Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-10
S1omths' Column.
ONLY A NEWSBOY.

Little Joe first appeared on the
streets of New York two years ago.
Small and slight, with great brown
eyes and pinched lips that always
wore smile. Where he came from
nobody knew and few cared. His
parents, he said, were dead, and he
had no friends. 1t was hard life.
Up at four o'clock in the morning af-
ter sleeping in a dry goods box or in
an alley, he worked steadily till late
at night. He was misused at first.
Big boys stole his papers or crowded
him out of warm place at night,
but he never complained. The tears
would swell up in his eyes, but were
quickly brushed away and a new
start bravely made. Such conduct
won him friends, and after little no
one dared play tricks upon Little
Joe. His trends he remembered,
and his enemies he forgave. Some
days he had especially good luck.
Kind hearted people pitied the little
FELLOW and bought papers whether
they wanted them or not. But he
was too generous to save money
enough even for a nights lodging.
Every boy who ''got stuck knew he
was sure to get enough to buy a sup
per as long as Joe had a penny.
But the hard work and exposure
began to tell on his weak constitu-
ton. He kept growing thinner and
thinner and thinner, till there was
scarcely an ounce of flesh on his lit
tie body. The skin of his face was
drawn closer and closer, but the
pleasant look never faded away. He
was accomplishing to the last. Two
weeks ago he awoke one morning af-
ter working hard selling ''extras'' to
find himself too weak to move. He
tried his best to get upon his feet,
but it was vain attempt. The vi
tai force was gone.
"Where is Little Joe?" was the
universal enquiry. Finally he was
found in a secluded corner and a
good natured hackman was persuad-
ed to take him to the hospital at
Flatbush where he said he once lived.
Every day one of the boys went to
see him. On Saturday a newsboy
who had abused him at first and
learned to love him afterwards, found
him sitting up in his cot, his little
blue-veined hand stretched out upon
the coverIet.
81 was afraid you wasn't coming,
jerry" he said with some difficulty,
Sand wanted to see you once more
so much. 1 guess it will be the last
time, Jerry, for / feel awful weak
to-day. Now, Jerry, when 1 die
want you to be good for my sake
Tell the boys
But his message never was com
pleted. Little Joe was dead. His
sleep was calm and beautiful. The
trouble and anxiety on his wan fact
had disappeared. But the express
sion was still there. Even in deatl
he smiled.
1t was sad news that Jerry bor'
back to his friends on that day
They feared the end was near, ant
were waiting for him with anxious
hearts. When they saw his tear
stained face they knew that Littl
Joe was dead. Not a word was said
They felt as if they were in the pres
ence of death itself. Their heart
were too full to speak. 49,
| That night one hundred boys me
in front of city hall. They felt tina
they must express their sense of los
in some way, but how they did no
know. Finally in accordance wit
the suggestion of one of the large
boys, they passed a resolution whic
read as follows =
Resolved That we all liked Lit
tie Joe, who was the best newsboy i
New York. Everybody is sorry b
has died.
| A collection was taken up to sen
delegates to the funeral, and tn
same hackman who bore Little 10
10 the hospital again offered the us
of his carriage. The burial too
place yesterday. On the coffin wa
a plate, purchased by the boys
whose language was expressive frol
it's simplicity. This was the inscriE
ton -
LITTLE JOE,
Aged IA,
The Best Newsboy in New York.
WE ALL LIKED HIM.
There were no services, but eac
boy sent flower to be placed upo
the coffin of his friend. After a
what did it matter that little Joe VIZ
dead.
He was only a newsboy.
This is not a fancy sketch. FL
cry word of the above story is tru
-NeaU York World. %bs8&4
|
"WO-BO-SHANG."
Sixty years ago, when the Pott
wattamie tribe of Indians were st
4 numerous in southwestern Wisco
5 sin, there was long line of Wi
I vans at certain point on the sho
- IL i L