The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-11-25

Such cold Thanksgiving day - It
was! with the thermometer hiding shis-
eringly at the very bottom Of its glass
prison, and with the wind racing and
shrieklng wildly along the telegraph wires.
There was snow, too-tiny, whiriing
fakes, that felt like needles when they
touched your face or hands. Even the
great, gloomy, dirtbegrimed 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 comforter"
"Whew :" gasped Tip, as sudden
gust of wind almost forced him to make
an impromptu seat of the hard pavement,
"what a day. Wish't l was to home.
Even Granny Macarthy's old shanty is
better'n nothink. don't see why they
call this Thanksgiving day. hain't got
nothink to be thankful to anybody fer, as
knows on, less tits this jolly warm COM
forter round my neck"
Tip didn't stop to think, l am sure; if
he had considered a moment he would
have found many other things to be
thankful for
"Grannv must "a had streak O. luck
when she ga me this comforter. Just as
good as new, only little holey. P'r'aps
Jed made a big haul yesterday. Ugh! l
wouldn't 90 a-pocket- pickin' for forchin.
Sh'd think Jed O'Neale d lay awake all
night a-thinkin' bout what he's been
a-doin'. Stealin' silk wipes may pay bet
tern blackin' boots, but | wouldn't do it
for Granny Mccarthy er anybody else p
"Shine, sir? Only nickeI"' as fat
figure, all mutfled up in a shappy ulster
and seal-skin cap, came putting and blow
ing around the corner.
ooh, go long, boy" said the fat fig
ure, irately. "Do YOU think I'm going
to stand here and freeze to death in order
to get my boots polished 2"
"Thought you might want a rest right
here" said Tip, very meekly, though his
bright blue eyes were twlnkling merrily.
With an unintelligible snort the fat
figure pulled on again.
"Only two shines to-day" thought
up uleCoHSoiatclg al IL PdSC hooh.
l thought I'd have dinner in style to-
day, with turkey an chocolate an puddin'
an so forth, but ten cents won't buy it.
Ten cents extry, now, would jes. do it.
Heigh-ho. why wasn't | born swell
banker, or else a te-yutiful bankers
daughter, with goldin' hair an laughin
eyes %
Then another figure in an ulster and a
seal-skin cap came by. This gentleman
wasn't short and fat, but tall and grace
full. He was ust opposite Tip, when his
foot slipped on the treacherous pavement
and down he went with dull thump.
Pm ever 50 glad to say that Tip didn't
laugh. If he had laughed, Pm afraid I'd
have been so ashamed of my hero that
would have left this little story all un-
told Most boys would have laughed,
but Tips face was as grave as judges,
as he limped over-Tip was lame, you
must know-and proceeded to help the
gentleman to his feet.
GA very bad fall, that" said Tip,
with soicitude. Hope you didn't break
no bones, sir ?"
"Oh, guess not, thank you," said Mr..
John Branch, rubbing his bruises ten
derby. "Don't you want to blacken my
boots, boy?"
Course, sir" began Tip, brightly !;
"but," obviously, "your boots don't
seem to need much shinin'."
81 think they do need shining" said
Mr.. Branch, with quiet decision, funny
laugh in the jolly brown eyes,
So Tip set to work with will, and in
less than a minute Mr.. Branch's boots
were like twinkling mirrors.
"Whew. l bet that fellows rich,''
thought delighted Tip, as he pocketed
the quarter of dollar Mr. Branch in.
sisted on his taking. "P'r'aps he's too
proud to carry small change in his peck
cts. You don't catch me bein's proud as
all that! Pennies airs goods dollars, if
you've got plenty of 'em. An now fer
the SWEETEST restaurang in town! Oh,
cricky, that fellows lost mis- pocket book,
sure's guns - making dive for the pave
ment.
eli, hi, there!" shrieked Tip, shrilly,
"come back an get your property
Say-y, misterw and Tip fastened after
Mr. Branch as fast as his lame leg would
permit
"Wish he'd take his cap often his ears
minute" painted Tip to himself, as Mr.
Branch never turned his head, "so's he
could hear. Cricky what steps he takes
There-he's stopped at last, an at the
SWEETEST house in the street, do believe
AS Tip paused TO take breath, Mr.
Branch tripped nimbly up the marble
steps. and opened the massive door.
"Why couldn't he awaited" grum
bled Tip; but Tips grumbling, like eve
rything else about him, was CHEEKY anC
good natured. "Now, Pll have to ring
and present my card, and be ooshered il
to the elegant boodore" And Tip laughed
at the very thought. I" But dear me y
with comical twinkle in his merry blu'
eyes, "I've gone an done it! rve lief
my card-case and gloves home on the pi
amer! But it can't be helped now, as
didn't expect to go calm to-day. Iwon
der what the feller'll do when he get
the pocket book" gravely. "P'r'hap
he'll grasp my hand with tears in his eye
and say: Here's hundred thousau
dollars take it, my dear, dee-ar benefac
to, as a small tokint O. me regards |
you everneed a friend, why call on me
Oh, cricky" and Ii had to hold tigh
to the fence, and till the tears came. "An
then I'll say "You insa-a-lt me honor
sir; only did me july"
With fear and trembling Tip rang tn
l. Ill