Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1884-06-26
An UNKYOTN HERO.

ties-an' furrinaffairs Telegram, sir only
apenny."
Above the tulnult and roar of Broadway
the shrill little voice piped its song in the
ears of hurrying humanity. The shadows
were beginning to fall, and the lamp.ighter,
intent upon duty, ran past with his ladder
ard link.
Two living, breathing tides srirged in op-
posite directions through the great thorough
fare. Each looked out for himself; no one
thought of his neighbor.
"Ercain' Tslcgram, fourth editioni"
The thin little voice, in its sharp staccato
was alone sufficient to cohjure in the mind
of the Imaginative a picture OF hunger and
ssnt. and youth without childhood, coupled
with the experience and sorrow OF age.
All this, in addition to the legion woes OF
his tribe, chance glimpse of the pinched
little form conveyed
lie was boy of dozen years perhaps,
with afreckled face and pair of honest blue
eyes. whose whole vitality seemed to have
centered in remarkable shock Of brick
colored hair. lie stood pressed against a
lamp post. with his bare feet drawn close for
safety and the ragged jacket buttoned to the
chin: under his arm was q bundle of papers
and grimy little hand iiourished one IN time
to his shrill little tune:
"Buy paper. sir? telegram only n
penny"
But somehow the hurrying crowd cared
little for the news, and the pennies accumu-
lated slowly in the ragged pocket.
He counted them over now and then,
spreading them out on his palm;
zone, three, seven, ten, fifteen No din
ner tonight, Tim, if you don't do better than
! this
For moment his face would fall, but he
would sing line or two of Sweet By-and-
By" and then, as if the inspiring words had
given fresh courage, begin again:
Fourth edition, Erenin' telegram"
Still .he crowd surged on the laborer to
/ his humble home, where all his treasures
were gathered and in which hisi joy centered;
clerks and shop-girls dragging their weary
bodies on blistered feet TO the doubtful re-
freshment of comfoltless boarding. houses
I gentlemen Of leisure sauntering to their
clubs women whose sole vocation in life
was to be us . the lilies OF the field"
The honest blue eyes staring out OF the
hungry, freckled face, scanned them al as
he offered his paper with nice discrimination
To those only whose mien was inviting.
The shadows fell swiftly now and a myriad
of Gas Jets burst into light while sudden
cry Of fire" caused the struggling streams
oflife to rush yet more frantically each in
its own direction.
"In the sweet by-and-by," sang the news
boy, watching with his bright blue eyes the
efforts of beautiful young woman to free
herself from the crowd. As she nearsd him
Tim put out his hand and touched her
sleeve.
"Moye this way, lady; come here on The
curb by the lamp-post, an ste nd still for
mint. won't let you Get hurt
ooh thank you, my boy; am so fright
ened," she answered, slipping into the place
Tim mado vacant while he put his little
form between her and the struggling mass
of humanity.
"Thercs nothing like a Broadway crowd
this time o'day, lady, but the rush'll soon
be over; the cry of fire made it worse, and
everybody a-going to dinnerjust now least
ways everybody wots got any dinner to go
to- he added gravely.
One pretty arm, clothed in its blue velvet
sleeve, was wound round the lamP-Post for
safety, but as Tim finished she slid il down
without removing it, and laid that hand on
on his ragged shoulder, saying
"Do you ever have to 20 without Din
ner 2"
Every often, lady" he made answer,
looking with honest admiration into her
sweet face.
"How is it tonight win you have q
good dinner"
Not very. guess, less sells enough
papers to pay for my stock an dinner too,
aud amt done that yet, lady"
"Are you very far Off"
For answer he held up his bundle OF
papers, and spreading out the pennies on
his hand counted again;
"Three, eight, ten, thirteen, eighteen,
twenty-three; not a very sumptuous dinner
tonight, lady"
"Will his help toward it," she asked,
laying a bright silver dollar among the
small coin
"It will pay for feast, lady, Clam soup,
roast beef, huckleberry puddin' an all" he
answered, with an JUNCTION that showed the
pretty young Lady how little he was accus-
toned 10 such fare.
But he picked up the silver coin from a
mong the others and beld it out TO her.
Pm very much obliged, lady, an it's IN
common kind in you, but couldn't take it,
cos likes TO earn what J eats"
"But you haze been Of service to me, my
I,d ond vo,, car, he still mere. III you will