Delta chief., 1884-04-16
PEOK's BAD BOYS TROUBLES.

ut is pretty tough when feller
once gets reputation for being
mean,n said the bad boy to the gro
ceryman. Don't you find it so in
your businessP" and the boy held up
his elbow as though he expected to be
hit in the ear.
81 never had reputation for being
mean" said the groceryman, so don't
know anything about it. can see,
however. that 1t must be very trying on
you. What was you kicking the to-
mato can out Of that boys hand for
down in the alley? II l was that BOYS
father l would wallup you till you
would see stars"
mo you wouldn't. II You was that
boys father you would come and thsnk
me and say l was the best friend the
boy had" and the bad boy pulled
half bushel measure up TO the stove and
sat down. "You see that boy is n
good boy. one Of your swec, little an
gels that never does anything wrong at
home. His parents are very high
toned. and they wouldn't let him play
with bad boy like me for anything.
for fear he would be spoiled. He is
polite TO his parents, and wouldn't say
darn IL before his folks for anything.
but he is meaner than puslcy away from
home. About week ago heard that
: he and three other BOYS were in the
habit Of going TO low saloon and buy
ing stale beer and taking II to the loft
Of barn. and drinking II on the sly.
and getting full. and having headaches.
and their parents though, the boys
were sickly. and pct,od them. The
boys wanted me 10 90 in with them and
have fun drinking beer. bu, delivered
them regular temperance lecture, and
wen, To the keeper and told
him he was doing his best TO ruin those
boys. bu, he said IL was none Of my
business, and he fired me out. The
boys laughed nj me aud said was an
old maid. and didn't know the first
principles of having fun. ! tried my
best Ia convince them that they were
in danger Of going TO the bad. but they
hooied ai me, and this morning when
saw them going to the barn with to-
ma,o can full OF beer. ! thought il was
time something was done, SO ! kicked
the tomato can out of the boys lfsad
and spilled the beer. and broke up that
drunk. sure. But several nice people
who saw me kick the can called me
wretch. and said ought to be sent 10
the reform school. don't care wbn,
they say. will put stop to those boys
drinking stale beer II | get knocked
gnlly-wcst. went 10 the humane so
ciciy man and told him about the sa-
loon-kccper and he is guing to have his
license taken away. and II these boys
put on any more style he is going to
icll their parents. Whesa fellow tries
l. n. Il st,...
sons he tries 10 benefit goes back on him.
and every body thinks he is tough. Say,
do YOU think there is much encourage
mcnt in trying TO do the fair ,hingr
Don't YOU think there is more suspicion
do good. than there Is towards one who
,don't?"
30, don't know said the grocery
man. III u fellow who has been vile.
begins TO do good things, people are
afraid he is not sincere, that he has
some hidden scheme. whereby he eN-
poets 10 reap n benefit. II pou had al
ways been good. IL wouldn't be noticed
80 much.
That's what | thought said the
boy. as he took out lead nickel and
showed II TO the grocer. Tuesday |
was down town. and an old farmer was
walking along in front of me, and
saw him drop his pocket book on the
sidewalk. yelled TO him and pointed
10 the pocket-book. and told him he
dropped il, but he told me 10 go TO the
hot place. 1t WAS April fool day. and
he thought was ;ooling him. and he
went on laughing. as much as 10 say no
town: boy could play any jokes on your
uncle Ike Well picked up the pocket
book, and IL was fat one. and fol-
lowed the old farmer. and pulled his
cont and told him here was his pocket
book. but he hit me side of the jaw and
said to go away or he would maui me.
l never felt So mean since my girl went
back on me. but didn't want TO keep
the old mans pocket-book. and didn't
want to be killed trying To deliver II to
the owner. So ran ahead OF him and
stopped and opened the pocket-book:
and when he came up took out roll
Of bills as big MS my wrist, and showed
them to him. and asked HIM If he knew
whose pockct-book II was. What do
you think the old granger didP He
took the pockct-book with one hand
and took mo by the neck with the other.
and called mo thief. and said
ought to go to state prison,
and he took me into stair
att INV