The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-20
THEY CARRY .sAM's PENNIES .
Old fame Last Request, aud How ls
was Grsntsa-A Central Park Re-

Was Grsptsa-A Central Park Re
nance.
Sam Is grav.haircd nswsboy o.
about GO hard falls This fall In par.
ticular seems hard on Sam. for lie Il
drunk very much oftener than he ha.
been for some yeara lhe army ol
schoolboys ranging from 6 to IS year.
OF age who seem constantly on duty
near Central Park. ON the east side,
know Sam well. aud are especially de-.
lighted when they lind him moro cross
and grabbed than usual. for at such
times it is easier TO make him mad.
and consequently they can have more
fun A few days ago Sam was so
changed that his mischievous young
friends hardly know him. As they
were playing near the park entrance
Sam came in sight Tue big bundle
OF papers under his arm bespoke bad
trade. Even Ills long. unkempt gray
hair seemed longer and moro matted
than common. His battered hat was
drawn dlsconsolately down over his
rather bleary eyes. that seemed dull
and lustcrless instead Of swapping
viciously rs was their wont when he
viewed his young tormentors. The
boys. WHO at first hailed his appear.
ance with shout very like the view
halloo Of fold Of fox hunters. appre.
ciated the change in Sans demeanor
before the echoes Of their greeting yell
had died away.
The average ten.year-old boy 10 as
sensitive to outward appearances as q
woman. Thesp boys saw something
was wrong with Sam. and as ha ap.
preached them the tantalizing sug-
gestions as to his apparel which were
his usual greetings seemed strangely
lacking. Tho boys huddled sympa.
thetically together and watched the
old mans unsteady stems.
"Iie's drunk again" "No. he's
SICK" were the whispered critioisms
Of tho boys.
Sam walkod q Nttlo past them and
leansa against one Of the posts used
for hitching horses. After short
consultation. tho boys went toward
Sam and for q few moments stood al.
Iently before him. "Whut's the mat.
ter. Sam" ysntIred tho lender
Sam looked down at his qucstioncr
and sighed.
Say. Sam. give us pennyP" asked
one of tho lite fellows in tho back Of
the crowd. The question was a sterso.
typed one which mover failed 10 make
Sam farious. aud was equally suro 10
bring forth tiraie as to tho rights of
Sam and the desires of the boys. This
time. however. Sam caught esgerly at
the request. and .hrastiag his hand IN
the Feekket at his ragsed trousers fish.
cd ont a handful Of pennies and held
them out 10 the boys.
''Iiere. boys" he said "take EN-"
But the boys shrauk back. Thoy
were all well,bsed little follows. schol-
ATS ia on expensive school near by. and
only asked Sam for pennies because
1t angcred him. Now that the pennies
were offered they wese mortified a.
having asked fas them>, -,--
'DL. no. sap; We don't want the
money. Put it away aud tell us what's
the mattcr."
'trh6ro's plenty the matter. boys"
sad Sam, woarily. I'm gettin' too
old ter do anything but die. an' can't
take the money with mo when die.
Say. boys il don't come back around
here any more, don't remember bout
my gettin' drunk an cussin,' will
yer?" This rather wistfully
"No. Sam. wo won't But YOU are
not Goins away for good. are youp'
Yes. l guess will. An boys.
wish you'd take these pennies and buy
a ball or some candy. or tops os some-
thin-won't you?"
The hoya .a:.as no answer A mo-
u,vnt lator they clustered together a
Attlo further away aud were busy
around one Of the largest OF their mum.
Der. A close observer could ,loteot the
flash of bright coin cut the next mo.
ment theY had moved toward 8 ,m. the
ayGet boy In advance. evidently the
leader.
Say, SAM" began tho spokesman.
"we'll take penny piece from you
II you will lot us giya you this little
box to remember US by. Will youp
All. now Sam. be pleasant this once
and take it,
Sam eyed the frank, manly looking
little fellows minute while there
passed through Lis mind all the run.
ming fights and collisions he and the
boys had experienced in the past
months. Then he concluded that he
would ''be pleasant" this ouee and
said: 'Well. boys I'll do it,"
One by Que ths boys filed BY. each
halding out his hand. into which Sam
dropped penny. II hs let more than
one fall. as he tried often to do. the
little fellow would gravely atop and
hand back all but ono penny. the
amount stipulated in tue bond. The
big boy came last and after receiving
his penny put into SANS hand little
silver bonbon box. Hardly had tho
silver trinket touched Sans hand ero
sl,rill whistle sounded and a few
seconds later and not boy was to be
seen in the vicinity. YAey had vanish.
cd. and Sam stool leaning against the
post staring dimlv at the little box
that glittcrcd in his hand. For full
five minutes he stood mo,ionless and
aud only himself could fospa any idea
of his thoughts Yken Nc quickly
opened the spE and Nesting therein
were as many ten'eeat pieces as there
had been Gays a few minutes before.
sam stared u them aud IL his eyes
wore moist they must have dampened
the dirty hand that brushed acrosa
them. Slowly Sum straigLIsAsd UP
and walked away. Ho has NO. heen
seen sinec, bat nearly every boy that
plays aroaad there carries in
his poeko. penny that bears a mark
cut in its face aud which the owner
calls SANS penny."-New York Mau
and Express.
-t ~.------