Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-11-24
Tips Thanksgiving.

SIdSS pflSOu, duU Will Iue Wiuu IdC-
ing and shrieking wildly along the
telegraph wires. There was snow,
too-tiny, whirling flakes. that felt
like needles when they touched your
face or hands. Even the great,
gloomy, dirt begrimed warehouses
seemed to shiver and crouch beneath
the fury of the cruel north wind.
''Shine shine shine 'em up for a
nickel!'' Tips shrill, boyish voice
rose above the shrieking of the wind,
and his round face, made rosy and
glowing by the nipping of the wind
and snow flakes, shone from behind
the folds of his ragged red "com-
forter."
s'Whew !" gasped Tip, as a sud-
den gust of wind almost forced him
to make an impromptu seat of the
hard pavement, "what day! Wish't
/ was to home, Even Granny Ma
carthy's old shanty is better'n moth
INK. I don't see why they call this
Thanksgiving day. | hain't got
nothink to be thankful to anybody
for, as l knows on, less tits this jol-
ly warm comforter round my neck"
TIP didn't stop to think. | am
sure; if he had considered moment
he would have found many other
things to be thankful for.
"Granny must "a had streak O
luck when she ga me this comforter.
Jest as good as new, only a little
holey. P'r'aps Jed made a big haul
yesterday. Ugh! l wouldn't 60 8
pocket pickin' for a forchin. Sh'd
think Jed O'Neale d lay awake al
night a-thinkin' bout what he's beer
a-doin'. Stealin' may pay better'r
blackin' boots, but wouldn't do i
for Granny Mccarthy er anybody
else
''Shine, sir? Only nickel - as ;
fat figure, all muffled up in shagg,
ulster and a seal skin cap, came puff
ing and blowing around the corner.
"Oh, 60 long boy!' said the ia
figure, irately. "Do you think Tn
going to stand here and freeze t.
death in order to get my boots pol
ished?'
''Thought you might want res
right here" said Tip, very meekly
though his bright blue eyes wer
twinkling merrily.
With an unintelligible snort the ia
figure puffed on again.
s'Only two shines to-day" though
Tip disconsolately, San it's pas
noon. l thought I'd have dinner il
style, to-day, with turkey an choC
late an puddin' an so forth, but te
cents won't buy it. Ten cents eXtry
now, would jest do it. Heigh-ho
} why wasn't born a swell banker, o
) else be-yutiful bankers daughter
with goldln' hair an laughin' eyes?
Then another figure in an ulste
and seal skin cap came by. Thi
gentleman wasn't short and fat, bu
tall and graceful. He was just oI
) posite Tip, when his foot slipped o
the treacherous pavement and dow
he went with dull thump.
l I'm ever so glad to say that I'll
didn't laugh. If he had laughed
I'm afraid I'd have been so ashame
of my hero that I would have LEI
this little story all untold. Most boy
would have laughed, but Tips fac
was as grave as judges, as h
limped over-Tlp was lame you mus
know-and proceeded to help tn
gentleman to his feet.
ga very bad fall that" said Til
with solicltude. "Hope you didn
break no bones, sir?''
ooh, l guess not, thank you,
said Mr.. John Branch, rubbing hi
bruises tenderly. "Don't you war
; to blacken my boots, boy?"
''Course, sir" began Tip, bright
+ ly; 'but," obviously, "your boot
, don't seem to need shinin'''
''I think they do need shining,
said Mr.. Branch, with quiet decision
) funny laugh in the jolly brow
eyes.
So Tip set to work with a will, an
in less than a minute Mr.. Branch
boots were like twinkling mirrors.
"Whew! l bet that fellows rich,
thought delighted Tip, as he pocke
ed the quarter of dollar Mr.. Branc
insisted on his taking. s'P'raps he
too proud to carry small change
his pockets. You don't catch m
bein's proud as all that! Pennie
airs goods dollars, if you've g
plenty of 'em. An now for til
| swellest restaurang in town! Oh
cricky, that fellows lost his pocke
book, snre's guns p making a div
for the pavement.
"Hi, hi, there !' shrieked Til
shrilly, "come back an get yot
j" property! Say-y mister!'' and Ii
/ FASTENED after Mr.. Branch as fast
t his lame leg would permit.
"Wish he'd take his cap often h
. ears minute painted Tip to hin
self, as Mr.. Branch never turned b
/? head, s.so's he could hear. Cricky
# what steps he takes! There-he
q stopped at last, an at the swelle
house in the street, ] do believe"
AS Tip paused to take breath. M