The Press., 1885-04-30
TOMMY.
Poor little fellow

'sEvenin' papers ]! here ye are-evenin papers !" But he was strangely quiet now, as he lay on the sidewalk, where some one at the risk of his own life, had swung him up, out from under the trampling hoofs of the horses.
 He was surrounded by a pitying crowd but no one could tell how 1t happened only 1t was wonder that such accidents were not of frequent occurrence at that crowded crossing.
 "Poor little chap these newsboys do get so reckless and careless, said the po- liceman, as he lifted him up tenderly.
 An hour later, the child opened his eyes in strange place. He tried to spring up, but a wOman's voice said, ''lie still, my boy" and soft hand pressed his head to the pillow.
 "W'ot's the matter, lady ?'
 "You fell and hurt yourself, and we are going to take care of you little while'' A white bed, and a soft pillow, and some one to take care of him-how strange.
 s'Be this hospital, mss ?" "Yes, dear a home for sick folks, you know"
 sAn' am in one of them places, hey : Oh, know now-fell an slipped, agin r and the horror of that moment when he felt his life going out under the iron heels surged back over him, even to faintness.
 "Where's my papers? 1 hadn't sold one p
 "I don't know" skid the nurse "but don't worry we'll pay you for them when you go away. If you'll tell us where your hometis, we'll let your friends know where you are."
 ''I aint got none P
 "No friends ? But you surely have g home, somewhere! What is your name 9
 'Tommy an I hang out mostly at Marm Parkers but thers rough lot sometimes, so its no good sleepln', an then some of us chaps camps out; thers lots O places little feller can slip in, wen it ain't too cold nor wet"
 ''Then there's no one you want to send for 9
 "No'm, ther's nobody cares, y see."
 Soon after the surgeon came, and made another examination, ,and gave some sooth- ing medicine-it was all he could do. A little later the nurse met him, and asked, ''Is there any chance for the child?'
 ''None, whatever. He won't stop long. Spine's fatally injured. No use telling him, thought; he won't suffer much
 The next morning the nurse fingered by his cot, smoothing his halr she was used to heart touching cases, but this one moved her strangely, somehow.
 s'Can you read ?' she asked-seeing his eyes fixed on a motto which hung on the wall.
 'I pick out most words-we'n they 're easy. Who's that tellin' bout, lady ?"
 The motto read, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and will give you rest. '''Why that means Christ, the Lord, child,' answered the nnrse. Don't you know about suoh things?"
 "Oh yes m him as owns the churches, an has Chsistmas trees, an sich. Oh, yes, I know, cos went inter 8 church once it warn't no harm, lady COS it war Christmas an l stayed by the door-but oh, it was all as nice as play; an ther war man talk in. an he said them words over an over, an he said as how it meant them as wal tired an he said the Lord had an orful nice place somewheres; an I war that hun. gry an tired l thought it'd be 8 prime thing ter git there once but, in course, know'd 1t warnt fer the likes O me"
 'I guess your chance is better thar most folks after all, my boy (; but there's lady coming-she'll tell you all about it.
 The visitor found an eager face awaiting | uCA. BLU AcI SiAupA0 teluAS OA OuO SWCo old story was received with undoubtins faith h-only the wonder of it was so great A loving friend somewhere, who wanted him La poor little newsboy, waif of tn streets: and home prepared, and beauti ful things of which he had never heard o dreamed How wonderful it was
 "But doa't know the way, lady. How ever am I ter go? An will he know Tom my ?''
 4 ''He knows you now, dear child an He will send messenger for you prett soon."
 ''That'll be -nice-an' good of Him but I'm-so sleepy
 I His eyelids closed heavily, for the me, senger was even then by his side. Ther was scarcely ripple where his little bari of life went down-only poor little boy bufteting his way through the surges,- : nothing much to live for; but oh $ much to die fer!