The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-13
" Patsy Trib."

"Patsy Trib."
Say, mister, you gave me five dollars"
heard in a painting voice behind me, as
was hurrying up Park Row, late one even
ing. turned, and there was the ragged
boy from whom had Just bought paper,
rushing after me with his bundle of pa
pers under his arm and five dollar gold
piece clasped tight in his dirty hand.
I" You gave me this instead of tuppence,"
out the coin.
"Why didn't you keep it ?" asked as
l took it and felt in my pocket for some
loose change.
The boy hesitated, seemed puzzled for
moment, then answered in hesitating
fashion,
al dunno, SIR
His manner showed plainly that the
thought of keeping the coin had flashed
through his mind and had been dismissed,
why he evidently could not explain. My
impulse was to follow the example of the
rich man in the story, and say "Here,
my noble boy, keep the money, and here
is another five as reward for your hon.
esty. Always remember that honesty is
the best policy" But no matter how will
ing might have been to let the boy have
the money as reward of virtue, my
meagre salary as reporter compelled me
to think twice before gave five dollars
lightly, 80 as felt sort of lazy curiosity
to talk further with him, compromised
with myself by saying Do you want to
come down to Hitchcock's and get some
thing to eat ?" He accepted with al1c-
rity, and we went down the steps, side by
side, the news.gatherer and the newsletter,
down into that Delmonico's of the news
paper man where the reporter, press
man, newsboy and editor sit side by side,
eating such baked beans and drinking
such coffee as can be found nowhere else
in the city. We seated ourselves at one
of the wooden tables, and as the waiter
approached, the boy glanced at me in
quiringly:
"What can l have ?" he asked.
| "Anything you want" was my careless
reply, as l ordered cup of coffee and
plate of cakes for myself.
"Plate of beef'n beans'n cup of coffee,
was his order in response to an inquiring
look from the waiter, then, in an apollo
getic tone, as he turned to me, "I'm sort o
sharp set, didn't have nothin' for dinner
'cept napple."
"Eat all you can, I'll pay for it," l said
rapidly becoming interested in the boy
"What is your name 2" 1 inquired while
we were waiting for the arrival of oul
order.
"Patsy."
"Patsy, what What is your las
name 2" | pursued.
81 dunno. guess didn't have nj
last name. The boys used to call mi
Patsy Trib, cause / used ter sell thu
Tribune. Now | sell all the papers.
guess eff they called me that way, m!
name would be too long to say all in on
day."
Our supper came, and for few min
utes he was too busy making way witt
the beans to answer my questions. A
soon as there was lull in the knife anC
fork exercise / asked,
elbow long have you been newsboy
"Ever sence can remember" was tn
laconic response as he wrestled with
piece of gristle.
"Do you live with your father ant
mother 2" l continued.
Patsy gave short laugh.
al used ter think l never had an
father and mother, anyhow l never re
member 'em. The first thing remem
Der was Twin in cellar down in Cherr
street, and sellin' papers for old Mag
what kept stand over in front of tn
.Staats Zeitung. Pretty soon found tn
givin' all mine to Mag, so l skipped"
"You have been working for yourself
since ?"
"Yes, sellin' papers, blackin' boots an
runnin' errands. I've got ten dollar
saved up in the Newsboy's Home. liv
there now. Pm savin' up so as to go Of
and work on a farm"
edo you think you'd like that ?"
"Know l would. | like horses an
| COWS, and they like me. worked in tn
car stables one time when q Teller wa
sick"
l was rapidly becoming interested i
|, the boy. He could not have been owe
, fourteen. He had the sharp features, th
] quick look and the nonchalant manner @
speech which characterize the stree
Arab, but with it he had something NOR,
clear gray eye and an honest way {
looking one straight in the face when b
spoke, and frankness of manner whic
had not yet been lost by the adverse ci
cumstances with which he was SUI
rounded. But was on duty, and had a
ready spent too much time with him.
giving him dollar, with the injunctio
to add it to his savings, left him.
For perhaps six months l saw hill
every day on Park street and Nassa
street, and occasionally stopped to as
him how his bank account was gettin
on, or to buy paper. He always al
swered respectfully, and evidently r
garded me with much awe, for / owe
heard him telling one of his companion
one day.
"That's reporter, he is, he took m
down to Hitchcock's one night and treate
me to coffee and beans, just as if was a
editor"
passed on with a smile at the boy
idea of reportorial and editorial courtes,
and as time wore on | must confess tbs
the interest had felt in the boy was graz
ually crowded out of my mind in this
sharp struggle for existence which is tn
lot of the average journalist.
Late one night was sitting in the cit
room of the paper on which | was en-
| ployed inst thinking of going hom