Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-06-18
sflfrf Rea1ing,
A BRAVE BOY:
OR,
MERIT RECOMPE\SED.
BY MOLLIE MERRIWETHER.

"llenrv Hinkle," said beautiful
Young lady. rs she threw up the sash
of the window at which she was stand
ing, tell that dirty boy to get off the
stoop at once
Henry llinkle, the livered footman,
who was arranging the mats in an ele-
CANT coupe before the door, at once
moved toward the boy in obedience to
his lovely mistress command.
But the boy. evidently bootblack,
spared him the trouble by rising at
once aud walking slowly away.
lie WAS a poor. emaclated, torlorn-
looking fellow, with his clothes hang
ing about him in tatters. and his bare
toes peeping through the wide cracks
in hIs Ill mated shoes. but he had AS
much pride in his humble way as the
fair lady at the plate glass window
had in hers, and there was an unmis-
taxable look Of wounded dignity on
his begrim,G f.ce AS he turned it for
an instant IN the direction Of the
speaker.
"l'll not soll their stoop with my
rags again, lie tnought. as the clear.
cuttl2s tones ceased and the window
slid softly down to the sill.
But having reached the next pave
ment beyond, he paused and again
turned his eyes 10 the lady's face.
She was extremely beautiful, re
minding him Of one Of the bright
prints he had been won't to admire al
down town booksellers. and for mo-
ments he fcasted his eyes on the
charming picture before him.
A cat NAV look al a king" was
his inward comment, and leaning a
salnst a uslghborng lamp post, be
watched until she descended the broad
stoop. entered the carrlass and WAS
driven away Then, with 'lgh and
shiver. for it Was 4 cold, windy morn
ing. he slowly shuiiled away
1t was some Years ago. before BOYS
lodging houses or other hospltable ~
treats were thought Of, and like many
another bootblack and newsbov of the
period, v hen without means, he was
compelled 10 tini iood and shelter as
best he could.
On this morning he had arisen with
aching bones from the interior of an
empty hogshead. where he had man
's>sG % pass 'he night, aud after tax.
ing a long Ioos al the rsns and coase
ne could not buy, bad wandered, he
SCARCELY know how or why, into the
present arlstocratIc locality.
Hungry, tired and cold he scarcel,
had the spirit TO look about for an.
other job; but midway down the block
be espIed two gentlemen Al converse
ton, and with an effort he quckeued
his steps toward them.
Have a shine, sir," lie asked. glanc-
ing up at the elder Of the two, stout
old gentleman, faultlessIy dressed and
carrying a gold headed cane
Bat cool clear OUT acc n. pan
led with wave OF the gid crusted
stick WAS the ouly reply.
Those young rascaIs Ought 10 he
suppressed by the police rs i nui-
sancs,' he heard him remark to hi
companion as he turned away
At another time he would have re-
turned the old gentleman's opinion
with a sarcasm as cutting as his own,
bat now he was quite too discouraged
and miserable 10 reply, and, sitting
down this time on the curbstone, gave
himself up oh,s own dismal thoughts.
Might have know'd better ter come
over among the swells, anyway, was
his inward comment, bat it went no
further. for he Was now sccosted by a
big countryman, who, in his homsspun
rig, looked fully as out Of place on the
avenue as the young bootblack him
self
That's a boot blackin' arrange
ment, amt it" said the man, noddlug
at the box and brush.
The boy nodded in return.
well, then, bub, you up and gloss
my shoes, will you?"
This bub was only too glad to do. a
faint smile fitting over his face the
while.
In few minutes tie ''cowhides"
were, as the owner declared, "all
right and, surveying them complac-
emily, he fumbled into the depths of
his great pockets for the change.
YOU'RE what, they call perfesshu,
nal boot black, haint you:'
"Zactly.'
"Then, by Jimmy. yer poor spec
linen nv the craft; look as though
you hadn't tasted COW flesh in a
month"
"Yer right there, boss; no more l
have
"Thought So" was the rejoinder,
"and here's - cents fur ter buy your
break fast"
"You are bully cove,' was the
boys reply, as he pocketed the money;
"when you came this way agin. III
shine you up for Dothin'."
Fifteen cents at such time was as
good as fortune, and away sped the
boy to purchase Il breakfast.
There is nothing which reflects on
the entire system as good break fast,
particularly when there is strong
Northeaster sending its icy breath to
the very marrow of ones bones.
And so the knight of the blacking
brush found it on that chill Novem
Der morning, all his former spirits re-
turning as the last morsel went raven
ously down his throat.
With bound he was off down the
street, and soon, as luck would have