Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1888-02-16
A Charity Shine.

Several years ago whilst | was stay
ing a few months in San Francisco,
became acquainted with a very ragged,
dirty faced boot. black, who, for that
reason, was not allowed to c)mo into
the hotel where | was a guest, but to
who m l gave charity shine on street
corner near by whenever l CHANGED to
meet him there.
One day he drifted into the Office of
a friend Of mine where it was my Gus
tom to spend several hours each day,
and before he went awav we had enter
ed into an agreement that he was call
each day and earn the price of shine.
AS l have said he was ragged, dir
ty faced boy, apparently twelve years
of age, he was an expert at smoking and
chewing tobacco, and could swear about
as tluently as such boys usually can ;
and save his miserable and the sad
dreamy expression Of his large eyes he
possessed no means Of appeal unless it
was the old curbstone invitation, "Shine
em up, Mister?" which is more likely
to drive away a customer than to win
him.
When he had been coming to the Of
fice about week he became quite talk.
ative and l surprised at the re,l friend
that had sprung up between us, very
Unexpectedly to me but yet it was true
I had learned to feel sorry for the un-
fortunate boy andhe was bright enough
to perceive this, and grateful enough to
render as many additional acts Of kiud-
ness as was IN his power to do. And
thus | learned that he possessed good
kind heart, and l loved him for it, |
had not forgotten my own boyhood when
it seemed no bright days would ever
dawn for me.
His presence recalled to me times IN
the past when l would have undergone
almost any sacrifice to have gained a
kind word or friend--5ut alass this
world is cold and the people in it are
too apt to regard misfortune as the re-
suit Of wllful dissipation or idleness or
any of score of other reasons they may
assign, and so I had lived away the yrs
in dreary solitude that should have been
the happiest Of my life.
And now when l had grown to be
man, and read anew the bitter pages OF
my early LIES history in the pale and
haggard features Of the little wanderer.
| was sorry for him. and | lovel him.
Not because he poor outcast but be-
cause he was brave by who was not
afraid to live and work, even through
he found the race of life the tiresome
journey the friendless orphan only
can.
One day when he stopped to talk
awhile after finishing his task, Gas he al
ways did when gave him the slightest
encouragement) | asked him why he
wasted his scanty earnings on such u
foolish practice as the Use of tobacco in
stead of saving his money to purchase
comfortable and respectable clothing?
He could not tell me why unless it
was the custom of the boys" to spend
all their earnings, and as it was the
universal practice to smoke he smoked
toe, but said he, his hones, face bright
er and fairer than l had ever seen it,
'if YOU say quit, it'll be quit ith me-
your re the ouly man that ever talked
to me like l was boy, an | like you
better'n any man ever see, an I'll do
anything you tell me to, COZ | know it
would be proper, an l don't want to
be any wurs'n KIN hep, fur | know
that's mighty bad at best
could not help it, | took the boy by