The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-12-16
THE ROUSTABOUT.


THE ROUSTABOUT.
Dan was what they called 4 ..rousta-
bout around the Office. The Office
was large daily newspaper establish
ment in lively western city.
Danwas ten years old, and small for
his age. He had the old look that most
boys have when they have known moth
ing but neglect and poverty all their
lives. He had been poorly fed, badly
clothed and entirely neglected all his
life. In regard to who and what his
parents were, Dams mind was a blank;
it might as well have been so. for had
Dan been enlightened in regard to his
parentagc, the knowledge would not
have reflected much honor upon him.
nor would it have given him pleasure.
They had never had any love for little
Dan. and had deliberately deserted him
when he was less than six years old.
He had been left in garnet with a
brother two years older than himself;
but even this brother had deserted him,
and Dan was entirely alone.
The boy whose place Dan had
taken had fallen down the elevator
way in the Morning Advertiser
Office one evening. and had
received such severe injuries that he
would never be able to walk without
crutches.
.Its our busiest night" said the
foreman Of the Office. I'VE cannot get
along without another boy at once. I'll
90 down on the street, and see if l can
not pick up some little lad who can fill
poor Thompson's place until l can get
some one permanently"
Dan was the first "little lad Mr..
Hopkins. the foreman, happened to
meet.
1t was an extremely cold night in
January. The ground was white witt
snow. The night was clear, and there
was what some one has called ''ar
eager and nipping air. Mr.. Hopkins
buttoned his overcoat up tight under
his chin. and wound a great scar
around his head before stepping out O
the Office.
He had gone but half block whel
he ran against Dan, who was on thu
lookout for some open entry or cellar
way into which he might slip for thu
night. II nothing better offered, h
knew of great hogshead in the rea
of a crockery store, into which he coult
drag his pinched and chilled little body
There was little straw in the hogs
head in which Dan thought he nigh
..cuddle up as snug as a bug in rug,
as he expressed it.
"Hello!" said Mr.. Hopkins, catchin.
sight of Dan in the glare that CAM
from shop window, I'm looking 70
boy; you want job?'
YES. SIR replied Dan eagerly
'.I'll do it for five cents, sir. whateye
it is
I'm give you twenty-five cents,
ouy are bright enough to do what
want done tonight, > replied Mr.. Hop
kins.
The night boy in the Office of tn
Morning Advertiser had to report 70
duty at six in the evening, and froI
. that time until four in the morning h
was subject to the beck and call of til
foreman and the editors in the varlou
!. parts of the Office. He was sent o
errands to the post-office and the tele
|. graph office. He went out after cigars
and not unfrequently after beer an
wine, if the editors happened to be in
convivial mood, which condition the
! they happened to be in pretty Otter
Dan thought He proved himself t
be SO bright and obliging that Mr.. HoI
!. kins had decided on keeping him pei
! manently; an act OF kindness and char
! ity for which / hope he may be n
!. warded.
: Dams position was not rs pleasant a
: it might have been but the two dollar
! he received every Saturday night mad
!, amends for certain unpleasant and ar
noying things. Most of the editors an
|, reporters were lively young fellow.
: who made Dan the object of many {
their jokes and tricks.
The printers must have their spol
: with ..the kid" as they called Dan
J, when he passed through the composin
:, room, as he often had occasion to d.
They meant no unkindness, an
] often sent nickel or dime flyin
= after him instead of ball Of pape
. or some equally Objectionable thing
: But Dan could not help wishin
: that they would keep the
cigar stumps to themselves, an
was inclined to resent the liberties the
! took with his nose and ears, when
: their more miscellaneous moods the
!. tweaked those parts Of Dan ut the
:. own pleasure. But Dan was quite col
= tent to remain in the Advertiser offic
I'm i'm clover" he declared to
boy he had known in less prospero,
days. I'm warm all the time. and q
three square meals every day, and ofte
= have fifty or seventy-fiye cents left of
; Saturday night after paying for NJ
|. meals. Look at them there!'
Them there" consisted Of a pair
!, entirely new boots-something Dan ha
= never had before in all his life.
! Bought 'em with my own money,
he said triumphantly.
But it was slow work saving none
out of two dollars week, aud Dan
: clothes were thin and ragged. L
! needed new suit very much.
He slept in the Advertiser buildin,
7 sometimes on the engine floor close
: the fires, sometimes in the editori
: rooms on a pile Of exchanges. I
! might sleep there until the janit.
" made his rounds in the morning, whe
: Dan would be routed out OF what
! thought was a very snug bed; then
!" would stow himself in any corner
! could find, aud sleep until he had to {
= y Oh duty at night. think it was rath
: hard task for so little fellow, al