a little
cripple brother, jack, the only relation
he knew Of III tho 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 delicaoy to this little
boy, though he sometimes had to sorimp
himself to do it.
While Tim was away down town,
little Jack employed himself with O
box Of cheap paints that Tim had pro.
cured for him to make tho weary hours
pass moro quickly.
Tim selected the orange that he
thought looked most juicy and inviting,
then taking the three coins from lbs
mouth, whero he had deposited 'nem.
glan"ing at them as one msa6 LOOK az
Il very casual acquainta"1e oe1ore ne 1et
them 60. :, -,
ND the sts"u he saw that one OF the
ooipa ~ Ind taken for cent was not
. c>lt at all.
""By hookyl' he exclaimed, opening
his mouth wide in astonishment. If
that 'erc gent didn't go and make
mistake; why, one OF these cents ain't
pieceW
A thousand different thoughts flashed
through the boctblack's mind as to
what he should do with the money.
What q lot of things it would buy
liml He could got little Jack bigger
box Of paints and even drawing book,
BOO.
l>s
whispered;
''It doesn't belong to you, and you
have no right to it, '.''
Then stll another voice said: Eyes,
you have, too, for how do You know
where the gentleman who gave 1t TO
you lives2" . fy, .. .
1t was puzzling question, and Tim
concluded, after O minutes thought,
that whatever he would do by and by
he would not spend it just now.
So putting The gold pieoe 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.
Ho had hung around tho corner of
Oourtland Street every afternoon, half
hoping and half fearing that ho might
SEQ his customer, but the gentleman had
not yet appeared. s
Ca this pnrtieular day Tim had ex-
perianced very poor luck.
ltwas q Ans day, people did MOI aeem
to want their boots blaoksd, and Tim